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IN THIS ISSUE

Commission News | Mark your Calendar | Where We've Been

Communications Technology Program

It's The Season of LOVE!

Image Description: Happy Valentine's Day photo collage of CCDHHDB employees. Clockwise from top left: Katie Cue, Luke Adams, Heather Wilcox, Ellie Carlson, Mandy Turner, Ali Lombardi, Kevin Harrer, Christine Pendley, Trish Leakey, Ryan Hawkins, JoAnne Hirsch, and Cliff Moers.

COMMISSION NEWS

Image Description: A dark profile of the Denver city skyline against a vivid orange and blue sunset and wispy clouds, reflecting off the lake in Washington Park.

Sunset Review

For agency vitality, the Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind (CCDHHDB) is undergoing agency review, known as Sunset Review to the state government, by the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). 

The Colorado General Assembly sets specific dates that a particular agency, board, or function of government will terminate unless the legislature passes new legislation to continue.

If it is not reauthorized, the sun "sets" on that part of the government. As recommended in DORA’s 2014 report, CCDHHDB was extended to September 2, 2024 (nine years). 

The evaluation includes a set of criteria. Below are a few examples: 

1. Whether the conditions that led to the initial creation of the program have changed and whether other conditions have arisen that would warrant more, less, or the same degree of governmental oversight.
2. Whether the agency operates in the public interest and whether its operation is impeded or enhanced by existing statutes, rules, procedures, and practices and any other circumstances, including budgetary, resource, and personnel matters.
3. Whether the composition of the agency's commission adequately represents the public interest and whether the agency encourages public participation in its decisions rather than participation only by the people it regulates. 
4. The economic impact of the program and, if natural economic information is not available, whether the agency stimulates or restricts competition. 
5. Whether entry requirements encourage equity, diversity, and inclusivity.

Jennifer Lockwood, Policy Analyst at DORA, was assigned to evaluate CCDHHDB. She will be gathering data and information from CCDHHDB and its stakeholders until June 2023 before drafting a report for submission to the General Assembly by October 15, 2023. The General Assembly will determine how to adopt recommendations from the report during the 2024 legislative session.

If you wish to share your input, Jennifer Lockwood can be reached at jennifer.lockwood@state.co.us or 303-894-2992.

New DeafBlind Outreach Specialist

Introducing Ellie Carlson

We have a new DeafBlind Outreach Specialist, Ellie Carlson. She started her position on January 9, 2023. In her bio, Ellie explains that she is a Colorado native and dual-qualified and certified Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialist and Guide Dog Mobility Instructor. 

Ellie identifies as being hearing and sighted with fluency in American Sign Language. She believes that very few things in life are ever truly impossible and we just have to be patient and creative in order to accomplish them. She brings 22 years of professional experience working with individuals who are deafblind in various roles at the Helen Keller National Center, Leader Dogs for the Blind, State of Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Guide Dog Foundation, and her private practice, Canines and Canes, LLC. 

After collaborating with CCDHHDB as a stakeholder throughout her career, Ellie states, “It is an honor and joy to now join the team and continue empowering the Deafblind community to experience equity, access, and a good quality of life here in Colorado. Empowering others to identify accommodations for the challenges they face is a passion of mine; I love to see people prove everyone including themselves wrong by turning “can’t” into “CAN!"” 

Outside of work, Ellie enjoys road trips and paddle boarding with her two sons - so far they have been to 19 states and 11 National Parks together, as well as Mexico.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

WHERE WE'VE BEEN

Summary

ACE Winter Summit - Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Updates include: 

• Noah Blankenship is the new deaf specialist for the City of Denver’s Office of Sign Language Services (OSLS). OLS provide interpreters and CART for the city and county of Denver along with events, programs and services. If you need communication access in the city and county of Denver, contact Noah at noah.blankenship@denvergov.org. 
• Sheryl Emery has been hired as Disability Community Partnership & Engagement Specialist at the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE). She works with the deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind communities and the disabled communities. Her department has financing available to empower the DHHDB & disabled communities. For more information, contact Sheryl at sheryl.emery@state.co.us. 
• Colorado Hands & Voices is still looking for deaf/hard of hearing parent program guide. For more information, contact Jami Fries at jami@co-hv.org. 

Organizations who are members of ACE include: 

1. Those who have paying professional positions (either part time or full time); 
2. A demonstrated ability to competently communicate directly with deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind stakeholders; and 
3. provision of technical assistance to deaf, hard of hearing, and/or deafblind stakeholders. 

If you are interested in being a member of ACE, please email office.ccdhhdb@state.co.us or call 720-457-3679 to express your interest.

COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

How to improve your wifi and internet speed

With telework, telehealth, homeschooling and other functions that require the internet, it’s critical to have the best speed to work effectively. Below are some solutions that might help improve your home internet.

Router:

Make sure it’s not hidden in a closet or even on a bookshelf as that can weaken the signal. Sometimes if you just move your router, it may give you better reception. Or you may need to upgrade your router, which typically needs to be replaced every three to five years.

Wi-Fi Extender or Mesh System:

Adding this to your home may help areas where the signal is weaker.

W-Fi Password:

This helps protect your internet access, so others aren’t using it and slowing it down.

Unplug Devices:

The more items that are connected to the internet, such as smart plugs and smart appliances, the slower your speed could be.

Restart the Router:

Restarting your router regularly may fix dead internet.

If you are in need of a communications device that provides internet access, please visit the Communications Technology Program webpage or email ctp.ccdhhdb@state.co.us. You can also call 720-315-9493.