About Us

Mission and Composition

The enabling legislation for DCAB is Hawaii Revised Statutes §348-F.

A legislative history and background of DCAB and its predecessor agencies, the Commission on Persons with Disabilities, the Architectural Access Committee, and the Hawaii State Coordinating Council on Deafness can be found by clicking on the link: DCAB Background and Statutory Basis March 2019

The DCAB is comprised of seventeen (17) board members, who are Governor-appointed volunteers. Members include:

  • Persons with disabilities,
  • Parents or guardians of persons with disabilities,
  • Public and private providers of service, and
  • Other professionals who are knowledgeable in the areas for which DCAB has rule-making authority.

DCAB has a staff of 21 individuals.

The Board’s primary functions are to:

  • Serve as a public advocate of persons with disabilities by providing advice and recommendation on legislation, rules, policies, procedures (i.e., Grant Endorsements), and plans relating to persons with disabilities and their civil rights or service needs.
  • Establish guidelines for the design of buildings and facilities by or on behalf of the State or the counties in accordance with Hawaii Revised Statutes, §103-50; approve site-specific designs where an alternate design provides equal or greater access.
  • Issue administrative rules for the utilization of communication access services (e.g., sign language interpreters, real time captioners, computer-assisted notetakers). Guidelines also included determining the qualifications of interpreters and the credentialing of interpreters who do not hold national certification via a state screening process.
  • Administer the statewide program for the issuance of parking placards to disabled persons, in accordance with Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 291, Part III.

The Board hires staff, subject to legislative appropriations. Staff with expertise in human services, policy analysis, and facility design implement the Board’s actions. Services are provided statewide from staff centralized in an Oahu-based office.

Additional Information

We invite you to browse these documents with additional information about DCAB.

Training Activities

Want to learn more about accessibility design and related issues? We invite you to review training services that may address your needs.

DCAB Request for Speaking Engagement Form