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VOLUME 41, NO. 6
JUNE, 2023
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Kentucky Honors Virginia Moore in
Memorial
By Sara
Ladd, Kentucky Lantern
 LOUISVILLE
– There’s a version of the late Virginia Moore that the general public
mourns: the woman who stood next to Gov. Andy Beshear
day after day, interpreting in sign language how many Kentuckians COVID-19
had killed that day.
But her
friends and family who gathered at the Muhammad Ali Center in downtown
Louisville on Sunday (June 11) to celebrate her life remember her for so
much more than the fame she knew during the pandemic. Read Sara’s full
story here.
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Dowd Detailed KCDHH’s ED During National Search
 Anita
Dowd has been detailed as Executive Director (ED) for KCDHH as the board
begins a national search after the recent death of long-time ED Virginia
Moore. Moore passed away on May 6.
Dowd,
profoundly deaf since childhood, has served in various roles at KCDHH
during her 25-year tenure, most recently as Executive Staff Advisor for the
past 12 years. Not only is she an advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing
community in her professional life, but as the mother of two girls who also
have a hearing loss, she is also extremely passionate about removing
barriers and promoting awareness of various deaf and hard of hearing issues
in her personal life as well.
The Board
said “detailing” someone into the position means the individual may return
to their previous position or apply for the ED position. The Board’s search
committee held its first official meeting June 13.
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KDE Receives Input on Principal
Search at KSD
 Kentucky School for the Deaf
(KSD) supporters got the chance to express their opinions on the search for
a new principal during a series of forums in May.
The two forums – one virtual forum on May 24 and one in-person forum
on May 31 – served as opportunities for stakeholders in the Deaf and Hard
of Hearing communities to inform the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE)
and help the hiring committee make critical and informed decisions
throughout the process. More than 100 people participated in the two
forums.
KSD Principal Toyah Robey announced her retirement at the end of the
2022-2023 school year and the KDE is committed to sharing updates about the
search for the next principal. If you would like to receive information
about surveys, community forums and other updates about the principal
search, please click here. For other questions or
concerns, email kdecommunications@education.ky.gov. To read the full story, click here.
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June is Effective
Communication Month
 Did you
know June has been designated as Effective Communications Month?
Unfortunately, deaf and hard of hearing individuals deal with barriers to
effective communications in many different ways. One of the most important
ways we do this is by acting as a consultant to the governor, General
Assembly and various state and local governmental agencies concerning
policies and programs that pertain to people with hearing loss. KCDHH also cooperates with and assists
local, state, and federal governments, and public and private agencies in
the development of programs for deaf and hard of hearing persons. Effective communication is always at the
heart of making policies and programs accessible to deaf and hard of
hearing individuals. The KCDHH Telecommunications Access Program (TAP),
perhaps the agency’s most popular program, offers specialized equipment,
like captioned telephones and wireless devices like smartphones and tablets
that help make communicating through the telephone more effective while our
Visor Card program assists with effective communication between law
enforcement officers and deaf and hard of hearing individuals. These are
just a few of the ways KCDHH promotes effective communication, to learn
more about what we do and ways we can help, click here.
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Juneteenth Celebration June 19 at Capitol
 Governor Andy Beshear announced that on June 19, there will be a
Juneteenth ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda to honor the strength and
courage of African Americans and the contributions they have made to the
country. The Governor will also sign a proclamation officially declaring
June 19, 2023, as Juneteenth in Kentucky.
“This is an important day in our history as Americans – one where we
stand united in acknowledging the end of our nation’s greatest injustice,”
said Gov. Beshear. “And while we’ve made
progress, we must acknowledge that we still have a long way to go for true
equality. We must not hide from our history, even the parts that are
painful. We must learn from it and make progress for a better tomorrow.”
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Annual Deaf Awareness Day at Louisville
Zoo, August 20
 The 5th
Annual Deaf Awareness Day at the Louisville Zoo will be Saturday, August 20.
Discounted tickets are available for friends and family members: children
(ages 3-11) $12 each, adults (ages 12-59) $17 each, seniors (ages 60+) $12
each. Children under two years of age are free. If you have a child who is
deaf or hard of hearing and is a Kentucky resident, your child will also
receive a free ticket. Pre-register before August 18. Email info@kyhandsandvoices.org for
more information.
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Anyone
interested in attending a summer camp for deaf and hard of hearing
students, the Kentucky School for the Deaf Outreach Consultants have
compiled a list. Click here for
information on camps held in Kentucky in-person, online, and out of state.
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TAP Advisory
Board Seeking New Members
The KCDHH Telecommunication Access Program
(TAP) Advisory Board announces three vacant seats. They are looking for two
hard of hearing and one deaf representative to fill these positions.
The TAP Advisory Board advises the
Telecommunications Access Program on assistive technology for deaf, hard of
hearing, and speech-impaired consumers.
Members of the Advisory Board are
appointed by the KCDHH Commission Board. If you would like to serve on this
board, please submit a letter explaining your interest. You may email your
letter and current resume to Jessica Endler, TAP Program Coordinator, by
email at jessica.endler@ky.gov
or by mail at KCDHH, 632 Versailles Road, Frankfort, KY 40601. Deadline to
submit your paperwork is June 30.
For questions, call 502-573-2604 or click the video below.
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UK Invites
Applicants to Apply for Part-Time ASL Position
The University of Kentucky Department of
Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures & Cultures at the
University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky invites applications for the
position of part-time instructor (PTI) in American Sign Language, to begin
August 2023. They are currently seeking an experienced instructor to teach
two sections (3 credit hours each) of beginning American Sign Language, ASL
101, in the Fall 2023 semester, in person. The Fall 2023 semester runs
August 21, 2023-December 15, 2023.
Ideally, instructors would have an M.A.
degree (M.A. degrees in ASL and/or certification from the ASLTA will be
prioritized), but candidates with a B.A. and significant relevant teaching
experience will also be considered. The salary will be a minimum of $3,330,
depending on degree and experience, for each 3-hour class. Flexibility with
respect to the teaching schedule may be possible. Applicants interested in the position
should send a brief letter of application by email, an updated CV, and
contact information to Dr. Jeffrey Peters, Chair, Department of Modern and
Classical Languages, Literatures, and Cultures: jnp@uky.edu.
OVR Statewide
Deafblind Coordinator Sought
The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation is
currently seeking a Vocational Rehabilitation is seeking a Kentucky DeafBlind Coordination (Program Specialist II) to
perform independent professional vocational rehabilitation functions such
as vocational or technology assessments, rehabilitation technology, job
development and job placement, supported employment, vocational evaluation,
rehabilitation instruction, basic public relations and/or marketing
functions in a rehabilitation program. Please note, the advertisement for
this position states the position is working out of Louisville only.
However, this position can be housed in Frankfort, Lexington, or
Louisville. For view the position, click here.
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DSA Conference June 24-30, Hollywood, FL
 The Deaf
Seniors of America’s biennial conference provides educational sessions,
activities, and great opportunities for deaf senior citizens to connect
with each other. This year’s conference is in Hollywood, Florida, at the
Hard Rock Casino Hotel, June 24-June 30, 2023
and is for anyone 50 and older. For registration information, click here.
HLAA Convention in New Orleans, LA June
29-July 1
 The Hearing
Loss Association of American’s (HLAA) 2023 Convention is June 29 – July 1
in New Orleans, Louisiana! This year’s convention in the “Big Easy”
promises to be action packed with educational workshops, demo
presentations, an exhibit hall, social events, and a research symposium.
For more information, click here.
Deaf Women United Opens 2023 Conference Registration
Deaf Women United has opened registration for the 2023 conference,
Soar with the Wind,” that will be held in Chicago, July 26 to July 30.
The conference includes attendees from all walks of life: women of
inspiration and interpersonal connection. For more information, click here.
National Black Deaf Advocates
Conference, August 8-13
 The National
Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA) conference, “Reconnecting to Thrive
Together: Reconnect, Recharge, Thrive!” is
set for August 8-13 at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel in Alabama. All
diverse people including deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, hearing, educators,
professionals, federal employees, veterans, senior citizens, parents,
activists, CODAs, students, recent graduates, service providers,
interpreters, allies, and more are welcome to attend. For registration
information, click here.
ALDAcon 2023 Conference Date Change to Oct.
30-Nov. 3
Due to unforeseen circumstances with the host hotel’s renovation
project, the Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA) Conference
Planners and the ALDA Board exhausted all viable options and made the
tough decision to shift our dates. Originally planned for Nov. 1-5, 2023,
ALDAcon will now take place Oct. 30-Nov. 3,
2023. For hotel refunds and more information, visit here.
Here’s
What Galaxy Watch Universal Looks Like
In Samsung’s new beta take on Wear OS 4, the Galaxy Watch gains
Universal Gestures, which let you control your watch without touching the
screen. Here’s a first look at how the new tool works.
As a whole, the modern consumer tech industry has geared itself
increasingly more and more toward accessibility. That means features that
aid those with limited vision or blindness, who are deaf or hard of
hearing, or who even have dexterity limitations are all becoming
increasingly more common. Read more here.
Intel
Makes Technology Accessible for People with HL
Technology is increasingly central to
every aspect of human existence. It has the potential to unlock powerful
new possibilities, such as helping people hear what they wouldn't be able
to hear on their own.
More than 1.5 billion people worldwide
live with hearing loss, and the World Health Organization predicts that
by 2050 that number will increase to more than 2.5 billion people.
Technology is integral to helping people
with disabilities live independently and participate fully in all aspects
of life. Within Intel, there is a movement to improve accessibility for
people with hearing loss from multiple angles. Several projects are
ongoing at Intel to increase access to assistive devices and improve
their integration with other technologies. Read more here.
PLEASE VISIT KCDHH’S
IF YOU HAVE AN EVENT
YOU’D LIKE TO LIST ON THE CALENDAR, PLEASE EMAIL US AT:
kcdhh@ky.gov
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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