H.C.R. No. 74 Summary

• Affirms that Hawaii state government, counties, and entities contracting with the state or counties shall use the term "deaf-blind" (lowercase with hyphen) to describe individuals who are both deaf and blind.

• Notes that "deaf-blind" terminology is used by major institutions including the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults and the National Center on Deaf-Blindness.

• References Hawaii Administrative Rules section 11-218-3, which defines "person who is deaf-blind" as any person with both auditory and visual disabilities that interfere with communication.

• Acknowledges that some individuals and organizations have sought to use the alternative term "DeafBlind" (capitalized with no hyphen) and rejects this alternative spelling.

• Directs certified copies be sent to the Directors of Health and Human Services, all four county mayors, and the Executive Directors of the Disability and Communication Access Board and Hawaii Civil Rights Commission.