REQUESTING THE DISABILITY AND COMMUNICATION ACCESS BOARD TO STUDY THE HEALTH CARE SETTING COMMUNICATION NEEDS OF, AND DEVELOP GUIDELINES FOR, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEAF, HARD OF HEARING, OR DEAF-BLIND.

This bill asks the Disability and Communication Access Board in Hawaii to study how deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind individuals communicate in healthcare settings. The study will examine the availability of interpreters, patient preferences for communication methods, special needs of hospitalized patients, and legal requirements for healthcare providers. Based on the findings, the Board will update existing guidance to better address these communication needs and submit a report to the Legislature by early 2027.