If your child has a disability, and you do not know where to find help, check out this list of essential resources available in your state. These essential contacts offer the most commonly needed services and can provide you with referrals to other appropriate services as well. If you have difficulty contacting any of these resources, please feel free to email me at: learningdisabilities.guide@about.com.
1. Department of Education - Special Education - Ages 3 - 21
States' departments of education oversee disability education services to children. It monitors school districts for compliance with IDEA and state special education regulations. The Department of Education handles formal complaints, due process hearings, and mediation on special education issues.
Student Support Services Branch
Hawaii Department of Education
637 18th Avenue, Room C-101B
Honolulu, HI 96816
Telephone: (808)733-4400
Website: Special Education Programs
2. Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers with Disabilities
Services to children with disabilities include instruction, speech, physical, and occupational therapies.
Birth - 2:
Early Intervention Section
Department of Health
1350 S. King Street, Suite 200
Honolulu, HI 96814
Telephone: (808)594-0006
Website: Early Intervention
Ages 3 - 5:
Office of Curriculum Instruction and Student Support
Special Education Services Branch
Student Support & Special Education Sections
637 18th Avenue, Building C
Honolulu, HI 96816
Telephone: (808)733-4838
website: Special Education Programs
3. State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency
Vocational rehabilitation services help people with disabilities live more independent lives by providing education, support, and services to assist them with becoming employed. The department works with middle schools, high schools, and higher education to help students with disabilities access appropriate supports for employment and independence such as job coaching, teaching skills, support in job placement, assistive and adaptive supports, and more.
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Department of Human Services
601 Kamokila Boulevard, Room 515
Kapolei, HI 96707
Telephone: (808) 692-7719
Website: Vocational Rehabilitation
4. Mental Health Services Agency
State mental health agencies provide services to individuals and families dealing with mental illness, mental retardation, and substance abuse. Services include advocacy, nursing home screening, psychiatric services, intervention, coordination of treatment, case management, and more.
Child Mental Health Services:
Behavioral Health Administration
Department of Health
1250 Punchbowl Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Telephone: (808) 586-4416
Website: Child Mental Health
Adult Mental Health Division
1250 Punchbowl Street, Room 256
Honolulu, HI 96813
Telephone: (808)586-4770
Website: Adult Mental Health
5. Disability Advocacy Services
Protection and advocacy offices offer information and referrals relating to disability issues, a resource database for self-advocacy, education and training in disability rights, and individual case advocacy.
Protection and Advocacy Agency
Hawaii Disability Rights Center 900 Fort Street Mall, Suite 1040
Honolulu, HI 96813
Telephone: (808) 949-2922 (TTY and Voice) Toll Free: (800) 882-1057 (TTY and Voice in Hawaii) Website: Hawaii Advocacy Services
6. Programs for People with Developmental Disabilities
Developmental Disabilities DivisionHawaii State Department of Health
1250 Punchbowl, #463
P. O. Box 3378
Honolulu, HI 96801
(808)586-5842
http://hawaii.gov/health/disability-services/developmental/index.html
State Council on Developmental Disabilities
919 Ala Moana Boulevard, Suite 113
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 586-8100
http://www.hiddc.org/
7. Programs for Children with Special Health Care Needs
Children with Special Health Needs BranchDepartment of Health
741 Sunset Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96816
(800) 235-5477 (HKISS) Neighbor Islands
(808) 733-9070
(808) 594-0066 Hawaii Keiki Information Service
http://hawaii.gov/health/family-child-health/cshcn/index.html
State CHIP Program for Low Income Children
Med-QUEST Division
P.O. Box 3490
Honolulu, HI 96811-3490
(808) 587-3521
http://www.med-quest.us/
8. Hawaii Office for the Americans with Disabilities Act
Disability and Communication Access Board919 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 101
Honolulu HI 96814-4920
(808) 586-8121 (V/TTY)
www.hawaii.gov/health/dcab
Regional ADA Technical Assistance Center
DBTAC - Pacific ADA Center
555 12th Street, Suite 1030
Oakland, CA 94607
(800) 949-4232 (V/TTY)
(510) 285-5600 (V/TTY)
www.adapacific.org
9. Programs for Children and Youth who are Blind or Visually Impaired
Ho'opono Services for the Blind, a branch of Hawaii's Vocational Rehabilitation Division1901 Bachelot Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 586-5311
Programs for Children and Youth who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Disability and Communication Access Board
919 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 101
Honolulu, HI 96814-4920
(866) 552-3572 - Videophone
www.hawaii.gov/health/dcab/
10. Communications Services for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Speech Impairments
Telephone/Telecommunication Relay Services (TTY)(808) 643-8255 (V)
(808) 643-8833 (TTY); 711 (TTY)
(800) 229-5746 (Speech to Speech)
http://www.adapacific.org/resources/relay/
