Commission for the Deaf public meetings in 2022
6 substantive meetings from 2022, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Commission for the Deaf
The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf holds a special session to discuss and potentially take action on elevating community concerns from the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing community to the Special School District (SSD) Board of Directors. The meeting includes public comments and standard procedural items.
- Consideration of actions to elevate community concerns to the Special School District Board of Directors
The Commission for the Deaf heard public testimony regarding leadership and staffing concerns at the Louisiana School for the Deaf and Visually Impaired. The Commission voted to send a formal letter of concerns to the Special School District (SSD) and to request a joint meeting between the two boards.
- Approved motion to draft and send a letter to the SSD including 11 points of community concern (8-4)
- Approved motion to request a joint meeting between the SSD board and LCD board (9-3)
- Approved the meeting agenda
Commission for the Deaf
The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf holds its quarterly board meeting. Members will elect a new chairperson and set 2023 meeting dates. They will also receive a report on the LCD administrative code and discuss training for service professionals working with deaf clients.
- Election of chairperson
- 2023 meeting dates
- Administrative code ad hoc committee report
- Adult group homes/assistive living discussion
- Training for direct service professionals
The Commission elected a new chairperson and approved the draft of the LCD Administrative Code. The board also set the 2023 meeting schedule and decided to hold a separate special meeting to discuss community concerns regarding the Special School District.
- Elected Dr. Natalie Delgado as chairperson (unanimous)
- Approved LCD Administrative Code draft
- Approved 2023 meeting dates: January 20, April 21, July 21, October 2
- Denied adding community concerns regarding Special School District to current agenda
- Decided to schedule a future special meeting to discuss Special School District concerns
- Approved meeting minutes
Commission for the Deaf
The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf holds its quarterly board meeting. Items include formalizing special session topics, updates on barriers to deaf leadership and interpreter registry, and new business on SB 98/Act 128 rule-making, FY23 strategic focus, and telecommunications priority (TEDPA report). Public comments are accepted.
- Formalize special session topics
- Barriers related to Deaf Leadership and Provision of Services update
- Interpreter Registry update
- SB 98/Act 128 update and rule-making process
- FY23 Strategic Focus Report
The Commission approved the FY23 budget and a budget increase for the one-time hearing aid program. It established a DeafBlind Advisory Committee and created two adhoc committees to review rule revisions following the passage of Act 128. The board also approved a contract with Innivee Strategies for leadership development.
- Approved FY23 Budget (none opposed)
- Approved one-time hearing aid program budget increase (none opposed)
- Approved contract with Innivee Strategies for Leadership Development cohort (none opposed)
- Established DeafBlind Advisory Committee (none opposed)
- Created adhoc committee to review rule revisions for Act 128 (none opposed)
- Created second adhoc committee for interpreter related rule revisions (none opposed)
- Approved motion to research alternative funding for Support Service Provider Program (none opposed)
- Changed August meeting time to 9:00am-1:00pm (none opposed)
Commission for the Deaf
The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf holds a special session to discuss barriers to deaf leadership and service provision, a leadership development cohort, a hearing aid program proposal, and a FY 23 budget proposal added by motion. The meeting includes public comments and approval of the agenda.
- Discussion of barriers related to Deaf leadership and provision of services in Louisiana
- Leadership development cohort proposal
- Hearing aid program proposal
- FY 23 budget proposal (added via motion by Secretary Argrave on 04.29.22)
The Commission approved a one-time $1.5 million payment for hearing aids and a 2023 budget increase to $3.4 million. Members also approved a contract with Innivee Strategies for a leadership development cohort and requested an advisory opinion from the Board of Ethics regarding leadership conflicts.
- Approved $1.5 million one-time payment for hearing aids (none opposed)
- Approved FY 2022-23 budget increase to $3.4 million (none opposed)
- Approved contract with Innivee Strategies for Leadership Development Cohort (none opposed)
- Approved request for advisory opinion from Board of Ethics on community leadership conflicts (none opposed)
- Approved extending July 22, 2022 meeting time to 9:00am-1:00pm (none opposed)
- Approved agenda additions for meeting time and commission vacancies (none opposed)
Commission for the Deaf
The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf holds its quarterly meeting to guide program efforts for d/Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing residents. Old business includes updates on legislative revisions, executive director succession planning, and the interpreter registry. New business covers barriers to deaf leadership, a leadership development cohort, and a hearing aid program proposal. Public comments and committee reports are also on the agenda.
- Legislative revisions update
- Executive director succession planning update
- Interpreter registry (LA Interactive) update
- Barriers related to deaf leadership and service provision
- Hearing aid program proposal
The Commission approved a motion to send a letter to Affiliated Blind concerning the management and funding of the Specialized Sign Language (SSP) program. The board also approved the meeting agenda and previous minutes. No further substantive decisions were made due to a loss of quorum.
- Approved motion to write and send a letter to Affiliated Blind (Gore, Isch)
- Approved meeting agenda with FY 23 budget review added (Argrave, Isch)
- Approved previous meeting minutes (Isch, Laine)
Commission for the Deaf
The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf will meet via teleconference due to COVID-19 public health emergency measures. The agenda includes officer elections, director reports, and updates on various state agency matters.
- Election of Officers
- Update on ASL Studies Program letter to Board of Regents
- Update on Ethics Board Request
- Update on LightHouse, La- Capitol Accessibility
- Follow up on Ex Director Succession Planning
The Commission approved five recommendations from LightHouse LA to increase accessibility at the state capitol, including AI captioning and ASL interpreter protocols. Members also voted to form a group to redefine the role of the LCD Director and reconfirmed the Vice Chair and Secretary.
- Approved five LightHouse LA recommendations for Capitol accessibility (none opposed)
- Approved formation of a group to redefine the role of the LCD Director (10-0)
- Confirmed Vice Chair and Secretary roles for the next two years (none opposed)
- Approved meeting agenda (Gore, Mendoza)
- Approved previous meeting minutes (Brown, Gore)