00SENATE CS FOR HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 19(HES)                                                                 
01 Relating to the Alaska Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deafblind Council.                                                    
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 deafblind; and                                                                 
05  WHEREAS, based on national average rates, Alaska's population probably includes                                      
06 approximately 60,000 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 deafblind 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 deafblind 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 deafblind 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 Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deafblind Council (ADC) has been                                       
10 operating unofficially for several years as a referral center and clearinghouse of information                          
11 for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind; and                                                                       
12  WHEREAS several agencies that provide services to Alaska's deaf, hard of hearing,                                    
13 and deafblind residents have expressed willingness to expand their financial support of the                             
14 ADC in order to extend its effectiveness; and                                                                           
15  WHEREAS the ADC has obtained a business license and certification as a nonprofit                                     
16 organization under sec. 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code; and                                                          
17  WHEREAS additional visibility in the community of the deaf, hard of hearing, and                                     
18 deafblind, and the providers of professional services to these consumers, would help the ADC                            
19 attract additional funding through grants, private fund raising, and donations; and                                     
20  WHEREAS operation of the ADC does not require, nor is expected to require, funding                                   
21 from state government;                                                                                                  
22  BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature recognizes the Alaska Deaf,                                         
23 Hard of Hearing, and Deafblind Council (ADC) as a statewide information clearinghouse and                               
24 services referral center for issues affecting the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind; and be it                       
25  FURTHER RESOLVED that private citizens, state agencies, schools, social service                                      
26 providers, private foundations, and all other parties who deal with the deaf, hard of hearing,                          
27 and deafblind are encouraged to support the ADC and to use its services whenever                                        
28 appropriate.                                                                                                            
29   A COPY of this resolution shall be sent to the Alaska Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and                                    
30 Deafblind Council, 731 Gambell, Suite 200, Anchorage, AK 99501-3754.