Agency or Department Name Here (for pda/handhelds)

Enabling Legislation

The Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH), was established in October 2001 through enabling legislation (Chapter 537 of the Acts of the 2001 General Assembly). In accordance to the State Government Article, section 9-2407 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the Governor's ODHH was created to promote the general welfare of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the State.

Responsibilities

In accordance to the State Government Article, section 9-2407 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, ODHH is charged with responsibilities that include:

• Providing, advocating and coordinating the adoption of public policies, regulations and programs
• Improving access to communication and to existing services and programs
• Providing direct services as appropriate
• Increasing public awareness of the needs and issues affecting deaf and hard of hearing individuals
• Working with State and local agencies to ensure access to safety and emergency services, including the acquisition and distribution of visual smoke detectors
• Developing a referral service
• Serving as an information clearinghouse on the needs and issues affecting deaf and hard of hearing individuals
• Working to increase access to educational, health and social opportunities
• Working with private organizations, the federal government and other units of State government to promote economic development
• Working to eliminate underemployment and unemployment
• Providing a network through which services provided by State and federal programs can be channeled
• Promoting compliance with State, local and federal laws and assisting in the development of policies to improve the lives of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing
• Helping to facilitate the appropriate delivery of State, local and other public services to deaf and hard of hearing individuals
• Advising other units of State government and the General Assembly on the needs of deaf and hard of hearing individuals
• Providing (subject to appropriations in the State budget) any reasonable resources that any other unit of State government requests to serve or assist deaf and hard of hearing individuals
• Coordinating, to the greatest extent possible, in order to avoid any duplication of effort, with other units of the State and the federal government the services provided to deaf and hard of hearing individuals
• Holding at least two public town hall meetings each year to receive public comments on the quality of state services and programs affecting deaf and hard of hearing individuals; ODHH-related functions and operations; and any other issues that affect deaf and hard of hearing individuals

Furthermore, ODHH shall:

1. help facilitate the appropriate delivery of State, local and other public services to deaf and hard of hearing individuals;
2. to advise other units of State government and the General Assembly on the needs of deaf and hard of hearing individuals;
3. subject to appropriations in the State budget, provide any resonable resources that any other unit of State government requests to serve or assist deaf and hard of hearing individuals; and
4. to the greatest extent possible, in order to avoid any duplication of effort, coordinate with other units of the State and the federal government the services provided to deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

The Maryland Advisory Council for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing was authorized in October 2001 (Chapter 537, Acts of 2001-Code State Government Article, secs. 9-2404 through 9-2406) to advise and give support to ODHH.