00HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 19                                                                                      
01 Relating to the Alaska Council of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf/Blind.                                                
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
03  WHEREAS Alaska has a long-standing commitment to serving its disabled citizens,                                        
04 including the deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf/blind; and                                                                
05  WHEREAS, based on national average rates, Alaska's population probably includes                                        
06 approximately 6,000 people who have hearing loss ranging from mild to severe; and                                       
07  WHEREAS Alaska lifestyles include many activities that can cause hearing                                               
08 impairment, including travel by air and operation of four-wheelers, chain saws, snow                                    
09 machines, and other equipment; and                                                                                      
10  WHEREAS, although the hearing impaired represent the largest disability group in the                                   
11 United States, they are one of the most misunderstood and least served disability groups; and                           
12  WHEREAS the deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf/blind require many types of services,                                      
13 including rehabilitation, education, deaf interpretation, independent living, correctional, and                         
14 mental health services; and                                                                                             

01  WHEREAS many deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf/blind Alaskans experience drug and                                        
02 alcohol problems and live in communities with limited or no access to appropriate services;                             
03 and                                                                                                                     
04  WHEREAS the several agencies, offices, and councils that provide services to the                                       
05 deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf/blind often develop policies and programs without adequate                              
06 input from professional providers of these services or their consumers; and                                             
07  WHEREAS coordination of services for this disability group could result in more                                        
08 efficient and effective service delivery; and                                                                           
09  WHEREAS the Alaska Council of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf/Blind                                                    
10 (ACDHHDB) has been operating unofficially for two years as a referral center and                                        
11 clearinghouse of information for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf/blind; and                                         
12  WHEREAS several agencies that provide services to Alaska's deaf, hard of hearing,                                      
13 and deaf/blind residents have expressed willingness to expand their financial support of the                            
14 ACDHHDB in order to extend its effectiveness; and                                                                       
15  WHEREAS the ACDHHDB has obtained a business license and is working to obtain                                           
16 tax-exempt status in the State of Alaska and to achieve certification as a nonprofit organization                       
17 under sec. 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code; and                                                                       
18  WHEREAS additional visibility in the community of the deaf, hard of hearing, and                                       
19 deaf/blind, and the providers of professional services to these consumers, would help the                               
20 ACDHHDB attract additional funding through grants, private fund raising, and donations; and                             
21  WHEREAS operation of the ACDHHDB does not require, nor is expected to require,                                         
22 funding from state government;                                                                                          
23  BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature recognizes the Alaska Council                                         
24 of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf/Blind (ACDHHDB) as a statewide information                                           
25 clearinghouse and services referral center for issues affecting the deaf, hard of hearing, and                          
26 deaf/blind; and be it                                                                                                   
27  FURTHER RESOLVED that private citizens, state agencies, schools, social service                                        
28 providers, private foundations, and all other parties who deal with the deaf, hard of hearing,                          
29 and deaf/blind are encouraged to support the ACDHHDB and to use its services whenever                                   
30 appropriate.                                                                                                            
31   A COPY of this resolution shall be sent to the Alaska Council of Deaf, Hard of                                        

01 Hearing, and Deaf/Blind, 731 Gambell, Suite 200, Anchorage, AK  99501-3754.