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ODHH was established in 2001 to provide expertise related to deaf and hard of hearing issues to Maryland citizens and to facilitate their ability of access resources and services. We hope that this website will help us to fulfill our mission by providing access to information and resources related to deaf and hard of hearing individuals in Maryland.

ODHH believes that all Maryland citizens who are deaf or hard of hearing should have equal and full access to resources, services, and opportunities for participation in all aspects of community life through the provision of appropriate accommodations.

Thank you for visiting us today! We look forward to serving you.

Governor O’Malley is Among First in the Nation to Caption Online Videos

On November 20, 2009, Governor Martin O’Malley became one of the first Governor’s in the nation to post his videos with captions. The Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) website now posts the Governor’s videos with captions so that Marylanders with hearing loss have access to information from the State. Only one other state governor currently posts captioned videos.

On the ODHH homepage, you can now find a button that says “Governor’s Captioned Videos”.
When you click on this button you will be able to view 20 of the Governor’s videos with captions. These are the first of many messages from Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown that will be captioned and posted to the website. Learn more in our December newsletter.

February News....

ODHH Legislative Updates

Legislative Session is underway and there are a number of bills that may be of interest to people with hearing loss in Maryland. More information is available in our February newsletter.

Maryland Celebrates 20th Anniversary of the ADA

A Governor's proclamation and resolutions from the Maryland Senate and the Maryland House of
Delegates began the State's yearlong celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the signing of the
Americans with Disabilities Act. In January, Governor Martin O'Malley proclaimed the 20th
Anniversary stating that the ADA was "landmark legislation that protected the civil rights of
individuals with disabilities and ensured that more than 54 million Americans received the same basic freedoms - independence, equal access, freedom of choice and inclusion - afforded to every citizen in our country." In the proclamation, he encouraged everyone to participate in and promote events throughout the State that celebrate the rights and abilities of individuals with disabilities.

On Friday, January 29, Senator Jennie Forehand and Delegate Sue Kullen, sponsors for resolutions in the Senate and the House of Delegates respectively, made special floor presentations recognizing the significance of the ADA and the impact the legislation has made on the lives of individuals with disabilities. The resolutions, which honored Marylanders with disabilities, were presented to Catherine A. Raggio, Secretary of the Department of Disabilities and Andrew D. Levy, Chair of the Maryland Commission on Disabilities. "We have made great progress in eliminating discrimination against individuals with disabilities, but our work is not done," said Senator Forehand. "Marylanders with disabilities have a great deal to offer and we are committed to ensuring they have the opportunity to reach their personal and professional goals."

"It is an honor to celebrate 20 years of progress for people with disabilities," said Delegate Kullen. "We have accomplished a lot, but we have a ways to go to ensure that people with disabilities live successful lives doing their part for their communities." In addition to the Governor's proclamation and the Senate and House resolutions, a variety of events and activities will be held across the State during the year 2010. These include a free seven-part webinar series that began in January entitled "Essential Workplace Skills" that focuses on a variety of work issues for people with disabilities including: accommodations, strategies for overcoming barriers, job retention and advancement and resolving conflict. Other events include the Jacobus ten Broeck Legal Symposium sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind in April, Disability History and
Awareness Month in October and the State's annual Americans with Disabilities Act celebration on July 26, 2010.

The Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into law on July 26 1990, was landmark
legislation to protect the civil rights of individuals with disabilities. For more information about the Maryland 2010 Celebration of the ADA, visit the Maryland Department of Disabilities website at
www.mdod.maryland.gov. To receive a copy of the Governor's proclamation, call the Maryland
Department of Disabilities at 410-767-3660.

ODHH Updates and Director’s Corner

2010 is off to a brisk start for ODHH. This Legislative Session, we introduced two bills aimed at improving the quality of life for Marylanders with hearing loss. We are busy tracking legislation that may be of interest to the constituents we serve and posting updates to the ODHH website. Stay
tuned; there is more to come! We are also gearing up for our first-ever Legislative Awareness Day, which is being held in Annapolis on February 15 at 3 PM. If you have not already registered, do it now! There are only a few spaces left for this very important event. We are excited to be working with the Maryland Department of Disabilities to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Looking ahead, we will be planning a special event in December during Clerc-Gallaudet Week to highlight the accomplishments and history of people with hearing loss.

Finally, it is everyone’s favorite time of year—tax season! The IRS has posted videos in ASL to explain tax forms and processes. Stay tuned to the ODHH website for updates and information about preparing your 2009 taxes. Also coming soon— information about the 2010 Census!
It is a busy and exciting time for ODHH and we look forward to working with you to ensure that all
Maryland’s citizens who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind have equal and full access to resources and services. Lisa.

M.A.T. Wireless Pilot Program

The Maryland Accessible Telecommunications (MAT) program exists to keep telephones an
integral part of your daily life, providing free assistive telecommunications equipment to qualified residents of the State of Maryland.

The MAT program is now operating a Wireless Pilot Program and is distributing AT&T’s Pantech Slade Phone, beginning with Maryland’s deaf population. If you receive a wireless device through the pilot program, you can NOT also receive a landline telephone or TTY. Customers approved to receive wireless equipment will be responsible for paying all monthly service charges for using the device. Service plan options will be offered to customers who are qualified for the Wireless Pilot Program. If you have previously received telephone equipment from the program, you are not eligible to receive a device of any kind until 5 years from the date of you last qualified application.
MAT is beginning the Wireless Pilot Program as a solution for people with hearing loss but may offer wireless solutions for people with other kinds of disabilities in the future. For more information, or to obtain an application, visit http://mdrelay.org/equipment.asp.

ODHH FY 2009 Annual Report Now Available

The Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has published our Fiscal Year 2009 (FY 2009) Annual Report, which incorporates the accomplishments of both ODHH and the Maryland Advisory Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The annual report covers the activities of ODHH from July 1, 2008 until June 30, 2009, or Fiscal Year 2009 (FY 2009).

ODHH remains a steadfast contributor to the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s vision of One Maryland by working to improve the quality of life for Marylanders with hearing loss. Despite the economic challenges we are facing, we share the Administration’s belief in making and creating progress. To that end, in FY 2009, this Office increased its efficiency by utilizing the strengths and skills of our staff to increase training and outreach while responding to an unprecedented number of constituent requests for information. View the report.

Recognizing National Black Deaf Advocates

As many of you know, February is Black History Month, which celebrates the accomplishments and
the history of the black Community. In honor of this significant month, ODHH would like to highlight the consumer organization National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA).

NBDA was established in 1982 to promote leadership development, social equality, and educational opportunities for black deaf individuals, and they now have over 30 chapters. They are
responsible for several nationally recognized programs including Miss Black Deaf America, Youth
Empowerment Summit (Y.E.S!), and the Collegiate Black Deaf Leadership Institute. Their programs provide teenage and college-age black deaf people with intensive leadership skills training.

NBDA is responsible for the creation of the first sculpture of a black deaf person. The sculpture,
which is of Andrew Foster, was made by Virginia Cox. On May 12, 2004 the bust was given to
Gallaudet University after 7 years of hard work. If you would like more information about NBDA,
please visit their webpage at www.nbda.org.