Overview of HDRC Services

The Hawaii Disability Rights Center offers a comprehensive array of services addressing a wide variety of community needs.

HDRC is the designated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System for all of Hawaii’s residents with disabilities. P&A systems are authorized by Congress in each state and territory of the U.S. to defend and enforce the human, civil and legal rights of people with disabilities and to protect them from discrimination.

• HUMAN RIGHTS are those natural rights that are accorded to all human beings, stated in the Declaration of Independence as the right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
• CIVIL RIGHTS are an expansion of basic human rights and are stated in the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Bill of Rights and the Hawaii State Constitution. They include the rights to: Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly; Petition for Change; Equal Protection under the Law; Privacy; Confidentiality; Appeal Decisions; Freedom from Oppression, Unlawful Search and Seizure; and Cruel and Unusual Punishment.
• LEGAL RIGHTS are an expansion of our human and civil rights as established by specific laws, such as those laws which authorize Protection & Advocacy for people with disabilities.

HDRC exists to advocate for as many people with disabilities in the State of Hawaii, on as wide a range of disability rights issues, as our resources allow. We strive to resolve rights violations with the least amount of intervention possible, and if necessary, to also provide full legal representation.

HDRC has the capacity to:

• Resolve client’s problems through counseling/professional assistance, investigation, monitoring, mediation, negotiation, arbitration, administrative reviews; and administrative appeals.
• Provide full legal representation for its clients, including litigation, if necessary.

HDRC is committed to providing services that are:

• Sensitive to the personal dignity, choice and cultural/ethnic diversity of each client.
• Offered with appropriate accommodations.
• Distributed based on the needs of people with disabilities.
• Consumer driven and consumer responsive.

HDRC engages in the following activities to accomplish our objectives:

Outreach – Identification of and outreach to un-served and under-served (racial, ethnic, geographic) groups. We serve on councils, groups, task forces concerned with disability issues.

Provision of Information – We offer information and referral to other sources of assistance as needed.

Education and Training – We provide education and training for people with disabilities and their families, communities, legal professionals and service providers.

Individual Casework – We work to resolve issues or problems for individuals with disabilities via Technical Assistance for Self Advocacy, Short Term Assistance and Comprehensive Advocacy.

Systemic Casework – We advocate for improvements in policies and practices of systems that impact people with disabilities. These include state agencies, residential facilities, and other service providers. Systemic advocacy may include legal activities such as class action litigation or advocacy on legislative and regulatory issues.