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Presenter outlines gaps in blindness services after Maui Center for Independent Living dissolution
Summary
A presenter and council members flagged service coordination gaps after the Maui Center for Independent Living closed, noting Aloha Independent Living now serves statewide and calling for lived-experience-led training, better outreach, and possible local certification programs.
Ricky Melchor, the meeting presenter, told the Maui County Council on Aging on June 9 that the dissolution of the Maui Center for Independent Living has created noticeable gaps in services for people who are blind or have low vision and that related services are now provided by a mix of state and nonprofit agencies.
County staff and council members described the loss of a “one-stop shop” for disability services and emphasized the need to improve coordination, workforce development, and public education. County Executive Rowena Dagdag-Andaya described the County’s Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and the “No Wrong Door” referral system, which connects residents to services but does not deliver direct services.
Public testimony echoed the presentation. Leelyn Brady urged building local training capacity, calling for partnerships with the University of Hawaiʻi system and community colleges to train orientation and mobility instructors and reduce reliance on off-island programs. Brady said, “more flexible service delivery models may be more sustainable for nonprofits and encouraged continued interagency collaboration and improved communication to better connect residents with available services and training opportunities.”
Council members discussed a grassroots symposium with Maui Wheelers as a possible first step to share lived experiences and build a foundation for training and outreach. Members and staff agreed the county could work with statewide providers such as Aloha Independent Living to improve referrals and accessible communication for people who are deaf, blind, or have mobility limitations.
