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May is Better Speech and Hearing Month
 May
celebrates “Better Speech and Hearing Month, Connecting People,” and is
the perfect time for the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of
Hearing (KCDHH) to not only remind people of the importance of hearing
health, the signs of hearing loss, and resources available, but also to
assist in connecting people to information about safe listening. Click here
for resources.
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Click Below to Register to Vote: Primary
Election May 17!
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DeaFestival Held in Conjunction with KSD’s 200th
 The 14th Biennial DeaFestival will be held in
conjunction with the Kentucky School for the Deaf’s 200th Anniversary
celebration. The event will be held on Saturday, September 3, in the
Norton Center for the Arts on the campus of Centre College in Danville.
Click the DeaFestival logo to visit the DF website and click on the KSD
logo for a schedule of upcoming 200th events.
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Apple Re-Releases “CODA” Following Oscars Win
 After becoming the first streaming
platform to win an Academy Award for Best Picture, Apple is celebrating
the award with a release in theaters. The film will feature open captions
to make it accessible to deaf and hard of hearing viewers. Apple's CODA
follows the story of Ruby, a seventeen-year-old girl who is the sole
hearing member of a deaf family, a CODA (child of deaf adults). Ruby
joins her high school's choir and discovers a gift for singing. Click here
for show times in Kentucky theaters or stream on Apple TV+.
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Simpsons Make History with Deaf Actor & ASL
 A new episode of The Simpsons on April 10 featured a deaf actor. The episode
focused primarily on Lisa Simpson (Yeardley Smith), who finds out that
her role model and favorite musician, the late saxophonist Bleeding Gums
Murphy, has a son, Monk (deaf actor John Autry II) who’s deaf and needs a
cochlear implant. For his part, Autry says that the role has been “life
changing.” See a clip here.
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COVID-19 Positivity Rate Continues to Decline
 Dr.
Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health,
reported during a Team Kentucky update on April 7 that the state’s
COVID-19 community level map is the best it has ever been, with 114
green/low incidence rate counties, six yellow/medium incidence rate
counties and zero red/high incidence rate counties. He also reported the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized a second booster dose of
either the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for older
people and certain immunocompromised individuals:
·
Anyone
50 or older is eligible for a second Pfizer or Moderna booster four
months after their most recent dose; and
·
People
12 and older for Pfizer, and 18 and older for Moderna, with substantial
immunocompromising medical conditions are also eligible for a second
booster four months after their most recent dose. This determination is
between a healthcare professional and a patient.
There is now only one authorized monoclonal antibody in most
of the country – bebtelovimab. The state currently has enough to meet
demand in Kentucky. Two oral antivirals, molnupiravir and paxlovid are now
available at many Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, and Kroger pharmacies.
Physicians, nurse practitioners or physician assistants can prescribe
these to eligible patients. Read more here.
To follow more updates, visit kycovid19.ky.gov.
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Participate in
Survey on Mental Health Services for DHH
If you are a deaf or hard of hearing adult
Kentucky resident, you are invited to take part in a research study
titled, “An Investigation into the Availability and Quality of Mental
Health Services for the Deaf Community of Kentucky.” This anonymous study
is being conducted by Alaina Milam of Eastern Kentucky University. You
will not be asked to provide any identifying information. If you wish to
participate, please click here.
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Summer Camps for
DHH Children and Teens
Gallaudet University has released information about upcoming
summer camps, family learning vacations, and remedial clinics for deaf
and hard of hearing children and teens. Some programs are designed for
the entire family. Most camps require small application fees. Camp
information is received from various organizations across the United
States and can be viewed by clicking here.
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Kentucky Hands & Voices Family Retreat
 Do you have a child with hearing loss
between the ages of five and 17? Make plans to join Kentucky Hands &
Voices on October 14-16 at the Center for Courageous Kids in Scottsville,
Kentucky for an amazing family retreat. IT'S FREE! Space is limited, so
apply early. Activities include fishing, archery, mini golf, swimming,
horseback riding, crafts, woodworking, and more! Register here.
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RIT/NTID Offering In-Person Summer Programs for DHH
Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical
Institute for the Deaf (RIT/NIT) in Rochester, N.Y., is providing summer
program experiences designed for deaf and hard of hearing middle school
and high school students. The programs are presented in American Sign
Language (ASL) and spoken English, are certified by the New York State
Department of Health, and incorporate National Science Education
Standards. Health Care Careers Exploration Program, scheduled for July
23-28, is for students entering 10th-, 11th-, or 12th grade who are
interested in a career in the health care field. TechBoyz™ and TechGirlz™
programs, scheduled for July 23-28, are designed to help students learn
about and consider jobs and careers in STEM (science, technology,
engineering, and math) fields. For more information and to apply, contact
Mark Sommer, director of NTID Pre-College Outreach, at 585-475-7695
(voice), 585-286-4555 (videophone) or click here.
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KCDHH Commission
Board Vacancies
 There are four
vacancies on the Board of the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of
Hearing (KCDHH).
KCDHH is looking for enthusiastic, creative individuals who are
eager to be involved in the next phase of advocacy, education, and change
in the government of the Commonwealth.
For more information, please click here.
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KCDHH TAP Advisory
Board Vacancies
KCDHH has three vacancies on its Telecommunications Access Program
(TAP) Advisory Board, which advises the TAP on assistive technology for deaf,
hard of hearing and speech-impaired consumers. KCDHH is looking for
enthusiastic, creative individuals eager to participate in the TAP’s
mission to provide access to telecommunications for deaf, hard of hearing
and speech-impaired consumers in the state of Kentucky through the
distribution of specialized telecommunications equipment. Individuals
interested in the speech-impaired consumer representative seat or the two
deaf seats should submit a statement of interest and a current resumé to
Jessica Endler, TAP Program Coordinator, 632 Versailles Road, Frankfort,
KY 40601or email Jessica at jessica.endler@ky.gov.
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April’s (2022)
KCDHH Spotlight Q&A
is with Jessica Endler Smith, who is Program Coordinator at KCDHH.
Smith’s hometown is Louisville, where she graduated from Butler Traditional
High School. She earned her billing/coding certificate from Jefferson
Community & Technical College. Smith is married to Jeremy and is
mother to Morgan and bonus mom to Mykayla, Mykenzie, and Mason. They live
in Shelbyville. Click here
for the full story.
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2022 TDI
Scholarship Deadline, May 13
Now in
its fourth year, the TDI Communication Access Scholarship Program is
accepting applications. This program is available to all deaf and
hard-of-hearing students graduating from high school this year. The
scholarship application encourages deaf and hard-of-hearing students to
innovate and bring forth ideas for addressing the communication
challenges that the deaf and hard-of-hearing community faces.
Applications can be completed online or can also be mailed and must be
postmarked by the May
13, 2022. Applicants will be notified before September of the award. For
full scholarship details on eligibility, requirements, and application,
click on the photo below.
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ALDAcon 2022 Registration Is Officially
Open!
ALDAcon registration
has officially opened for the October 19-23 convention in San Diego. That
rate is $50 less than the Early Bird Special and a full $80 less than the
full rate! Sign up now for some great savings to reserve your space.
Remember you must be a member to take advantage of the lower rates and
our EZ Pay Plan. Sign up or renew
your membership now to take advantage of this amazing discount! Do you
know someone who would enjoy ALDAcon? You can gift them a membership!
Scholarships
Available to Attend ALDAcon 2022
If you need financial help in order to attend ALDAcon 2022, you
may be eligible to receive an ALDAcon scholarship. Scholarships can
provide up to full registration and hotel costs. The requirements to
apply are:
•You are a current paid-up member of ALDA or are willing to become
one
•You are deaf or hard of hearing
•You have genuine need of financial support to attend ALDAcon 2022
•You plan to attend all 5 days and commit to participating in
daily workshops and other conference activities.
•You have not previously been awarded two scholarships to ALDAcon.
If you answered "yes" to these questions, then you may
be eligible to apply for a scholarship to attend ALDAcon 2022. Click here
for complete information concerning scholarship requirements and the scholarship
application process.
Deaf Women United Opens Registration
for 2023
Deaf Women United has opened registration for the 2023 conference
that will be held in Chicago, July 26 to July 30. The early-bird rate is
available through February 28, 2023. For more information, click on the
logo below.
Google
Updating Live Transcribe to Translate Audio/Video
Google
Live Transcribe now allows you to translate speech offline, anytime and
anywhere. To assist those individuals who suffer from hearing loss,
Google is upgrading the Live Transcribe that will now let you translate
videos as well as audios from the device, even when offline. Read more here.
Snapchat New Lens Helps Users Learn ASL
Alphabet
Snap
is launching a new Snapchat lens that can help you learn American Sign
Language (ASL). It’s called ASL Alphabet Lens, and Snapchat is launching
it in partnership with SignAll, a company that has built technology that
can translate sign language. Visit here
for more info.
PLEASE VISIT KCDHH’S
IF YOU HAVE AN EVENT YOU’D LIKE TO LIST
ON THE CALENDAR, PLEASE EMAIL US AT:
kcdhh@ky.gov
COVID-19 Vaccine Resources
International:
World
Health Organization
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC)
National:
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Vaccines.gov
What
You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and
Other EEO Laws
Kentucky:
Kentucky
Governor News
The official Team Kentucky source for Vaccine
Kentucky Registry of Vaccine Location
KCDHH
COVID-19/Vaccine Important Links for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
KCDHH Facebook Page
Apps:
For those who have deaf family members who use sign language, consider
downloading Sorenson Wavello
and/or the ZVRS Sivo app on your smartphone. This app makes
it possible for you to see your loved ones on your screen next to your
interpreter.
Other KCDHH Resources:
KCDHH
KCDHH’s
Telecommunications Access Program (TAP)
Landline or wireless equipment for
Kentucky residents who are deaf, hard of hearing, speech impaired, or
have both a hearing and vision loss.
KCDHH
Commissioners
KCDHH Staff
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