Long Term Goals

• To promote public awareness of issues and citizens who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

• To promote use of available assistive technology

• To work toward funding of programs and services or Deaf and Hard of Hearing clients

• To empower citizens to fully and equally access services

• To serve as a resource and technical support to all stakeholders including service providers

• To establish a state standard for communication access

Fiscal Year 2004 Objectives

Goal 1: Public Awareness

• Serve as a clearinghouse for consumers, governmental agencies, service providers, and the general public

Strategies

• Develop a comprehensive electronic resource directory

• Expand information dissemination via website, listservs, and other means of print

• Develop information series, guides, and best-practices recommendations

• Provide public education and technical assistance

• Provide communication awareness and sensitivity training sessions

• Develop informational tools for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people

• Develop public relations

Goal 2: Assistive Technology

• To provide telecommunication equipment to low-income citizens

Strategies

• Perofrm outreach and educate the public about the availability of the Colorado Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program (TEDP)

• Communicate with the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), and the General Assembly as to the important need for additional funding to serve all low-income citizens

Goal 3: Funding Programs

• Promote dedicated funding for the Independent Living services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing citizens

Strategies

• Advocate for state-funded Independent Living programs to provide communication-accessible services to Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind consumers

• Communicate with the Colorado Department of Human Services and the General Assembly for supplemental funds to serve this population more effectively

• Expand programs and services available for Deaf-Blind clients such as SSP

• Promote the development of specialized and communication-accessible Adult Basic Education classes

Goal 4: Empower Citizens

• Serve as a liaison for consumers, governmental agencies, service providers, and the general public

Strategies

• Disseminate information to Deaf and Hard of Hearing consumers, governmental agencies, service providers about communication accessible programs and services, and other issues on deafness and hearing loss

Goal 5: Resource and Technical Support

• Promote compliance with federal, state, and local accessibility laws and regulations through collaboration and policy development efforts with state agencies to develop an effective system of services to Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals

Strategies

• Promote working relationships with state agencies

• Provide technical assistance and governmental agency communication-accessibility assessments

• Make recommendations for policy changes to state agencies

• Collaborate with state agencies to implement federal, state, and local accessibility laws and regulations related to communication access through cooperative agreements

• Collect data on citizens who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Late Deafened, and Deaf-Blind

Goal 6: State Standard

• To develop a strategic plan to improve communication access at all levels of the Colorado Government System

Strategy

• Coordinate with existing resources to develop a statewide plan to address communication access for Deaf and Hard of Hearing citizens

Opportunities

Acknowledging that CCDHH has limited funds and staffing, CCDHH will offer “Mini-Grants” as a way of collaborating with other services and programs to improve service delivery systems to Deaf and Hard of Hearing citizens living across the state.