Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

03/06/2025

Senate Bill 93 that will improve insurance coverage for hearing aids and cochlear implants for children passed the Kentucky Senate yesterday!

At this time, we are not sure which House committee this will be assigned to, but everyone should go ahead and call the Legislative Message Line at 1-800-372-7181 and leave a message asking your REPRESENTATIVE to support SB 93. If you are not sure who your representative is, you can visit Who’s My Legislator to find that information.

* We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the returned address results. If the pin is not in the correct location, it may be necessary to manually navigate to a location and click for proper district information. You can also confirm your district information through the Secretary of State's Voter Infor...

03/05/2025

This summit has been designed to provide an in-depth review of the latest early hearing detection guidelines, treatment and intervention.

Presentation topics will include recommendations for identifying hearing loss in infants; legal obligations for hearing targeted screenings, including Bella’s Law; up-to-date intervention and treatment options; risk factors for hearing loss, including congenital cytomegalovirus; and available resources in Kentucky.

To register, visit NortonCME.com

03/05/2025

✨ NBDA 2025 Conference: Join Us in Kansas City! ✨

Kansas City Marriott Downtown
📅 August 13th - 16th, 2025
🌟 Theme: "Building Our Legacy: The Road to Success"

Get ready for an unforgettable experience filled with empowering workshops, networking opportunities, and community connection! Don't miss your chance to be part of history as we build our legacy together.

🔗 Register now & Learn More: NBDAConference.org

02/27/2025

LRC News Releases: FRANKFORT — The Senate Health Services Committee unanimously advanced a bill Wednesday that would make buying hearing aids for children more affordable through insurance plans in Kentucky.

Sponsored by Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, the bill would require all health benefit plans to provide coverage for hearing aids and related services for children with documented hearing loss. It also calls for state regulations that establish a minimum coverage amount of $2,500 per hearing aid.

One supporter, Jennifer Hughes, testified that her son was born with hearing loss, and the family faced challenges with inadequate insurance coverage for his hearing aids.

Hughes said her son received his first pair of hearing aids when he was two months old, and there was an immediate difference. When he turned three years old, his audiologist recommended upgrading to a pair that cost $5,000.

"Long story short, we paid the full $5,000 for the hearing aids," Hughes said. "Only $2,000 of that went towards our deductible and out-of-pocket. And then the insurance didn't pay anything."

Pediatric audiologist Shelley Moats also testified that prior legislation needs to be updated to meet today's situations. She said a law passed in 2002 required insurance plans to cover the devices for children, but it has not kept pace with the changes in the health care environment, specifically when it comes to high-deductible insurance plans.

"Most parents end up being completely out-of-pocket on the purchase of hearing aids for their child," she said, adding that of the roughly 58,000 babies born in Kentucky in 2023, about 175 had permanent hearing loss.

Sen. Craig Richardson, R-Hopkinsville, asked if the price for hearing aids is associated with the size and development of children.

Moats said children are typically fit with hearing aids that go behind the ear and have a life expectancy of about five years as children sweat and get dirty. That creates a replacement cost over time, she said.

Berg said the original version of the bill included coverage requirements for adults as well, but she removed those provisions in the current version. She also expressed concern about a lack of pediatric audiologists in Kentucky networks.

Senate Majority Caucus Chair Robby Mills, R-Henderson, asked about a fiscal note, and Berg said it was for the original bill.

"We have requested a second fiscal note. We've not gotten that back, but the assumption is it's going to be less than the current because we excluded adults, and the original fiscal bill included those people," she said.

Mills asked about breakage, loss and maintenance of hearing aids.

Moats said manufacturers understand that hearing aids for children are at risk of loss or breakage, and the cost includes unlimited repair and a one-time replacement for loss or damage during the warranty period.

The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/publicservices/pio/release.html

02/27/2025

02/21/2025

Research Study: Healthcare Experiences of Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Women

The University of Notre Dame is conducting a research study to better understand the healthcare experiences of Deaf women. Your participation will help identify barriers, improve communication access, and advocate for more compassionate care.

Who Can Participate?
• Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing women (18+) who have received healthcare services.
Why Participate?
• Your insights will contribute to research aimed at improving healthcare experiences for Deaf women.
• The survey is completely anonymous and will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

Survey Link: https://nd.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cx9mrYgsVL4Kq3A

Your voice is essential in shaping a more inclusive healthcare system. Please consider participating and sharing this survey within your community.

For questions or more information, contact Lena Dougherty at [email protected].

02/21/2025

Bluegrass C&TC - Newtown Pike Campus in Lexington have a position open for Accessibility Services Specialist IV!

The position provides leadership support to Student Accessibility Services. Oversees and coordinates disability services for all BCTC students who are deaf/hard of hearing. Partners with internal stakeholders on complex disability-related matters to ensure institution-wide compliance with the requirements of legal and institutional disability policies and procedures, as well as student access to the physical, educational and social activities of the institution.

Click the link below to learn more and to apply!

Title: Accessibility Services Specialist IV (Accessibility Services Assistant Director) Salary Range: $4014- $5017 Contract Term Length: 12 Months Standard Hours: 37.5 Work Location: On-Site FLSA Status: Exempt College: Bluegrass Community & Technical College Campus Location: Bluegrass C&TC....

02/20/2025

KSD is HIRING! We'd love to have you join our team.

https://www.ksd.kyschools.us/jobs

https://www.canva.com/design/DAGfjTA4wSY/1rCT5SyrIkYD-7YBSlcY3A/view?utm_content=DAGfjTA4wSY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h715280492e

02/18/2025

2:00 PM Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Widespread accumulating snow starts this afternoon across Western Kentucky and continues across the commonwealth into Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday. The wind-chill Thursday morning will be dangerously cold.

If you can't safely turn your heat on by this afternoon, please call a family member or friend and stay with them or go to an emergency shelter.

The temperatures are dropping dangerously low, and we need to do everything possible to keep our neighbors safe.

02/17/2025

Participants needed for a Free Speech-Language Therapy Research Study!

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Maria Kondaurova, Ph.D.
[email protected]
tel: (502) 852-6129

02/17/2025

Kentucky's legal aid programs partner to provide a free online resource for our clients and community partners. This resource, www.kyjustice.org, has been revised through the years, to provide great content to help people with some of the most pressing civil legal issues. They are now turning our focus to accessibility improvements to ensure that the site is as accessible as possible to all Kentuckians. Your feedback and the feedback of your constituents will help them make today's version of kyjustice.org even better.

They are reaching out to ask that you complete a survey about your experience on kyjustice.org. Before you start the survey, please explore www.kyjustice.org and make a note of its accessibility features and ease of navigation. Then, please complete the survey using the following link.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6P6R5CJ

02/14/2025

Join Us for Palentines' Potluck Day! 🎉

🗓 Date: February 22nd
🕓 Time: 4 PM - 8 PM (Dinner served at 5:30 PM)
📍 Location: Fern Creek Community Association & Chambers of Commerce

Celebrate friendship and community at our Palentines' Potluck Day! It's the perfect chance to gather with friends and make new ones!

Fun for the Kids!
We’ve got a lineup of exciting activities that your little ones will love, including:

🎯 4-in-1 Dart Board
🏀 All-Star Basketball Shoot
🌈 A Ball Pit for endless fun!

Kids under 12 are FREE and welcome to join the festivities!

Delicious Food Awaits!

We’ll be serving up mouthwatering chicken tenders and wings as the main dish. We invite everyone aged 13 and older to contribute to the feast by bringing a dish based on the first letter of your last name:

A-D: Appetizers or Dip & Chips
E-J: Side Dishes or Casseroles
K-Z: Desserts

All proceeds from this event will help fund future community gatherings, so come hungry and ready to share!

You get a chance to win a gift card from ZPVRS!

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to enjoy great food, fun activities, and even better company. We can’t wait to see you there!

This event are sponsored by ASL- Interpreting Services and

For more information, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].

🌟 Let’s make this Palentines' Potluck Day an unforgettable celebration! 💖

02/14/2025

The Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (KCDHH) is seeking dedicated and forward-thinking individuals who are motivated to help shape the future of advocacy and accessibility within the Commonwealth to fill upcoming vacancies on their board.

New board members’ terms will begin July 1, 2025 and expire June 30, 2028

--APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR--

If interested in the Kentucky Association of the Deaf (KAD) Representative seat please submit an application and current resumé to:
Jason Smith, KAD President [email protected]

If interested in the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) Representative seat please submit an application and current resumé to:
Paula Esterle/Theresa Kidwell, Interim Co-Chairs of the HLAA Kentuckiana Chapter
[email protected] and [email protected]

If interested in the Kentucky Speech-Language-Hearing Association (KSHA) Representative seat please submit an application and current resumé to:
Leigh Anne Roden, Ed, CCC-SLP, KSHA President [email protected]

You can find the application here:https://governor.ky.gov/Service/Documents/KY-Boards-and-Commissions-Applicaiton.pdf

--APPOINTED BY THE KCDHH BOARD—

If interested in the Service Provider Representative* seat please submit an application and current resumé to:
Tommy Evans, KCDHH Chair [email protected]

*Applicants may be deaf, hard of hearing or hearing and must provide consistent services to the deaf and hard of hearing population in a public or private organization.

You can find the application here:https://www.kcdhh.ky.gov/docs/KCDHH_Board_app.pdf

Applications must be received by MARCH 1, 2025

02/11/2025

02/11/2025

02/10/2025

Check out DeaFestival alum, Sean Forbes' new video, “I Kinda Beat the System,” and help him win the NPR Tiny Desk contest!!

"I Kinda Beat The System" by Sean Forbes and Jake Bass performed for the NPR Tiny Desk Contest 2025. Sean Forbes - VocalsJake Bass...

02/03/2025

Each and every day, the Kentucky Historical Society celebrates historic contributions of Kentuckians from across the Commonwealth. The resources we offer provide perspective and context to both historical and current events through a wide range of topics, and they represent the work of both KHS and our partner organizations.

To celebrate Black History Month, KHS features "History Makers – Past & Present." It is our mission to educate and engage through Kentucky history in order to meet the challenges of the future, and we hope these Kentuckians continue to inspire others to seek a more inclusive and equitable path forward.

The Kentucky Historical Society is dedicated to providing historic perspective and context to current events, especially as we look to end racial injustice and systemic racism. The resources offered in the article cover a wide range of topics and represent the work of programs across our agency and partnering organizations.

The Kentucky Historical Society would like to spotlight African Americans who have pushed the narrative further in the Commonwealth. Today and every day, we celebrate the historic contributions of Kentuckians.

01/30/2025

The 2025 Deaf in Healthcare Summit for Interpreters, on April 25-17, will be an action-packed, virtual summit where interpreters can earn up to 1.5 CEUs. Sessions range from interactive presentations to armchair discussions and are focused on providing interpreters with insight, solutions and best practices to position Deaf and hard of hearing clients for success in healthcare settings!

To learn more and to register:

2023 Deaf In Healthcare Summit for Interpreters – Together Towards Transformation