Advocates: More services needed for those with disabilities

Easterseals Hawaii and the Hawaii Self-Advocacy Advisory Council, or SAAC, gathered Friday afternoon to raise awareness about people with disabilities. 

To commemorate the 28th National Disability Awareness Month, volunteers from Easterseals and SAAC waved signs and invited people to learn more about disability programs in Hawaii.

“People with disabilities are the most discriminated against people on the planet, full stop,” said Sunshine Riley with SAAC. “It’s already so hard to get help when you have disabilities. I mean, it can months to even get a wheelchair to someone in need here.”

Riley and Maelisa Evangelista with Easterseals are working to raise awareness and help people find resources to improve their lives.

Riley said the Hawaii Police Department lacks education on how to handle people with disabilities, “and we also don’t have a shelter for people with disabilities. So, many people fall through the cracks, because there aren’t enough resources or opportunities.”