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Lynda Remmel Award | Susan J Elliott Award Excellence in Community Partnership | SCOOP | Hard of hearing community meeting | Where we've been Commission updates | Financial notes | Mark your calendar | |
Image Description: Deputy Director Dr. Katie Cue, award recipient Lorrie Kosinski, and Interim Director Trish Leakey share the Lynda Remmel Award Plaque while presenting Lorrie with her award. Lorrie is the first award recipient after Lynda Remmel herself. | |
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The Lynda Remmel Award was established in 2023 by the commission in memory of Lynda Remmel, a gifted interpreter, role model, and mentor. This award recognizes a sign language interpreter who has made outstanding contributions to the deaf community and interpreting profession; demonstrated a commitment to professional development; and who adheres to high standards of conduct and models values while holding self and others accountable.
Lorrie Kosinski is the first recipient of the Lynda Remmel Award after Lynda herself. Lorrie is active in improving communication access for deaf and hard of hearing people, especially in the legal arena. Nationally certified by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, she has both a Certificate of Interpretation (CI) and a Certificate of Transliteration (CT). She also holds the Specialist Certificate: Legal (SC:L) certification, and a Status I Colorado Legal Credential Authorization.
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Image Description: Lorrie Kosinski from Denver Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, honors Lynda Remmel during the presentation of the first Lynda Remmel Award in 2023. Lynda and her spouse Nowell Busch were guests of honor. | |
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As the director of the Denver Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Lorrie has worked for the past 25+ years creating and ensuring equal access for deaf and hard of hearing people to Denver government programs, services, and events.
Working to grow the legal interpreting community in Colorado, Lorrie chairs the Colorado Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (CRID) Legal Interpreter Committee. She continues to provide guidance, training, mentoring, and ongoing support for the legal interpreting community. Lorrie’s impact goes beyond the interpreting community and includes clients in the Denver legal system from arrest to probation.
Lorrie served on the commission’s advisory council for its legal communication access services program and helped establish the Colorado Legal Credential Authorization system for services in Colorado State Courts. She served again on the advisory council when the program rules were updated in 2022.
Lorrie works closely with commission staff to recruit, train, and mentor legal interpreters. She helped develop the Legal Communication Access Services Handbook in 2022 and the new Supported Courtroom Overview and Observation Program (SCOOP) program in 2024.
We congratulate her on the well-deserved honor of receiving the Lynda Remmel Award for 2024.
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Image Description: After presenting Ric Durity with his award, Deputy Director Dr. Katie Cue and Interim Director Trish Leakey share the Susan J. Ellioft Award plaque listing Ric Durity, Mary Sterritt and WellPower as the 2024 Recipients. The plaque is displayed in the EDI Office at CDHS. | |
Ric Durity, Mary Sterritt, and WellPower
The Susan J. Elliott Award was established in 2010 by the Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind (CCDHHDB) to honor Susan J. Elliott, who chaired the Colorado Association of the Deaf’s legislative committee to create CCDHHDB through Senate Bill 00-194. As a talented deaf teacher, she knew how to collaborate with key deaf and hard of hearing stakeholders to create the commission. This year, we are honoring Ric Durity, Mary Sterritt, and WellPower.
Ric, Mary, and WellPower were deeply involved in Governor Polis’s behavioral healthcare mandate, which prompted a statewide overhaul of behavioral healthcare administration and monitoring. They participated in town halls and focus groups that helped design a new statewide behavioral healthcare system. Together, they ensured that linguistic and culturally affirmative services for deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind (DHHDB) individuals were prioritized.
In 2009, a half-million-dollar state fund was awarded to launch the Colorado Daylight Partnership (CDP). The partnership is a national model setting standards of care for DHHDB clients. Their contributions to Colorado Daylight Partnership will continue to serve as a vital resource for the state. Please join us in honoring their contributions to Colorado.
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Ric Durity
Ric Durity is hard of hearing and began learning American Sign Language at age 18 at Gallaudet University. At Gallaudet, he began his journey of advocacy for social justice for deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind people. Ric worked with Mary Sterritt and his colleagues at WellPower to launch the Colorado Daylight Partnership in 2009.
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Image Description: Deputy Director Dr. Katie Cue and Interim Director Trish Leakey present the Susan J. Elliott Award to Ric Durity. | |
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Over the years, Rick worked alongside the Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind. He partnered with DOVE (Deaf Overcoming Violence through Empowerment), Spark Community Foundation, and Focus Evaluation until his retirement in 2020. Through his work, Ric focused on ensuring deaf people throughout Colorado have access to mental health services.
From serving on the faculty of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester, NY, to working as the Vice President of Development at WellPower, Ric’s work always focuses on creating equitable access to necessary care for DHHDB communities.
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Mary Sterritt
As a licensed clinical social worker and the Director of the Colorado Daylight Partnership, the Integrated Health Care Initiative, and the WellPower Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Mary has been an invaluable resource.
Mary’s experience includes years of providing mental health services to deaf and hard of hearing people.
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Image Description: 2024 Susan J. Elliott Award Recipient Mary Sterritt Smiles in front of a trademark WellPower orange wall. | |
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Her lived experience working in inpatient and outpatient mental health settings; school-based services in residential and mainstream deaf programs; and consultation, training, and clinical supervision have been vital to important projects such as CDP and improving care for DHHDB clients.
This award honors Mary’s many years of dedicated service and recognizes all she’s done to improve behavioral health care outcomes for DHHDB communities.
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WellPower
WellPower honors the connection between mental health and overall well-being. WellPower’s nationally recognized services provide culturally and linguistically accessible services to DHHDB children, families, and adults in the Denver community.
WellPower has partnered with CCDHHDB for many years. Their partnership provides training and technical assistance to behavioral health organizations throughout Colorado. Priorities include accessible services, service delivery, telebehavioral health, and hearing assistive technology.
Under the Integrated Health Care Initiative pilot, WellPower partnered with Caritas Clinic under Saint Joseph - SCL Health System in Denver, to hire a DHH individual as a Healthcare Navigator for DHHDB clients. This partnership provided integrated behavioral health care alongside primary care services.
WellPower’s ongoing efforts continue to develop best practices for providing the highest quality of care for DHHDB clients.
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Congratulations to our Outreach Specialist, Luke Adams, for receiving the Excellence in Community Partnership award from the Colorado Public Health Association.
This award honors individuals or organizations outside public health who have made outstanding contributions to community health through partnerships and collaboration.
Luke was nominated by the Office of Health Equity at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for his work in promoting a barrier-free Colorado.
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Image Description: Outreach and Training Consultant Luke Adams was awarded the Excellence in Community Partnership award. | |
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In September, Lorrie Kosinski from Denver’s Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services co-presented with Christine Pendley to introduce the Supported Courtroom Overview and Observation Program (SCOOP). Interpreters curious about obtaining their Colorado Legal Credential Authorization (LCA) can attend sessions for an overview of the Colorado State Courts followed by guided courtroom observations. Participants gain an introductory understanding of the legal system schema, the procedural process of a court case, and the interpreter’s role in the courtroom. Ten interpreters completed the initial offering of SCOOP in September, and plan to continue on the path to obtaining their Colorado LCA.
If you are an interpreter who holds an RID certification or the BEI Advanced, Master, or Intermediary IV or V certification and are interested in attending the next SCOOP session or pursuing an LCA, email Christine Pendley at christine.pendley@state.co.us.
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Beginning in January 2025, the Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind will begin hosting meetings for the hard of hearing community to discuss and propose important topics that impact this community. We will then bring these topics back to the CCDHHDB team for discussion and possible service updates.
We’d like participation from individuals who are hard of hearing and advocate for the needs and interests of this community. We will be focusing on access to services, communication accommodations, and other topics related to hearing loss.
To encourage involvement from all areas of Colorado, the first meeting will be held virtually. Accommodations will be provided. The date and time of the first meeting will be determined based on interest. To sign up, or if you have questions, please email joanne.hirsch@state.co.us.
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Highlighting our activities in the communities we serve | |
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Image Description: Rocky Mountain Deaf School students Ava Battiste, Gia McCarthy and Henri Otto-Bruc sign the National Anthem at the start of the Rapids game on October 5.
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CCDHHDB hosted Deaf Awareness Night at the Colorado Rapids on October 5 and all 100 fundraising tickets sold out! Students from the Rocky Mountain Deaf School (RMDS) signed the national anthem and fans enjoyed the exciting event. Information booths included: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Deaf Overcoming Violence through Empowerment (DOVE), Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), and Rocky Mountain Deaf School (RMDS). | |
Image Description: CCDHHDB Interim Director Trish Leakey and her colleague Language Justice and Access Manager, MikkiLynn Olmsted learn about the services DOVE (Deaf Overcoming Violence through Empowerment) offers. Interpreter Kirk Neuroth provides voice interpretation for MikkiLynn who is not fluent in ASL. | |
Image Description: HLAA Members Victoria Rivera and Binisha Shrestha snag a selfie with CCDHHDB Hard of Hearing specialist and Outreach and Training Consultant Luke Adams, while they show off their Deaf Awareness Night ballcaps featuring the ASL sign for GOAL! | |
CCDHHDB interim co-directors held a meeting with several HLAA members in early October, and are in the process of organizing regular town hall meetings. The goal is to continue the dialogue and identify top priorities for the hard of hearing communities. So far, identified priorities include open captions, CART requests in medical settings, modification of the CCDHHDB small-grant program requirements, and creation of a permanent advisory council. | |
As of September 2024, local Support Service Provider (SSP) Vicki Scarboro is working with the DeafBlind Services Team to expand the pool of qualified SSPs. Since then, three former SSPs have been reactivated, four new SSPs are completing their vendor paperwork, and additional individuals have expressed interest in SSP work. There will be a face-to-face open house in December so deafblind consumers and SSPs can meet each other. | |
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Over the last year, our staff of 14 has been reduced to nine. Despite this setback, our dedicated team has taken on additional responsibilities to ensure our programs continue operating without interruption. However, the increased workload has led to delays. To address this, we are currently restructuring and expanding our team to improve efficiency and better support our programs. Here are some updates:
- CCDHHDB Deputy Director - Dr. Katie Cue is the new Deputy Director at (0.25 FTE). This is a new position created by Chief Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Officer, Dr. Sandy Ho, as part of the initial restructuring of CCDHHDB. The commission runs nine programs and functions more like a division, so the commission will move to a shared leadership model with a director and deputy director to support the commission’s work. In this role, Dr. Cue will continue to oversee and support CCDHHDB.
- Colorado Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (COEHDI) Director – Dr. Cue is the new director as of November 2. This position is 0.75 FTE. In this role, Dr. Cue will oversee the work of this five-year federal grant in collaboration with EHDI partners statewide.
- Communication Access Services Coordinator - The posting for this position closed on October 27 and interviews are planned for November/December. The person in this role will support sign language interpreting, CART captioning, support services provider (SSP) scheduling, and invoice processing.
- CCDHHDB Director - The Director position will be posted and filled soon. The goal is to staff the position by spring 2025.
Contact
Interim Director Trish Leakey | trish.leakey@state.co.us
Deputy Director Dr. Katie Cue | katie.cue@state.co.us
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We've got answers!
Community members have had several questions about the recent leadership transitions. Here are the most common questions and answers.
Who is running CCDHHDB for now? What is Dr. Sandy Ho’s role?
- From August through October, Dr. Katie Cue (she/her) and Trish Leakey (she/her) served as interim co-directors for the commission.
- As of November 2, Dr. Katie Cue became the CCDHHDB Deputy Director (0.25 FTE) and Colorado Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (COEHDI) Director (0.75 FTE).
- Trish Leakey will continue to serve as interim director until the CCDHHDB director position is posted and filled.
- Together, Dr. Katie and Trish continue to supervise commission staff and programs.
- CCDHHDB is now in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) at the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS).
- Dr. Sandy Ho (they/them) is the Chief Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer and they supervise Dr. Katie and Trish.
What is Deputy Director Mindy Gates’ role?
When Cliff Moers retired, Mindy Gates was going to be interim director for CCDHHDB. However, her extended absence created a need for immediate leadership. Dr. Katie Cue and Trish Leakey took over the director role on an interim basis. Since then, CCDHHDB has moved from the Office of Adult, Aging, and Disabilities Services (OAADS) to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). With CCDHHDB no longer in OAADS, Mindy Gates is not involved with the commission.
What did CCDHHDB do with the $500,000 supplemental from the legislature last fiscal year (through June 2024) and again this fiscal year (July 2024-June 2025)?
CCDHHDB received the supplemental funding toward the end of the last fiscal year and did not have much time to spend it. This year, CCDHHDB is using the supplemental funds to prioritize the following activities:
- Recruit more SSPs.
- Move deafblind consumers off the SSP waitlist.
(Goal: move ten off the waitlist by Dec. 2024).
- Hire a contractor to update the CCDHHDB website.
- Fill critical staff vacancies.
Because supplemental funding is not continuous, the commission is focused on using it for sustainable changes that don’t rely on getting more funding. Staff wants to avoid expanding services based on these funds and being forced to reduce them later.
What is happening with CCDHHDB restructuring?
As part of the Department of Regulatory Affairs (DORA) sunset review of CCDHHDB, it recommended an external evaluation of the commission’s operations and structure. Mindy Gates contracted with ResultsLab to do this assessment and the final report was delivered on October 24, 2024. This report will be reviewed and considered by EDI and CCDHHDB staff to restructure CCDHHDB positions and programs. The director position will be reworked and posted. The ResultsLab report and restructuring results will be shared at the December 4 quarterly commission meeting.
Contact
Interim Director Trish Leakey | trish.leakey@state.co.us
Deputy Director Dr. Katie Cue | katie.cue@state.co.us
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Transparency as responsible stewards of state funds | |
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The Communications Technology Program (CTP) requested vendor proposals to support online outreach efforts. The outreach work contract lasts until September 1, 2025, with additional one-year renewal periods depending on funding availability. These funds are from the Colorado Performance Assurance Plan (CPAP) special award from the Public Utilities Commission. In addition to online outreach, CPAP funding will support the expansion of demonstration centers in rural areas, staffing support, and other CTP outreach efforts.
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In September 2024, the commission began contracting with Vicki Scarboro to help recruit and mentor new Support Service Providers (SSPs). The goal is to increase the number of providers available to serve the growing list of consumers. Vicki will meet with people interested in becoming SSPs.
Vicki will provide:
- Paperwork guidance.
- Hands-on experience.
- SSP coaching.
- Post-assignment debriefing.
- Coordinate payment for up to ten hours of mentoring experience.
Anyone interested in becoming an SSP, or current SSPs who would like additional training or mentoring, can contact Vicki at vickiscarborosli@gmail.com.
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In August 2024, Colorado Hands and Voices (H&V) was contracted to provide family-to-family support for the Colorado Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (COEHDI) program.
Priorities are:
- Conduct virtual site visits at birthing facilities and support newborn hearing screening efforts.
- Reimburse mileage costs for Parent Guides.
- Fund Parent Guides for the Part C transition to Part B.
- Engage in data collection and reporting.
- Provide professional development for H&V staff and guides.
- Support the Ascent Program with DHH adult-to-family mentoring.
- Serve as a family liaison to the National Beacon Center for technical assistance.
- Increase focus on Spanish-speaking families in rural areas.
- Develop resources/activities for families.
- Host family events.
- Engage in the EHDI planning and implementation process.
Anyone interested in working with Hands and Voices can contact info@co-hv.org
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Our office will be closed on the following dates in observance of state holidays.
As we go into the holiday season, we extend heartfelt appreciation to our communities. No matter how you celebrate, we hope your season is filled with joy, thankfulness, and optimism for the coming year.
Thanksgiving
Thursday, November 28, 2024
Governor’s Holiday
Friday, November 29, 2024
Christmas Day
Wednesday, December 25, 2024
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Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024
3:45-7:30 PM
Arvada Public Library Meeting Room, 7525 W. 57th Avenue, Arvada, CO 80002
The commission will meet in person to allow commission members, community members, vendors, and other interested parties to meet, network, etc. Dinner and light refreshments will be provided.
Tentative schedule:
- 3:45-4:15 PM: Doors open, drinks and light refreshments available for commissioners, community members, and vendors to network.
- 4:15-5:15 PM: Commission meeting - business meeting
- 5:15-6:30 PM: ResultsLab presentation and discussion
- 6:30-7:30 PM: Dinner and continued networking
Contact email: office.ccdhhdb@state.co.us
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Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024
3-6:30 PM
The meeting is scheduled from 3:30-4:45 PM with time to socialize afterward
Malley Recreation Center 3380 S Lincoln St, Englewood, CO 80113
The DeafBlind Advisory Council (DBAC) is holding its December meeting in person to interact and connect, with interpreters and SSPs available. It is a nice way to end the year and plan for an active 2025. The council and commission encourage deafblind community members to attend, enjoy light refreshments, and participate in renewed efforts to unite the community working towards communication and connection with all. Hope to link up with you there!
Tentative agenda:
- Discussion/updates re: SSP program
- Introduction and recognition of all SSPs (new and existing)
- CCDHHDB updates
- Council Recruitment Efforts
- Assistive Technology Overview
Contact email: dbac.ccdhhdb@state.co.us
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Coming in January 2025
Date and time to be determined based on community interest.
To sign up, email joanne.hirsch@state.co.us.
For more information, see the Hard of Hearing Community Meetings article above.
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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
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