Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 12, 1 Kekemapa 1996 — Assistance for Hawaiians with disabilities [ARTICLE]

Assistance for Hawaiians with disabilities

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has awarded $100,000 to the Hawai'i Legal Aid Society to assist disabled Hawaiians facing a cut in state general assistance. Legal Aid will assist them with the apphcation process for federal funds. With OHA's support Legal Aid will be able to help 510 Hawaiians apply for and receive federal assistance. "This money is helping Hawaiians really in need," said Trustee of Maui Abe Aiona. "These are the most vulnerable in our society — the physically and mentally disabled," said Trustee of Hawai'i Island Moanike'ala Akaka. Last year the Hawai'iState ->r-

Legislature cut general assistance funding for people with disabilities. The bill takes effect on June 30, 1997, cutting off an

estimated 1,804 disabled Hawaiians from assistance. Because of the legislative cuts an estimated total of 4,000 disabled individuals will be dropped from the general assistance system. About 100 individuals will be dropped from the system every month after June 1997, that's approximately 18 Hawaiians a month, according to Legal Aid.

If Legal Aid ean help Hawaiians to apply for federal funding the Legislature won't be able to touch it and take it away, said Victor Geminiani, Legal Aid executive director. The plan is to transfer those receiving state general

assistance to Social Security Supplemental ineome (SSI) or Social Security Disability ineome (SSDI). Legal Aid is working in eooperation with OHA to advocate for the rights and concerns of the disabled. Babette Galang, OHA's

Health and Human Services Specialist, said now is an important time for agencies to collaborate on programs to deal with the welfare cuts that will be in effect in the next few years. "We can't wait until everyone is cut off to help, we need to start now," Galang said. "We want to basically protect people," Geminiani said. The people Geminiani and Legal Aid want to protect are those who are blind, mentally and physically disabled and aged.

"These are the most vulnerable in our society — the physically and mentally disabled." — Trustee Moanlke'ala Akaka

,vThis money is helping Hawaiians really in need." — Trustee Abe Alona

OHA awards $100,000