Colorado Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind

09/29/2026

Today is CVI Awareness Day! At SENSE Colorado, our mission includes supporting the DeafBlind community, which means understanding the complex and diverse ways visual impairments can present.

Did you know that Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) is the leading cause of childhood blindness and low vision in the United States? For many individuals, including some in the DeafBlind community, visual impairment is brain-based rather than related to their physical eyes.

CVI happens when there is damage or interruption to the brain’s visual pathways. A person’s eyes might be perfectly healthy, but their brain has difficulty converting the raw data it receives into a meaningful image.

This can affect how a person navigates their world. Common impacts include:
- Difficulty with visual attention and recognizing everyday objects or faces.
- Trouble processing visual information in cluttered, crowded, or loud environments.
- Frequent visual fatigue and sensory overwhelm.
- Challenges integrating vision with other senses (like hearing).

Every person with CVI has a right to life-changing access, early diagnosis, and effective vision services. To learn more about CVI, watch this informative video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNlGkObN33w

09/23/2026

Happy Deaf Awareness Month! 🤟

Thank you to the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC) for highlighting SENSE Colorado alongside some of our incredible community partners, including DOVE, the DeafBlind Action Team (DBAT), and the Colorado Association of the Deaf.

We are proud to work alongside these organizations every day to support, uplift, and advocate for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind communities across Colorado!

09/22/2026

🤝 Are you passionate about making a difference in your community?

SENSE Colorado is looking for dedicated individuals in Northern Colorado to become Support Service Providers (SSPs)! We are specifically seeking SSP vendors in Longmont, Loveland, Broomfield, Westminster, and the surrounding communities.

SSPs play a vital role in empowering DeafBlind individuals to make informed decisions, engage in activities, and fully participate in their communities. As an SSP vendor, you will:
- Provide access to visual, situational, and environmental information.
- Offer human guidance and orientation to the surroundings.
- Facilitate communication with others.

Our ideal candidates are patient, dependable, flexible, respectful, and compassionate. You should be comfortable adapting to individual communication needs and open to learning DeafBlind communication and guiding techniques!

Do not worry if you are new to this—mentoring is provided! If you are interested in learning more and joining us in empowering the DeafBlind community, please contact Vicki Scarboro at [email protected].

09/21/2026

We are excited to share an incredible virtual learning opportunity from NASA, tailored specifically for the Blind and Low-Vision community (though attendance is open to the general public)!

Dive into the future of the Artemis space missions and learn about the RS-25 engine during this two-hour accessible webinar.

What to Expect:
- An audio-described video of an RS-25 engine test (part of the Space Launch System rocket)
- A live Q&A session with an RS-25 engineer
- A discussion panel with NASA scientists and engineers about accessibility in space and science

Event Details:
📅 Date: Friday, October 2, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. MT (11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PT)
📍 Location: Online via Zoom
⏳ Deadline to Register: This Friday, September 25, 2026!

Be sure to register at the link below to secure your spot! The Zoom details will be emailed to all registrants in the days leading up to the event.

If you have any questions about the event, please reach out directly to [email protected].

🔗 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeAgtokLIPaZ-FCpdjz0JPtBrTOmKu5xwjYPz4hGg3MKrJxzg/viewform

NASA is hosting an accessible webinar for the blind and low-vision community on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at 2 p.m. Eastern time. The webinar will last about two hours and include: an audio-described video of an RS-25 engine test, a Q&A session with an RS-25 engineer, and a panel about accessibility in....

09/21/2026

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is currently accepting applications for the FY 2026 Training and Services to End Violence and Abuse Against Individuals with Disabilities and Deaf People Program.

This program funds efforts to provide training, information, and enhanced direct services to prevent and respond to domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and caregiver abuse against individuals with disabilities and Deaf people.
Key Grant Details:
- Award Amount: Anticipated awards are up to $600,000.
- Cost Sharing: This funding opportunity does not require cost sharing or a match.
- Eligible Applicants: State governments, units of local government, Indian Tribal governments or organizations, and qualifying nonprofit entities (such as victim service providers and organizations serving individuals with disabilities and Deaf people) are eligible to apply.
- Step 1 Deadline: The SF-424 must be submitted in Grants.gov by September 25, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.
- Step 2 Deadline: The full application must be submitted in JustGrants by September 29, 2026, at 4:59 PM ET.

For assistance with the requirements, please email [email protected] or call 202-307-6026.

Read detailed information about this funding opportunity.

09/16/2026

⚽ Deaf Awareness Night with the Colorado Rapids was a great success—and the Rapids won! 🏆

We had a wonderful time meeting so many different people at our SENSE Colorado booth. It was great to meet:
- A CODA (Child of Deaf Adult) attorney
- A visiting Deaf pilot
- Three sisters taking ASL classes
- A speech therapist wanting to learn more about SENSE Colorado
- A Deaf visitor and their family from a small town outside of Denver

We were also happy to see several of our wonderful community partners there, including DOVE, the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB), and Rocky Mountain Deaf School (RMDS).

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello, ask questions, and celebrate with us. We cannot wait for the next event!

09/04/2026

09/03/2026

Call for Applications: Colorado Infant Hearing Advisory Committee (CIHAC)!

Are you passionate about newborn hearing screening and early intervention? We are sharing an important opportunity from the Colorado Infant Hearing Advisory Committee (CIHAC), as they are currently seeking new members to join their team!

About CIHAC: This vital committee provides recommendations to hospitals, healthcare institutions, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and the public. They guide newborn hearing screening methodologies, reporting guidelines, and help assure that identified children receive referrals for appropriate follow-up services.

Who Should Apply?

There are currently seven committee positions opening up for the upcoming term starting in February 2027. CIHAC is specifically looking to fill roles for:

Audiologists
Pediatricians
Early Childhood Professionals

Note: CIHAC is dedicated to broadening representation! Additional applications from individuals who can add unique representation or perspectives from underrepresented communities are highly encouraged to apply.

Application Details:

Deadline: October 30, 2026
How to Apply: Visit here bit.ly/4ghETpb to view the current member list, meeting schedule, bylaws, and to access the official membership application form.

Please share this opportunity with professionals in your network who would be a great fit for this committee!

The Colorado Infant Hearing Advisory Committee (CIHAC) provides recommendations to hospitals, health care institutions, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and the public concerning, but not limited to, newborn hearing screening methodologies, guidelines for reporting and the m...