Legislature(1997 - 1998)
04/30/1997 03:34 PM House HES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HCR 19 - COUNCIL OF DEAF/HARD OF HEARING/DEAF/BLIND Number 0380 CHAIRMAN BUNDE announced the next item on the agenda was HCR 19, Relating to the Alaska Council of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf/Blind. Number 0420 DAN SADDLER, Legislative Secretary to Representative Bunde, said HCR 19 was designed to offer recognition and encouragement to a volunteer, nonprofit organization that is dedicated to improving the quality of services available to assist Alaska's deaf, hard of hearing and deaf/blind citizens. The Alaska Council of Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf/Blind has been operating for two years. Its members are drawn from several nonprofit organizations already operating in Southeast, Interior and Southcentral Alaska. Members are also drawn from representatives of state councils dealing with this community. MR. SADDLER explained that the council was established to address the need for a central clearinghouse of information on the services available and needed by the community of deaf, hard of hearing and deaf/blind Alaskans. The council is not so much a warehouse that provides services, but acts as a library and forum where information about these services is available for consumers and providers to share. While many individuals, agencies and institutions serving this community have good intentions, they are hampered sometimes by their isolation from the large body of knowledge on deaf, hard of hearing and deaf/blind issues available elsewhere. This community comprises a distinct linguistic and cultural minority which is different from the mainstream linguistic and cultural population. Resources for these Alaskans are limited and fragmented. Qualified professionals are rare and standards of performance don't exist for most people who are trying to provide human services to this group. Number 0532 MR. SADDLER stated that there are at least 6,000 Alaskans who have some type of hearing loss. This loss can be caused by the effects of snow machines, chain saws or industrial noise. Most times hearing loss is rooted in genetics or in the effects of childhood ear infections. At least 40 states have recognized councils, commissions or task forces related to the deaf. This resolution will provide the Alaska council an increased prominence in our state which should encourage various individuals, organizations and agencies to utilize their services. The resolution will also encourage other nonprofits to continue offering this council their financial and organizational support. MR. SADDLER said it is important to note several things this resolution does not do. It does not create any state council, agency or panel. It does not establish this council as the sole voice of Alaska's deaf, hard of hearing and deaf/blind community. It does not bar any other organization from providing services. It does not cost the state a penny. He encouraged the committee to support this resolution to recognize and encourage the Alaska Council of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf/Blind in its work, sharing information and fostering understanding to improve the quality of services available to this group of Alaskans. Number 0625 REPRESENTATIVE PORTER cited a personal experience of hearing loss. He stated that there is a lot of misunderstanding and a lack of acceptance for the needs of people who are hard of hearing and deaf. He felt there was room for increased understanding and that the council was well positioned to accomplish this task. Number 0736 MS. KAYA, Treasurer, Alaska Council on Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf/Blind Council, testified next via teleconference from Fairbanks. She said the council has been gathering information and becoming a resource for many communities. She travels to the rural areas of northern Alaska to work with these issues and collect data. She felt there were 60,000 people in Alaska who are deaf, hard of hearing and deaf/blind, not 6,000. The national average states that 8 percent of people have some type of hearing loss ranging from mild to severe. Alaska is known to have a much higher than this national average. If you take the Alaska population and multiply it by 8 percent, you will derive a figure somewhere near 60,000. Number 0848 CHAIRMAN BUNDE commented that 60,000 would fall into the category of hearing loss and perhaps the 6,000 referred to the profoundly deaf. Number 0855 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked why Alaska was significantly higher regarding hearing loss. Number 0873 MS. KAYA answered that there are a variety of theories: snow machine use, hunting, equipment and ear infections. Alaska has a much higher proportion of ear infections due to the weather and lack of medical care in the more rural areas. Number 0904 CHAIRMAN BUNDE mentioned that when he worked as a speech and hearing therapist, he worked with people who had bilateral losses. There were so many people with this type of loss that people weren't operated on unless they were severely impacted in both ears. Number 0940 ALAN CARTWRIGHT, President, Alaska Council on Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf/Blind Council, testified next via teleconference from Anchorage. He said there are networking systems throughout the state which provide accurate information to those who need to decide policy and programs. These decisions will ensure a better quality of services for the state of Alaska. He strongly appreciated the legislative stand in HCR 19. Number 0938 DUANE MAYES, State Coordinator for the Deaf, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Education, testified next via teleconference from Anchorage. The division supports this resolution. Number 1009 DARRELL CAMPBELL, Member, Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education, testified next via teleconference from Anchorage. The Governor's council is in favor of HCR 19 because the Alaska Council on Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf/Blind Council represents organizations and agencies throughout the state. The council can assist the Governor's council to give advice on how to be better prepared and to provide quality services for the deaf, hard of hearing and deaf/blind. He appreciated the legislature's support of HCR 19. Number 1051 MARCIA BARNES, Member, Alaska Council on Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf/Blind Council, testified next via teleconference from Anchorage. She has worked as a coordinator for deaf/blind services and explained that one of the difficulties was getting the proper information to correctly identify the population. There is a misconception that a hearing aid can solve all the problems for a hard of hearing person. This resolution will assist the council in promoting a better understanding of these types of issues. Number 1129 DERRILL JOHNSON, Developmental Disabilities, Division of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, Department of Health and Social Services, said the department wants to support HCR 19. They feel it provides a public endorsement of past efforts and they believe that this council can become an advocacy organization for the deaf and hard of hearing. The organization has created a role for themselves as an established clearinghouse for information which goes out into the community in a wide variety of means. This council has successfully acted as a referral agency for information to families who might just be starting to learn about this subject. This council can be a potential future provider of services, but they will also be able to work as a liaison with existing agencies. He felt this council has been very effective in bringing the needs of the deaf community to the planners for future funding and services. Number 1222 REPRESENTATIVE FRED DYSON made a motion to move HCR 19 with individual recommendations. There being no objection, HCR 19 was moved from the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|