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

Wed Dec 13 18:08:05 UTC 2023

Thank you!

Julie Reiskin

On Wed, Dec 13, 2023, 9:51 AM Dan Burke via Colorado-Talk <
colorado-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> 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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