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Mark Your Calendar for National DHH
Observances
World Hearing Day, March 3
 On World Hearing Day 2022, the World
Health Organization (WHO) will focus on the importance of safe listening
as a means of maintaining good hearing across the life course. In 2021,
WHO launched the world report on hearing that highlighted the increasing
number of people living with and at risk of hearing loss.
It highlighted noise control as one of the seven key H.E.A.R.I.N.G.
interventions and stressed the importance of mitigating exposure to loud
sounds. The World Hearing Day 2022 with the theme “To hear for life,
listen with care” will focus on the importance and means of hearing loss
prevention through safe listening. Visit here for
more information.
National Deaf Youth Day, March 6
 National Deaf Youth Day was developed
to recognize and bring together deaf and hard of hearing youth from
schools for the deaf, mainstream programs, and universities. National Deaf Youth Day serves two purposes:
to celebrate the unique identity of deaf and hard of hearing people and
their accomplishments, and to promote the idea that deaf and hard of
hearing youth can do anything. Click here
for more information.
National Deaf History Month to be Celebrated April 1-30
 Based on the feedback from the
National Association of the Deaf’s (NAD) Deaf Culture and History Section
(DCHS) and various stakeholders, including organizations that represent
marginalized communities within the Deaf Community, the NAD Board has
chosen April 1-30 as National Deaf History Month (NDHM). Click on the
photo below to view a video about the date change.
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Save September 3,
2022 for DeaFestival!
Click on the photo below to view a video about KCDHH’s
September 3 DeaFestival at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.
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Team KY Homeowner
Assistance Fund Launched
In partnership with Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC),
Governor Andy Beshear launched the Team Kentucky Homeowner Assistance
Fund, a program that can help homeowners impacted by the pandemic rebound
and avoid foreclosure. The program is funded through $85.4 million in
federal American Rescue Plan Act funds that the commonwealth received to
protect homeowners impacted by COVID-19. Qualifying homeowners can visit TeamKYHAF.ky.gov to apply for up to
$35,000 in assistance to help with delinquent mortgage payments, property
taxes, homeowner’s and/or flood insurance, homeowners
association fees, and utility costs. If approved, the funds will be paid
as a grant directly to mortgage servicers, utility companies, county
property tax administrators, insurance agencies, or homeowners associations.
For more information, click here.
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Everybody Counts Open to JCPS Class of ’22 Seniors
 Everybody Counts is a new
program that will help every Jefferson County Public Schools graduate who
doesn't currently have a plan for after high school graduation to secure
one of three pathways: a job at one of four participating companies,
post-secondary enrollment, or both. The program will begin in the
2021-2022 school year and will be in place to assist the class of
2022. The four participating
partner companies are Ford Motor Co., GE Appliances, Kroger, and UPS. For
more information, click here.
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WKY Disaster Survivor Assistance Contacts
Recognizing that
many deaf and hard of hearing consumers, families, and friends may not
have internet due to the storm damage, KCDHH is sending out links for the
sites that can offer assistance.
American Red Cross: Kentucky
Region
Red Cross Phone: 270-442-3574 or 800-RED-CROSS or
text REDCROSS to 90999 or visit the website at Red Cross
Assistance
FEMA: Fema
Assistance
FEMA Phone: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY
800-462-7585
The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster
Strategies for disaster
assistance for people with disabilities: 1-800-626-4959 or email
info@disasterstrategies.org
or visit disasterstrategies.org.
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Updates to New Kentucky Medicaid Fee Schedule
The Kentucky
Academy of Audiology website recently posted updates to the Kentucky
Medicaid fee schedule. It includes the addition of covered services when
the patient is over the age of 21 years. Prior to the end of 2021,
diagnostic services were not explicitly covered by Medicaid or a
patient’s managed care organization (MCO) when the patient was 21 years
or older. Click here
to view the fee schedule.
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Regional Driver Licensing Office Opens in Hopkinsville
 Governor Andy Beshear announced the
opening of a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) Driver Licensing
Regional Office in Hopkinsville, at 901A South Main Street, adding to the
network of offices to provide modern licensing and credentialing services
to Kentuckians. Operating hours will be Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to
4 p.m. CST. Customers can schedule an appointment online at drive.ky.gov.
Walk-ins are welcome on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Face Mask Usage During COVID-19
Effects on DHH
Please help
high school student Caroline Hamilton, a senior at Assumption High
School, Louisville, with her research project. She has many family
members who experience and live with hearing loss and, as a result, is
exploring how the deaf and hard of hearing community has been impacted by
the pandemic. She asks that you help her by completing an online survey,
“Face Mask Usage During COVID-19 Effects on Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Individuals.” You can take the survey by clicking here.
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Get Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four (4) free
at-home COVID-19
tests. Orders usually ship in 7-12 days. Order your tests now so you have
them when you need them. If you need help placing an order for your at-home tests, call 1-800-232-0233 (V) or 1-888-720-7489 (TTY).
For more information, click the photo below.
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KCDHH Commission
Board Vacancies
There will be 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.
Note: Applications
must be received by February 28, 2022. For more information, please click here.
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KCDHH TAP Advisory
Board Vacancies
Note: Applications
must be received by February 28, 2022
There are two vacancies on the Board of the Kentucky Commission on
the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (KCDHH) Telecommunications Access Program
(TAP) Advisory Board, which advises the TAP on assistive technology for
deaf, hard of hearing, and speech-impaired consumers.
Appointed by the KCDHH Board, the two Speech-impaired Consumer
Representatives’ four-year terms will be effective immediately
upon notification of appointment by the KCDHH Board. Applicants must be
speech-impaired as defined by regulation in 735 KAR 1:010: “A person with
a communication disorder such as stuttering, impaired articulation,
impaired language, or impaired voice that adversely affects the use of
telecommunication access lines.”
Persons interested in the Speech-impaired Consumer Representative
seat should submit a statement of interest and a current resumé to:
Jessica Endler, TAP Program Coordinator, jessica.endler@ky.gov or view
more information here. You may also view the video by clicking
here.
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February’s (2022) KCDHH Spotlight Q&A is
with Emily Kimbell, who is Information Coordinator for the Deaf and Hard
of Hearing at KCDHH. Kimbell’s hometown is Beelerton, Hickman County, where she attended Hickman
County High School and Kentucky School for the Deaf (KSD). Upon
graduation from KSD, she attended Gallaudet University and earned her
Bachelors of Science degree in Family and Child Studies. Kimbell
currently lives in Frankfort. Read more here.
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“CODA” Movie Earns Oscar Nominations
Troy Kotsur
has become the first deaf man and the second deaf actor nominated for an
Academy Award. Kotsur has been nominated for best supporting actor for
the movie “CODA,” where he plays Frank Rossi, a deaf man who is
navigating challenges to his Massachusetts fishing business as his
hearing daughter, Ruby (Emilia Jones), who acts as the family’s
interpreter, mulls a move to college. Marlee Matlin, his onscreen wife,
became the first Deaf performer to receive an Oscar nomination and the
first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award for her leading performance in
1986’s “Children of a Lesser God.”
CODA
became a breakout hit after the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, where Apple
acquired the movie for a record-breaking $25 million. The movie has gone
on to be a big contender this awards season, including a best picture
Oscars nomination. The 94th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 27, 8
p.m. EDT, at the Dolby® Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center® in
Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC.
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Nominations Accepted
for BHSM Recognition Award
 Hamilton Relay, the
contracted service provider for KCDHH’s telecommunications equipment, is
seeking your assistance in identifying candidates for the Hamilton Relay
2022 Better Hearing and Speech Month Recognition Award.
They are looking for individuals who are hard of hearing, late
deafened or have difficulty speaking and who have been a positive
influence in Kentucky, demonstrating commitment to volunteerism,
leadership, advocacy and enhancing the lives of
those around them. Award recipients are honored during the month of May
and will be featured on the Hamilton Relay website and under the Awards
tab of the Hamilton Relay Facebook page.
To nominate someone in Kentucky, complete and submit the online
form below by April 8 to Peggy Ward, Kentucky Outreach Coordinator,
Peggy.Ward@hamiltonrelay.com,
338 Hickory Place Nashville, TN 37214, or fax it to 615-739-7990.
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Gallaudet University
Scholarship Available
 The Deaf and Hard of
Hearing Infants, Toddlers and their Families: Collaboration and
Leadership Interdisciplinary Certificate Program at Gallaudet University
has a scholarship opportunity available for the 2022-2023 school year.
The deadline is March 1, 2022. For more information, contact Suzanne
Mattox, Director, Regional Early Acquisition of
Language at Alabama Institute for
Deaf and Blind, mattox.suzanne@aidb.org
or 256-474-0614 (VP/Voice).
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!
ALDAcon 2022 Call for Papers
for October Conference
The Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA, Inc.) is now
accepting workshop proposals for its 33rd Annual International Convention
in San Diego at the Four Points Sheraton. Workshops at ALDAcon cover a wide array of topics and submissions
are open to everyone. In the
spirit of this year’s theme, CELEBRATING DIVERSITY!, ALDA welcomes presenters with
hearing loss who also identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ, women and minorities. For
more information, please visit the ALDAcon Call for Papers
page. or the ALDA website by clicking on the
photo below.
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.
Vox Media
Enhances Podcast Experience for DHH
After its “Who We Are” podcast, sponsored
by Ben and Jerry’s, was included in Apple’s list of Top 10 history
podcasts, Vox Creative’s newest podcast series
is also making history by creating a new immersive transcript for each of
the six episodes of the “More Than This” podcast hosted by Danielle
Prescod, author and founder of 2BG. The inspiration for the immersive
transcript program was Mandy Harvey, a musician, the first guest of the
“More Than This” podcast, and who lost her hearing during her college
years. This pioneering transcript format is more visual. It shares more
of the emotions and feelings of a podcast to create an experience more
inclusive for the deaf and hard of hearing audience. To read more, click here.
RIT/NTID Offers Boot Camp-Style IT Training, Certification
The DeafTEC
Resource Center at Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical
Institute for the Deaf is partnering with information technology industry
certification leader CompTIA to provide a full-time, 10-week hands-on
training course at no cost for deaf and hard-of-hearing adult learners.
Eligibility requirements and registration information are on the boot camp
website. The application deadline is February 28, 2022.
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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