| | If The Navigator looks short or cut off in your email, use the "View as a webpage in your browser" link above to view the entire newsletter in your browser. Email platforms can "Clip" newsletters and you will miss the clipped content. You know you are looking at the entire thing if you see our logo in the footer. | | | | Commission updates | Spotlight
Where we've been | Mark your calendar | | | |
Deaf and hard of hearing individuals are 1.5 times more likely to experience relationship violence than their hearing peers. Women with disabilities experience higher rates, higher intensity, and longer length of domestic violence and sexual assault compared to women without disabilities. Deaf and hard of hearing victims and survivors may have different needs than hearing victims and survivors. We want to make sure the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind communities know their rights and have access to the services they need, which is why CCDHHDB is participating in National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW).
NCVRW challenges us to confront and remove barriers to achieving justice for all victims of crime. During NCVRW, we recognize the accomplishments of the victims’ rights movement and reflect on how far we have come. Every April, the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) leads the annual week-long observance of Crime Victims’ Rights across the nation. This year NCVRW will run from April 6–12. The theme is: Connecting - Kinship - Healing.
This year’s theme is a call-to-action to center all survivors and victims of crime in shared humanity as we support them. Kinship drives vital connections and is where the victim advocacy begins. Connecting in kinship increases access to services, rights, and healing. We are sharing two Colorado entities that offer kinship-inspired access to services that align with the needs of the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind communities. You will also find a list of links and resources at the end of this article.
Deaf Overcoming Violence through Empowerment (DOVE)
DOVE works with Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Hard of Hearing (DDBDDHH) people of all ages and backgrounds who have experienced abuse. Abuse includes: domestic violence, family violence, sexual assault, child abuse, adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, bullying, stalking, and teen dating violence. DOVE operates a 24-7 crisis line, supports the emergency needs of victims, and provides outreach and education.
Contact
You can reach DOVE advocates 24/7 via its HOTLINE.
Videophone (VP): 303-831-7874
Email: hotline@deafdove.org
Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center
Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center is a Colorado nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services to victims of crime in Colorado. Services are offered through Victim Rights Legal Services, Legal Information Network of Colorado, and Title IX programs.
Services available:
- Information on the legal system and rights of victims
- Resources and referrals
- Limited assistance getting information about case status, rights, etc.
- Legal representation related to the enforcement of rights under the Colorado Victim Rights Act
- Legal representation related to the protection of privacy rights
Contact
303-295-2001
info@RMVictimLaw.org
intake@RMVictimLaw.org
Article Links
| | |
The Colorado Consumer Protection Act requires “sign language interpreters” to hold a valid certification from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) or Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI). This law helps protect all members of our communities, whether they be deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or hearing by ensuring access to skilled and certified interpreters. Contrary to popular belief, sign language interpreters are for anyone and everyone who participates in an interaction where both signed and spoken languages are used. Thus, the quality of interpretation is paramount in ensuring the necessary language and cultural nuances are properly translated and conveyed to all involved in those types of situations.
People who are not RID or BEI certified and accept “sign language interpreting” assignments must disclose that they are not certified, so that the requester and/or consumer may determine whether to proceed with non-certified interpreting.
Consumers can ask interpreters for proof that they are certified. Asking to see the interpreter’s certification credential ensures the interpreter is certified and following Colorado law. If this individual cannot provide proof of certification, the DHHDB and hearing consumers have the right to report concerns.
To check whether an interpreter is certified, you can look them up in the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) or the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) databases (Links below). You can also contact the individual responsible for scheduling accommodations and request proof of the interpreter’s certification.
You may report someone working as a “sign language interpreter” in Colorado without the proper certification by filing a complaint with the Consumer Protection Section of the Colorado Attorney General’s Office (link below).
We have created an infoguide to help understand your rights. Feel free to contact us if you have questions.
Contact
office.ccdhhdb@state.co.us
720-457-3679
Article Links
| | |
We are seeking enthusiastic and committed people for several commission and council roles. If you are interested in filling these vacancies, please complete the appropriate application by April 30, 2025. Links to additional information for application are listed below.
Commission
Seven governor-appointed commissioners of the Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind advise Colorado Department of Human Services staff regarding the needs and challenges of the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind communities. Commissioners serve four-year terms. Each member represents one of the following communities: deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, late-deafened, auxiliary service providers, professionals, and parents.
Currently, there are two Commissioner vacancies:
- DeafBlind representative
- Deaf representative
DeafBlind Advisory Council
The DeafBlind Advisory Council is a seven-member advisory council that advises the Colorado
Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind regarding the needs and challenges
of the DeafBlind community. Members serve four-year terms. Each member represents one of
the following communities: deaf and blind, deaf and low vision, hard of hearing and blind,
hard of hearing and low vision, latent deafblind, a professional working with the deafblind
community, and/or parent of a deafblind child.
Currently, there is one vacancy:
- Deaf/Low Vision representative
Article Links
|
| Image Description: Trilingual interpreter Rey Martinez is pictured in the lower right corner, interpreting a part of the legislative session in the House Chambers at the Colorado State Capitol. Rey is a credentialed legal interpreter and can provide technical legal interpretation into ASL, as well as in Spanish. | |
Rey Martinez, Trilingual Interpreter
The Commission has the privilege of working with a number of vendors - CART captioners, interveners, orientation & mobility specialists, sign language interpreters, and support services providers. No two vendors are the same - they bring a wealth of experience to their assignments! We often discover vendors have unique skills and qualifications that may be of interest to others. Let us introduce you to Rey Martinez, currently the only certified trilingual ASL/English/Spanish interpreter on the Commission’s vendor list. He takes sign language interpreting assignments for the Commission’s rural and legal communication access services programs.
Rey is originally from South Texas, specifically the Rio Grande Valley on the Mexico border. He obtained his Associates of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Occupational Therapy while learning ASL with a group of friends who were Deaf/HOH. With encouragement from his friends and interpreting mentors, he took the Board of Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) test and passed.
After moving to Colorado, he went on to take and pass the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) National Interpreter Certification (NIC), BEI Advanced Trilingual (ASL/English/Spanish) Certification, and recently the BEI Court Interpreter Certification. Rey was part of the Legal Communication Access Services legal interpreter mentoring cohort in 2022-2023, which sparked his interest in becoming a court interpreter. He received his Status II Legal Credential Authorization in May 2023 and advanced to Status I in February after passing the BEI Court Interpreter Certification.
Rey enjoys the art of interpretation and loves talking about it. He also enjoys furthering his knowledge with more training, like the court interpreter training from the Southern California School of Interpretation. Aside from interpreting, Rey also loves hiking and running and feels Colorado is one of the best areas for that! He shares his life with his amazing wife, an English/Spanish interpreter, and his son, who he hopes may also have a passion for interpreting.
| |
Contact Lead ASL/English Interpreter Christine Pendley to learn more about interpreter certification in Colorado or becoming a legally qualified sign language interpreter.
Contact
Christine Pendley
christine.pendley@state.co.us
Image Description (Right): On top of being a trilingual interpreter, Rey is a dedicated husband and father. Rey enjoys spending time in the Colorado outdoors with his family.
|
| |
Lived experience in state employment
Congratulations to Communications and Support Specialist Heather Wilcox, who just celebrated 20 years of working for Colorado state government.
| | Image Description: Communication and Support Specialist Heather Wilcox at the CDHS office on Capitol Hill. Heather has worked for multiple state agencies over the course of 20 years. | | |
We asked her to share reflections on her career and the personal journey that has impacted it.
Twenty years is a lifetime for some, but for me, looking back, I realize that being 20 was a lifetime ago. Today I reflect on a journey that has shaped me. I joined the state workforce in 2005. My dad, mom, and sister all worked for the state and I was ready to jump on board. During my state employment, I have witnessed five governor terms, four governors, and worked for three different state agencies (Department of Local Affairs, Department of Public Health and Environment, and Department of Human Services or CDHS). I joined CDHS and the Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind (CCDHHDB) in 2022.
I was born with hearing, but also a congenital defect of my inner ear called Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct (EVA). We didn't know I had this until I was hit in the head at age eight and the oval windows on both of my cochleas ruptured.
From age eight to 12, I wore hearing aids in both ears, learned how to read lips, and picked up some Signed Exact English (SEE). I was not exposed to American Sign Language until later in life. English is my first language, and despite common perceptions, not all deaf people use sign language. I am the only staff member at CCDHHDB who is not fluent in ASL.
At age 12, my right ear hemorrhaged after a surgery and I lost all hearing in that ear. Living with one hearing aid and lip-reading through middle school and high school was a challenge that set me up for success later in life. Out of all the lessons I learned, the tool I value most is self advocacy. I was taught to stand up for myself and "go get" what I need.
At the end of high school, I noticed some fluctuation in my hearing. One day, it unexpectedly tanked and we rushed to my Ear, Nose, and Throat office for testing. I kept passing the tests but couldn't understand the actual spoken conversation. My audiologist realized what was going on with the testing. Some hard of hearing individuals will automatically compensate for reduced hearing by filling in the blanks or anticipating words, sounds, and answers. After so many years as a hard of hearing teen, I was compensating and skewing the results of my tests. I promptly failed the next test, and immediately became a candidate for a cochlear implant.
Today, I am bilaterally implanted with two cochlear implants. I hear very well with them, but make no mistake, implants do not cure deafness or provide "normal" hearing. I still read lips, use captions, and sit in the front for meetings. I “go-get” what I need. I am deaf.
The best part about my job is providing a unique insight based on my lived experience as a deaf and hard of hearing individual. I am a deaf Colorado State government professional, and I have first-hand knowledge about accommodations and accessibility.
Everything I do at work has an accessibility lens. I am committed to providing communication access and sharing information with everyone in Colorado, in clear and meaningful ways. Maya Angelou once said "Do better when you know better." I’ve grown so much in my 20 years of service, and I know there is more to do. I will always strive to do better. I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us.
| | Image Description: Heather Wilcox shares the challenge coin she received from CDHS commemorating 20 years of public service as a Colorado State Employee. | | Highlighting our activities in the communities we serve | | |
Image Description (Above): Governor Polis stands behind the podium speaking to attendees of Disability Rights Advocacy Day at the Capitol while an ASL interpreter provides communication access for those that sign. An estimated 600 people attended the event.
Image Description (Below Right): CCDHHDB Interim Director Trish Leakey spent time with Representative Clifford discussing communication access services during the D-RAD event. Changes in policy and accessibility are coming!
| | |
Many CCDHHDB staff members attended the Disability Rights Advocacy Day at the state Capitol on Thursday, March 6, 2025.
D-RAD is an annual day of disability rights advocacy at the Colorado State Capitol. Coloradans with disabilities, community members, and other interested individuals attend to represent their communities.
Purpose:
- Share and learn about legislation
- Observe Legislative Process
- Meet with lawmakers and their staff
- Meet agencies that serve the disability community
- Get updates on House Bills that impact the disability community
- Meet other individuals in the community and network opportunities
D-RAD aims to amplify the voices of Coloradans with disabilities and raise awareness by sharing real-life stories with elected officials and decision-makers. Through these stories, the community engages with policymakers to advocate for disability rights legislation during the current legislative sessions.
The Arc of Colorado led the D-RAD activities, in collaboration with more than 50 organizations from the disability community, Representative Chad Clifford, and his staff.
Both Governor Jared Polis and Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera were present and declared March 6, 2025, as DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCACY DAY.
Representative Clifford stated that this year’s turnout was the largest ever, with an estimated 600 participants. The event was filled with passion and commitment from everyone in attendance. To learn more about Disability Rights Advocacy Day, visit the D-RAD website.
Article Links
| | Image Description (Above)o spend time with Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera and her Senior Advisor Josh Winkler at the Colorado State Capitol during D-RAD. | | |
The Colorado Environmental Film Festival (CEFF) is an annual event showcasing films that inspire action on environmental issues. In addition to sharing powerful stories, CEFF has taken important steps in the last three years to ensure films are accessible to the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind communities. Last year, CEFF received a grant from the Commission to provide captions, thanks to the efforts of hard of hearing CEFF board member, Terri Shirley.
While the festival did not receive a grant from the Commission this year, CEFF remained committed to accessibility by continuing to caption its films. Luke Adams, Outreach Specialist, and Trish Leakey, Interim Director, attended a screening to show support and were inspired by the films and their environmental conservation messages.
| |
The Commission’s grant program helps organizations like CEFF improve access to communication by making events, services, and information more inclusive for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind.
Article Links
Commission Grant program
Colorado Environmental Film Festival (CEFF)
| | Image Description: Luke Adams, a tall gentleman with short brown hair on the left, with Trish Leakey, a petite woman with shoulder length brown hair on the right, posing in front of a green banner identifying the Colorado Environmental Film Festival Event. | | Image Description: Dr Sandy Ho on the left, with shoulder length black hair and large rimmed glasses, wearing teal pullover. Luke Adams on the right, with short brown hair wearing a navy pullover under an orange and blue jacket. Luke and Dr. Sandy attended the Denver HLAA Chapter's February meeting. | | |
On February 15, 2025, the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) Denver Chapter hosted an informative session on artificial intelligence (AI) in hearing aids. The featured speaker was Dr. Vinaya Mancaiah, Professor of Otolaryngology and Director of Audiology, at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Dr. Mancaiah discussed how AI technology is enhancing hearing aid performance and improving hearing user experiences.
Luke Adams (CCDHHDB) and Dr. Sandy Ho (CDHS) attended the session and found it insightful. The discussion covered the role of AI in audiology, the impact on accessibility, and the future of hearing technology. HLAA Denver Chapter hosts monthly meetings on various topics related to hearing loss, accessibility, and technology.
Article Links
| | |
DeafBlind Advisory Council Meeting
Thursday, April 10, 2024
3:30-5:30PM
Online Zoom registration is required for each meeting
The DeafBlind Advisory Council (DBAC) holds meetings on the second Thursday of every other month. Everyone is welcome to attend, whether they are deafblind themselves, a family member, a professional working with deafblind individuals, or a member of the deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind communities. The Zoom registration link is at the beginning of this article.
ASL/English interpretation and CART will be provided as well as automatic Zoom closed captioning. If any other accommodations are needed, please email us.
The Zoom meeting link will open before the meeting at 3:30 PM for technology setup. This allows everyone to get comfortable and test their technology so meetings can start on time, at 4 PM.
Contact
dbac.ccdhhdb@state.co.us
Accommodations: scheduling.ccdhhdb@state.co.us
|
| Image Description: Computer screen showing multiple attendees during the Hard of Hearing Community Meeting in February. The meeting is held in Google Meet on a monthly basis for hard of hearing individuals. | | |
Friday, April 18, 2025
1-2:30PM
Virtual (Google Meet)
Register to participate
Topics
We will focus on access to new and innovative services, communication accommodations, and other issues related to hearing loss.
Purpose
These meetings provide a platform to discuss key topics that impact the hard of hearing community and individuals. We welcome participation from individuals who identify as hard of hearing with shared lived experiences to connect and exchange ideas.
Accessibility
Meetings are held virtually via Google Meet with automatic captioning. Additional accommodations can be requested using the registration form. You will receive meeting information after your participation is confirmed.
Contact
JoAnne Hirsch, Communications Technology Program Manager
joanne.hirsch@state.co.us
720-315-9493
|
| |
Saturday, April 26, 2025
11AM-3PM
Rocky Mountain Deaf School
10300 W Nassau Ave, Denver, CO 80235
Join us for the Third Annual Rocky Mountain Deaf Festival at the Rocky Mountain Deaf School! April is National Deaf History Month, making it the perfect time to celebrate and highlight the cultural and linguistic contributions of the Deaf and signing communities. CCDHHDB will have a booth at the event - come stop by and say hi.
| |
SUBSCRIBE
This is The Navigator newsletter, a monthly report of news and updates from the Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind. You can subscribe to related topics and other newsletters using our sign-up form. Contact us via email at
outreach.ccdhhdb@state.co.us
|
|
| | | |
