Hawaii Disability Rights Center

History

Congress created a nationwide Protection and Advocacy System for People with Developmental Disabilities in the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 1975. On July 1, 1977, Kahua Ho'omalu Kina (A Place of Protection for the Handicapped) was established as a non-profit corporation in the State of Hawaii to carry out this new federal mandate in the State of Hawaii. Shortly thereafter, the corporation began doing business as the Protection and Advocacy Agency of Hawaii. The corporation was renamed Hawaii Disability Rights Center (HDRC) in January 2000. Today, there is a protection and advocacy system operating in every state and territory of the United States, in Washington D.C., and for Native Americans. Congress has expanded the authority of the P&A systems to serve all disabilities and to operate and enforce the statutes.

Specialties

The Hawaii Disability Rights Center is Hawaii's Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System for people with disabilities and designated Client Assistance Program.