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Celebrating Lynda Remmel | Commission News

Mark your Calendar | Where We've Been

CORRECTION:

The original version of the April 2023 Navigator included an incorrect ASL translation for the article on Lynda Remmel's Award Ceremony. The correct link and video are included below. We apologize for the inconvenience and confusion.

Celebrating Lynda Remmel's Contributions

Image Description: The staff of CCDHHDB poses with Lynda Remmel and her partner Nowell at the recent award ceremony. Back Row (L-R) Arlene Stredler-Brown, Christine Pendley, Trish Leakey, Katie Cue, Luke Adams, Cliff Moers, Kevin Harrer, JoAnne Hirsch. Front Row (L-R) Mandy Turner, Nowell Busch, Lynda Remmel, Heather Wilcox, Ali Lombardi.

Lynda Remmel Award Ceremony at Rocky Mountain Deaf School

Image Description: Rachel Naiman participates in the Lynda Remmel Award Ceremony live via Zoom while Nowell Busch and Lynda Remmel watch on stage.

On Saturday, March 18, the commission presented the inaugural Lynda Remmel Award to recognize Lynda and all she has given to the deaf community and sign language interpreting profession. The Colorado Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf also presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

As Director Cliff Moers said, it was a day “to celebrate Lynda’s beautiful life, her altruism, her heart, and her contributions to the community and the interpreting profession throughout her entire life.” Rocky Mountain Deaf School was the perfect place for the celebration given her many, many hours of pro bono interpreting during the process of founding the school. 

Several presenters, including Rachel Naiman, Lorrie Kosinski, and Jules Berner, highlighted Lynda’s passion for the deaf community, interpreting work, and equal access to communication, as well as her contributions as a teacher, mentor, and colleague at Front Range Community College and in community and court/legal interpreting settings. 

Image Description: Lynda Remmel holds her face in surprise while receiving the inaugural Lynda Remmel Award.

Lead ASL/English Interpreter Christine Pendley said, “Oftentimes, people will describe how dropping a pebble into a pond creates many ripples. Well, Lynda is the pebble and the ripples are her passion, wisdom, knowledge, values and commitments that she has provided to so many people.” 

In accepting the award, Lynda said, “I’m just a product of what the Deaf community gave me. I'm proud to have done what I've done. So thank you all for helping me to do what I have done because I definitely did not do it alone as a one woman show.” Lynda expressed her gratitude to everyone who worked with her through the years to help establish the interpreting profession and raise the bar. She closed by stating, “It is hard to accept these accolades. It's not easy.  But thank you all for coming.” Lynda’s partner, Nowell Busch, also thanked everyone. 

The turnout was incredible. Christine Pendley acknowledged the crowd by stating, “You are here because you also have a great deal of respect for Lynda and know everything that Lynda has done. You are one of the lives that she has touched.” Lynda enjoyed getting to visit with people after the ceremony, including visitors who drove in from places as far away as Indiana to see her and express their love, appreciation and gratitude for her.

The Lynda Remmel Award will be presented each year to an interpreter who has made outstanding contributions to the deaf community and interpreting profession, demonstrated a commitment to professional development, and modeled values while holding themselves and others accountable.

A recording of the ceremony is available on our Facebook page. Lynda and Nowell have been enjoying viewers’ comments and posting at that link.

Image description - Bleachers and chairs in the Rocky Mountain Deaf School gymnasium were packed with interpreters and community members gathering from across the United States to honor Lynda Remmel and her incredible contributions to the interpreting and deaf communities.

COMMISSION NEWS

Commissioner Vacancy - Seeking Parents

The commission, known as an advisory board, of the Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind advises on policies that direct the State of Colorado to take a course of action to meet the Colorado Department of Human Services functions, mission and vision. The commission promotes the interests of the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind constituents and ensures access to both communication and environment. 

The commission is seeking independent, enthusiastic and committed candidates for the Governor appointed Parent of deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind child position.

The application deadline is 4 p.m. on April 30, 2023.

Commissioners receive no paid compensation for their service on the commission, but travel expenses are reimbursed in accordance with state travel regulations.

Commission duties include, but are not limited to:

• Completing Commissioner Pendley’s four-year term from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2024.          
• Monitoring the functions and performance of the commission.
• Attending quarterly and special commission meetings.   
• Preparing for commission meetings.                     
• Becoming familiar with the needs of your specific constituency.
• Serving on a committee of the commission.                       
• Representing the commission before the public, businesses and community.

For more information regarding the commission and services, please visit www.ccdhhdb.com or contact us at 720-457-3679 or office.ccdhhdb@state.co.us.

FY 2023-24 Grant Application

The Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind is now accepting applications for community grants for fiscal year 2023-24 (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024).  

You can find the application (Form A and Form B), budget template, and application RFA guidelines on our Grant Program Page

Please read carefully before you complete your application.

We are available to respond to your questions until Wednesday, May 31, 2023.

The application deadline is 4 p.m. Friday, June 30, 2023.

DeafBlind Services: Spring into O&M!

Image description - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist, Ellie Carlson, works with her client that is deafblind. Ellie is not only a certified O&M Specialist, she also serves as the CCDHHDB DeafBlind Outreach Specialist.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

BE SURE TO SAVE THE DATE!

Quarterly Commission meeting

Thursday, June 1, 2023, 4-7 p.m. 

IN PERSON: Platt College

5660 Greenwood Plaza Blvd Suite 100

Greenwood Village, CO 80111

The June commission meeting will be in-person at Platt College in Greenwood Village. Deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind individuals, members of the public, professionals working with the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind communities, and other interested stakeholders are welcome to attend.

Directions and Transportation: Platt College is located at the Triad Buildings. The buildings are marked on the outside by different color stripes, red, yellow, and blue. The college is located in the blue striped building, which is 5660 North. The college is 700 steps from the Orchard station light rail, served by the E and R lines. You can park on either side of the building because the entrance is on the main floor level. There will be greeters outside our suite to assist folks where to go. 

ASL interpretation and CART will be provided. Online Zoom attendance will be available as well. Online Zoom registration required for online attendance.

Contact office.ccdhhdb@state.co.us for questions. 

Access Now Expo

Save the Date: Saturday, June 3, 2023

Aurora, CO 

Enhance and empower your communication access using the latest technological

Advancements. Free admission, workshops, hands-on demonstrations, exhibits, and more.

Stay tuned for more details!

Protactile Interpreter Workshop/DeafBlind Community Open House

Workshop - Saturday and Sunday, June 3 & 4

DeafBlind Community Open House - Sunday, June 4 from 4-6 p.m. 

The commission is working with Tactile Communications, LLC, to offer several deafblind programs in June. This is a terrific opportunity for Coloradans to learn from nationally recognized experts. More information on each program will be shared once the details are finalized. 

Protactile 101 and 102 Training for Sign Language Interpreters (Onsite)

Sign language interpreters, please hold Saturday, June 3 (8 am to 5 pm) and Sunday, June 4 (9 am to 6 pm) for Protactile 101 and 102 training in Denver. This workshop will introduce the history of the protactile movement, protactile language, and core concepts of co-presence and protactile philosophy, along with scenarios for praxis and benefits for DeafBlind people and protactile interpreters as they work together. The training will be provided by Tactile Communications, LLC, with support from the Commission and the Colorado Registry for Interpreters for the Deaf. The number of participants will be capped at 15 people for the 14 hour-training. 

Save the Date: DeafBlind Community Open House (Onsite)

Deafblind community members, please plan to attend an open house in Denver on Sunday, June 4, from 4 to 6 p.m. The goal of the open house is to create an immersive, tactile space and will be an opportunity to learn more about and experience protactile firsthand. Light refreshments will be provided. More details will be shared once the details are finalized.  

Distantism and Vidism Training (Virtual)

Tactile Communications will provide an online discussion program on distantism and vidism between May 18 and June 1. Distantism and vidism are about understanding societal biases against touch and a tactile-based way of life and toward sightedness (those who are not blind) and a sighted way of life. The instructors will share readings and resources, and lead (asynchronous) online discussions. This is open to deafblind community members and Protactile 101 and 102 training participants.

WHERE WE'VE BEEN

Image description - Not all business!!! CCDHHDB staff knows how to have fun! Back row L-R: Cliff Moers, Heather Abraham, Luke Adams, Trish Leakey, Kevin Harrer, Katie Cue. Middle Row L-R: Ryan Hawkins, Arlene Stredler-Brown, Ellie Carlson, Joanne Hirsch, Heather Wilcox. Front Row L-R: Mandy Turner, Ali Lombardi, Christine Pendley.

Many thanks to COEHDI Family Support and Engagement Manager, Heather Abraham, for facilitating the meeting and exercises. Staff enjoyed being together for the first time as a full team since growing to 14 members!

Deaf and hard of hearing students visit Denver Court

On March 20, 2023, Judge Anita Schutte from the 2nd Judicial District in Denver hosted an event in her courtroom for deaf and hard of hearing students to learn about the legal profession and the use of court/legal qualified sign language interpreting and realtime captioning in court. Judge Schutte was inspired to host the event after she learned of a student with a cochlear implant who wondered whether it was possible to become an attorney. The answer is yes! 

Judge Schutte and attorneys Spencer Kontnik and Trish Leakey shared their educational and professional journeys with the attendees and answered questions. Judge Schutte showed the students how she uses captioning and sound amplification in her courtroom. She then chose a student to role play as a judge while Mr. Kontnik and Ms. Leakey presented brief arguments regarding custody of a family dog in a family law case. The student judge used the evidence presented to make a ruling in the case. 

Around 25 students and staff attended from the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, Colorado Early College (CEC) of Aurora, Hemphill Middle School (Strasburg), Kiowa High School, Pinnacle Charter High School, Quist Middle School, and Strasburg High School.

School staff stated that it was an excellent learning opportunity for the students, particularly ones in rural areas who do not often interact with deaf and hard of hearing adults in professional settings. For more information regarding legal auxiliary services provided by CCDHHDB, visit the LAS website.

Image description - Left to right - Attorney Spencer Kontnik, Judge Anita Schutte, and Attorney Trish Leakey pose in the judge's chambers on March 20, during a special event for deaf and hard of hearing students interested in a profession in the legal field.