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STATE COMMISSION INFORMATION

OFFICE FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING (ODHH) ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING

OFFICE FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING (ODHH)

MANDATE:
Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, established within the Department of Labor and Industry pursuant to Act 184 of 1986 as amended [43 P.S. § § 1461 et.seq.].

MISSION:
The Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, an office within the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, providing information, referral and advocacy to adults and children who are deaf or hard of hearing, their employers, relatives, friends, physicians, lawyers and counselors.

POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE OFFICE:
The Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, with the advice of the Advisory Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and as directed by the Secretary of Labor and Industry, shall:
  1. Advocate and promote the accessibility to all governmental services to deaf and hard of hearing citizens in this Commonwealth, including those with multiple disabilities.

  2. Advocate and promote the establishment of a directory of agencies, both public and private, which provide community services, evaluate the extent to which they make services available to deaf and hard of hearing people, and cooperate with the agencies in coordinating and extending these services.

  3. Advocate and promote the establishment of regional service centers for the deaf and hard of hearing.

  4. Advocate and promote the mutual exchange of ideas and information on services for deaf and hard of hearing people among Federal, State and local governmental agencies and private organizations.

  5. Advocate and promote the use of qualified interpreters for the deaf and ard of hearing.

  6. Collect, systematize and make available for other agencies information in regard to deaf persons and other persons who are hard of hearing in this Commonwealth, including their numbers and characteristics, such as the nature, causes and severity of their hearing losses, their educational and economic status, and any other relevant information.

  7. Maintain a listing of persons qualified in various types of interpreting for deaf and hard of hearing persons and make this information availale to local, State, Federal and private agencies.

  8. Act as a source of information for the deaf and hard of hearing to State agencies and public institutions providing services to the deaf and hard of hearing and to local agencies and programs.

  9. The Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing shall act as an advocate for and promote the interests of the deaf and hard of hearing before any department, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the Commonwealth, or of any political subdivision thereof, as might be needed to enable it to properly carry out its activities under this section.

  10. Perform the duties and responsibilities outlined in this section only to the extent that they do not conflict with or duplicate services currently provided by the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
OFFICES

ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING
    Department of Labor & Industry
    909 Green Street
    Harrisburg, PA 17102
    717-783-4912 v/tt
    800-233-3008 v/tt
    717-783-4913 fax
Mandate/Authority of Advisory Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing:
 Act 184 of 1986, 43 P.S. § 1465 et.seq., as amended.
  • (a) Council.--The Advisory Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is created within the Department of Labor and Industry and shall consist of 17 members as follows: the Secretary of Public Welfare, the Secretary of Health, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor and Industry, the Secretary of Aging, or their designees; the Governor, or his designee; one member of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one member of the Senate to be appointed by the President pro tempore; and nine members of the public to be appointed by the Governor.
  • (b) Members.--The nine appointed public members shall be individuals selected from schools, organizations and non-State agencies which render services to or represent persons who are hard of hearing. At least four of the public members shall be deaf or hard of hearing. Initially, the Governor shall designate two of the public members to serve one-year terms, two to serve two-year terms, two to serve three-years terms and two to serve four-year terms. Thereafter, all appointed members shall serve for four years. The council members from State offices shall serve during their tenure in office and shall remain on the council until such time as a replacement is named and qualified. The legislative members of the council shall serve two-year terms commencing with the first Tuesday in January of odd-numbered years and may be reappointed upon reelection to office.
  • (c) Vacancies.--Vacancies occurring other than by expiration of a term of office shall be filled by the appropriate appointing authority for the unexpired term of office.
  • (d) Compensation.--Members of the council shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to receive necessary traveling and other expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties. The council shall meet at the call of the chairman but not less than four times a year.
  • (e) Election of officers.--The council shall biennially elect, from its own members, a chairman and such other officers it deems necessary. It shall makeIt shall make rules for its own government not inconsistent with those of the Department of Labor and Industry or other departments of the Commonwealth.

Mission of Advisory Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing:
To advance the independence of people with hearing loss and to support equal opportunity for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.


Powers and Duties of Advisory Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. [43 P.S. § 1466].

  1. Make recommendations in accordance with such policy and practice to the several executive and administrative departments, boards and commissions of the Commonwealth and to any public or private agencies therein which may be in any way concerned with work with or for the deaf or hard of hearing.
  2. Advocate services affecting hard of hearing individuals in the areas of public services, job training and placement, health care and educational opportunity.
  3. Act as a bureau of information for the deaf and hard of hearing to State agencies and public institutions providing services to the deaf and hard of hearing and to local agencies and programs.

Advisory Council Members




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