[Colorado-Talk] Fwd: Urgent Call to Action to Support Services for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind!

Dan Burke burke.dall at gmail.com
Wed Dec 13 16:50:11 UTC 2023 

Greetings all --

I urge all of us to contact members of the JBC regarding the emergency
supplemental funding request for the interpreting services programs
for the deaf and deaf-blind that our CCDC folks so ably lay out below.
The Six JBC members' emails are at the end of Julie R's message.

Some of us are already aware that deaf-blined individuals, including a
number of our older blind members, have lost their SSP services. They
just stopped, and rather suddenly,. It's a big deral. Let's help get
the JBC to restore critical interpreting services.
Dan


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dan Burke <burke.dall at gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2023 09:09:27 -0700
Subject: Fwd: Urgent Call to Action to Support Services for Deaf, Hard
of Hearing and DeafBlind!
To: dcflowerdiana at hotmail.com

Hi Diana -

I'm forwarding this long email regarding funding for the Commission of
the Deaf, which includes the SSP program. At least some of our
deaf-blind folks have lost their SSP services altogether. I hope you
haven't, but I suspect you have.

We need to get the Joint Budget Committee to make an emergency
supplemental alklocation of funds. The emails are at the end of this
message, and I hpe you can email each of the six members of the JBC
asking them to do this.

Thanks,
Dan


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Colorado Cross Disability Coalition <info at ccdconline.org>
Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2023 17:24:53 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Urgent Call to Action to Support Services for Deaf, Hard of
Hearing and DeafBlind!
To: Daniel Burke <burke.dall at gmail.com>





Dear Community,



We need folks to take action to support those in our community who are
Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind.



What's Happening:



The Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind
has gone through their budget for interpretation services more quickly
than expected. Because of this, the Commission has begun to deny
requests for services. We believe that the Commission has not been
given adequate support from CDHS.  We need to demand short and long
term solutions. These services are a lifeline for many people in our
community!



How We Got Here:



All of the services that the Commission provides - including equipment
for people who are hard of hearing, rural interpreting services (ASL
and CART), legal interpreting, and SSP for people who are DeafBlind -
all come from the Disabled Telephone Users Fund.  This is a small tax
on phone bills. We believe that CDHS has not provided enough tracking
and oversight of the funds and also missed an important opportunity to
ask for additional funds to cover services through the end of the
year.



What We're Doing About It:



In the short term, we are asking for a supplemental to get cover
services through the end of the fiscal year while the community works
on a longer term solution.



The hearing for the Department of Human Services is Friday December
15th.  This is NOT when they would consider a supplemental but we need
to make sure the committee knows BEFORE Friday that this is a serious
problem.



How You Can Help:



We need people to email the Joint Budget Committee by Friday, December 15th!



Here is what the JBC needs to hear:



  - Start with your name and where you live and that you are Deaf
and/or have a disability.

  - Say how having rural interpreting has helped you.

  - If you have not used rural interpreting and/or you are not Deaf,
be sure to clearly state that you support the Deaf community's asks.

  - Say that you are writing to ask that there be an emergency
supplemental for this program.

  - Explain that you understand the following:



  - The Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind community was never told
there was a shortfall.

  - Suddenly services stopped.

  - There was a rule proposed that said they might have to limit some
services at some point and if so they would prioritize Medical, Legal,
and Employment.

  - These are not necessarily the priorities of the Deaf.

  - The Deaf believe there are ways to save money with proper planning
and notice.  For example, do not pay for services in hospitals because
the hospitals need to pay for this.

  - The Department of Human Services did not manage this money and
lumped together all services.  Then there was no transparency.  We
believe this was the responsibility of Human Services, not the tiny
staff of the Commission.



Then say you are asking for a short and long term solution.



1) Short term:  We need an emergency supplemental of approximately
$800,000 to get us through this fiscal year.  Some services,
especially SSP for Deafblind and interpreting, need to be immediately
reinstated.  Even if they cannot do full funding, there needs to be at
least two months' notice to communicate and let entities know that
they will need to be responsible for costs after a specific date. We
are asking that the JBC require Human Services to seek a supplemental
request.



2) Long term:  There needs to be extensive dialogue with the Deaf,
Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind communities to decide how to ration
services if necessary.  Deaf people should be able to decide their
priorities.



  -  The Commission needs to be properly supported and be allowed to
speak freely with the community that they represent.

  - Finding a way to raise the Disabled Telephone User Fee to increase
revenue to this program should be a consideration.

  - If this is not immediately possible other funding needs to be sought.







Send all of these comments in an email to:



  - Representative Rick Taggart  rick.taggart.house at coleg.gov
<mailto:rick.taggart.house at coleg.gov>

  - Senator Rachel Zenzinger SenatorRachelZ at gmail.com
<mailto:SenatorRachelZ at gmail.com>

  - Senator Jeff Bridges  jeff.bridges.senate at bridgesforcolorado.com
<mailto:jeff.bridges.senate at bridgesforcolorado.com>

  - Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer   barbara.kirkmeyer.senate at coleg.gov
<mailto:barbara.kirkmeyer.senate at coleg.gov>

  - Representative Shannon Bird   shannon.bird.house at coleg.gov
<mailto:shannon.bird.house at coleg.gov>

  - Representative Emily Sirota repemilysirota at gmail.com
<mailto:repemilysirota at gmail.com>

  - Copy (cc) Michelle Barnes, Director Human Services
michelle.barnes at state.co.us <mailto:michelle.barnes at state.co.us>

  - Copy (cc) Tom Dermody -Joint Budget Committee Staff
tom.dermody at coleg.gov <mailto:tom.dermody at coleg.gov>

  - Copy (cc) CCDC Co Director Julie Reiskin jreiskin at ccdconline.org
<mailto:jreiskin at ccdconline.org>



P.S. - If this email was forwarded to you and you'd like to receive
alerts and information delivered to your own inbox, become a membe
<https://ccdc.joylabco.com/take-action/membership/>r! It's free!



Julie --



Colorado Cross Disability Coalition

www.ccdconline.org <ccdconline.org>



Colorado Cross Disability Coalition · CO 80011, United States

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-- 
Dan Burke

National Federation of the Blind of Colorado Legislative Co-chair

President, NFB of Denver

"Blindness is not what holds you back.  You can live the life you want!"

My Cell:  406.546.8546
Twitter:  @DallDonal



-- 
Dan Burke

National Federation of the Blind of Colorado Legislative Co-chair

President, NFB of Denver

"Blindness is not what holds you back.  You can live the life you want!"

My Cell:  406.546.8546
Twitter:  @DallDonal

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