The board of the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing along with the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet has announced that Anita Dowd has been selected as the new executive director of the KCDHH.

Anita has worked for KCDHH in various positions since 1998. Throughout those 26 years, she has been dedicated to enriching the lives of the more than 700,000 Kentuckians who have a hearing loss through the commission’s dedication to advocacy, education, referral and outreach.

A Hodgenville native, Anita attended LaRue County High School, Gallaudet University and earned a bachelor of science degree in psychology from Eastern Kentucky University. In addition, she has a Hearing Loss Support Specialist certification and an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator certification and is fluent in English and American Sign Language. A resident of Louisville, Anita is passionate about advocating for effective communication and working with families of children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Anita has used her expertise and personal experience as a deaf individual and the parent of two adult daughters who have hearing loss to benefit a wide range of professional organizations including serving on the boards of National Hands & Voices; Kentucky Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Advisory Board; and the Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Council. Anita is an avid public speaker and has made numerous national and state presentations and conducted trainings on hearing loss for a variety of organizations including law enforcement, hospital administrators, emergency management, military veterans and families with deaf and hard of hearing children.

Please join us in congratulating Anita on her new position at KCDHH.

Seeking a qualified individual to serve on Commission Board

Do you want to make a change in the lives of deaf and hard of hearing individuals? The Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is looking for a committed individual who will be involved in making decisions that impact the lives of the 700,000-plus deaf and hard of hearing people in Kentucky.

The KCDHH Member-At-Large seat will expire June 30, 2024. Applicants may be deaf, hard of hearing or hearing. The Member-At-Large representative serves a three-year term, which will begin July 1, 2024 and expire on June 30, 2027.

Interested persons are encouraged to mail a current resume
along with a completed application to:

Tommy Evans, Chair
632 Versailles Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
502-573-2604 (V/T)
800-372-2907 (V/T)
www.kcdhh.ky.gov

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT APPLICATION AND RESUME IS APRIL 12, 2024

National Deaf History Month during April celebrates the contributions and accomplishments of people who are deaf and those who are hard of hearing and raises awareness for the Deaf community. The National Association of the Deaf first introduced National Deaf History Month in 1997, and in 2006, the American Library Association partnered with NAD in supporting and spreading awareness of this celebration. Initially, the month was celebrated from mid-March to mid-April. Then in March 2022, the National Association of the Deaf released a statement changing the dates to April 1-30 based on feedback from the NAD Deaf Culture and History Section and various stakeholders, including from organizations that represent marginalized communities within the Deaf Community.

HOW TO OBSERVE DEAF HISTORY MONTH

Learn sign language:

• Celebrating National Deaf History Month can start with learning American Sign Language (ASL). It will be fun and beautiful learning how to communicate with deaf persons around you.

Learn more about deaf history:

• You’ll find many useful contents about the history, challenges, and achievements of the deaf community. Consider memoirs, articles, books by deaf authors, and TED talks that feature deaf speakers.

Partner with the deaf community:

• There are various deaf rights advocacy groups in the U.S. Search through the websites of these advocacy groups to learn how you can join their fight for equity for the deaf community.

March 13 is the start of National Deaf History Month*, a celebration of how deaf and hard of hearing people have made the world a better place. Over the past several years, there has been a miniature revolution in film and television, with deaf actors getting major roles and leading high-profile projects. Here are some worth checking out at San Francisco Chronicle.

James Caverly plays the mysterious character, Theo, in the Hulu series "Only Murders in the Building."
Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu

*Note: This article incorrectly refers to the old starting date for National Deaf History Month (NDHM). Please see National Association of the Deaf's YouTube video announcing the new dates.

In 2023, the FCC adopted rules to require participating wireless providers to make available certain Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) in the thirteen most commonly spoken languages in the United States including American Sign Language (ASL).

As of February 15, 2024, they are seeking comment on the effectiveness of the ASL videos.

Go to FCC's web page for additional information, to view the demo videos, and to find out how you can make your comment.

Hearing loss can have a profound impact on a person’s quality of life, including their physical, cognitive and mental health. However, hearing loss remains a common problem, affecting approximately 48 million Americans. While hearing loss concerns are more common among aging adults, people of all ages can be affected. When left untreated, hearing loss can continue to worsen over time, so it’s important to talk to a hearing health specialist, such as an audiologist or ear, nose and throat physician, for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Familiarizing yourself with nationwide and global hearing loss statistics can help you better understand its prevalence, as well as the importance of diagnosis and treatment. Better yet, this knowledge can help empower you and your loved ones get the care you need. Read on to learn more about deafness and hearing loss, including what to do if you suspect you or a loved one may be affected. Read more at Forbes Health.

For more information, including how to get tickets to I AM DELIVERED'T:
https://www.actorstheatre.org/.../2023-2024/i-am-deliveredt/

Purchase ASL interpreted tour tickets here.

Note: At the time of this writing, the March 30th spots were sold out.
However, Maker's Mark has added April 27th to accommodate this special event.

Kentucky state and local agencies are preparing for an influx of travelers during the total solar eclipse that will sweep across 13 states on the afternoon of Monday, April 8, 2024. The celestial event is expected to bring at least 150,000 visitors to several Western Kentucky counties, with more than 1 million travelers expected to drive through Kentucky to viewing spots along the main path in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

"The solar eclipse will be a memorable and fun event for many Kentucky families," said Gov. Andy Beshear. "I encourage Kentuckians who intend to watch it to plan early to make this event safe for all. Choose your viewing location in advance, expect increased traffic and remember to take essentials, like protective eyewear and water."

The total solar eclipse will impact eight Kentucky counties and clip portions of four others. The totality phase will enter Kentucky around 2 p.m., CDT, in parts of Fulton and Hickman counties before rolling across Ballard, McCracken, Livingston, Crittenden, Union and Henderson counties along the Ohio River. It also clips small portions of Carlisle, Graves, Webster, and Daviess counties. Read more at The Lane Report.

Registration is required before April 10.
More information can also be found on Facebook.

If interested, you may register here.

Join us for the 7th annual SuperHEARo 5K on Saturday, May 18, 2024. The 1.5 Mile Fun Run (non-timed event) will take place at 9:00am followed by the 5K (a timed event) at 9:30am. In addition to an in-person event at White Hall State Historic Site, we will also have a virtual option so you can join us from near or far! Participants are encouraged to dress up as their favorite superhero. Packet pick-up will be available at Surge Screenprinting on Friday, May 17th or prior to the race on Saturday beginning at 7:30am.

Awards will be given for Top Overall Male & Female Finishers in the 5K, as well as Best Dressed Male & Female Superheroes. There will also be a prize for the Best Dressed Wonder Pet. Medals will awarded for the top three finishers in various age categories.

Click the image below to sign up:

The 2024 Primary Election is May 21. The deadline to register to vote in the 2024 Primary Election is April 22, 2024, no later than 4 p.m. local time. If you have any questions about voting, please contact the Kentucky State Board of Elections at 502-573-7100. Click here for more information on registration, absentee ballots, polling locations, and sample ballots.

A $1,000 scholarship for students who are deaf or hard of hearing and pursuing an undergraduate degree is now available. The scholarship will cover tuition, books, and supplies. Recipients may use the funds for any semester, including summer or during the 2024-2025 academic school year. Sertoma and Oticon, Inc. is providing the funding for the scholarships. Those interested must submit their application and required materials by April 1, 2024, 12:59 a.m. Winners will be notified by June 30. For eligibility, required materials, and to apply online, click here.

A notable upgrade is found within the Zoom feature. Users with low vision will appreciate an improved Zoom Display that offers smoother transitions and sharper image quality when magnifying content on the screen. It’s now easier to focus on specific areas of the screen without losing context, which helps in reducing eye strain and enhancing overall user experience.

For those who are hard-of-hearing or deaf, macOS Sonoma introduces superior real-time text (RTT) support when making phone calls. This technology enables users to type text messages live during phone calls, thus facilitating clearer and more efficient communication.

There’s also significant progress in the realm of Sign Language support in Group FaceTime calls. With automatic prominence on Group FaceTime calls, sign language users can stay more visually connected as the video call will prioritize their window when sign language movement is detected.

Read more about this and other accessibility features at The Tech Edvocate.

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

KENTUCKY COMMISSION ON THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING
632 Versailles Road
Frankfort, KY 40601

Voice: 502-573-2604
Videophone: 502-416-0607
Toll Free: 800-372-2907
kcdhh.ky.gov    |   kcdhh@ky.gov