Here is today's KCDC Disability News message. I hope you have a wonderful day. Martha Martha K. Gabehart | Executive Director [email protected] | www.kcdcinfo.ks.gov ***** This message is from Robert Cooper, Executive Director of the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (KCDHH). Sharing with you as got a good resource coming out from North Carolina which was shared on NASADHH’s Basecamp. NASADHH is National Association of State Agencies serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH), in which 40 states are represented - usually those with agencies similar to KCDHH and some are called Office of D/HH for example. Jan Withers is the State Director of North Carolina Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NCDSDHH). KCDHH believes this information would have a value to your interest. It is with great excitement that I am announcing the release of the North Carolina Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) Telehealth Guidance and Resources Landing Page. Click here to see the one-stop webpage that provides guidance, resources, and tips to assist Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind patients, their healthcare providers, and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters in achieving fully-accessible telehealth experiences. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a rapid and widespread transition from in-person healthcare visits to telehealth visits. NCDSDHH as well as other stakeholders observed that the vast majority of telehealth platforms and services were not accessible to people with hearing loss. Unfortunately, this lack of access continues to be a major barrier. It is a clear disparity that could adversely affect the health outcomes of so many of North Carolina’s 1.2 million people with hearing loss; people with hearing loss need to have the same level of access during appointments done remotely as anyone in the general population. These guides and resources are designed to help ensure telehealth equity and ultimately health equity; this webpage likely contains the most comprehensive and vetted array of materials in the nation. As I’ve said often, for people with hearing loss, the goal – which is clear communication – is easy to understand, but achieving it is complicated. This is due to the wide variation in the degree and type of hearing loss and how people communicate; these guides and resources are designed to address this complexity. As telehealth technology and services continue to evolve, we welcome input to help us keep these guides and resources up to date. Please share the Telehealth Guidance and Resources Landing Page and accompanying materials far and wide so Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind populations using telehealth have the best chance of achieving health equity. Many thanks go to the NC Office of Rural Health, the Office of the General Counsel for the NC Department of Health and Human Services, the Center for Connected Health Policy, the National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers, and individuals too numerous to list here for their partnership throughout the development and review process. ***** The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) has released an update of their schedule of public hearings on the Brain Injury Waiver Renewal. They cancelled the 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm session on Thursday, April 20th at the Hilton Garden Inn in Hays, Kansas. See the attachment below for more information. ***** Reminder: Save the date for April 19, 2023 Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Final Rule Stakeholder call at 12:00 pm Noon. See the attachment below for the Zoom link to virtually participate. ***** Job Vacancy Announcements The Intrust Bank job vacancy listing is attached below. Please feel free to share with others. Blue Cross/Blue Shield has posted several new job vacancy announcements on their website. Please share with others. ***** The Viscardi Center provides digital accessibility services for employers and others. Digital Accessibility Services New Website Launch We are thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new, fully accessible Digital Accessibility Services website. This site, a model for website accessibility, was created to inform organizations like yours about services such as Document and Website Accessibility, video captioning and CART, that can help ensure your digital assets are inclusive for all. It also provides resources, such as our blog, so you can stay up on the latest trends in digital accessibility. Key features include: • Overview of Our Services The microsite provides a detailed description of our services (Document Accessibility, Website Accessibility, Captioning, and Audio Description). Our Digital Accessibility Services team has over 60-years of experience making documents, websites, videos, meetings, and events fully accessible and compliant. • Client Portal Link This portal is an easy, secure, and efficient way for clients to submit and receive files and communicate with our team. • Helpful Resources This library of resources such as videos, blogs, and multimedia materials, provides an overview of the importance of digital accessibility as well as information on a broad range of related topics. • Get a Quote This feature makes it easier and quicker to request a pricing quote for any of our services. Fill out the form on our page and we will get back to you with a personalized quote. Check out our new website as we march through a new year full of promises. ***** This information was shared by Stacie Martin, Education Program Consultant with the Kansas Department of Education. Dear Colleagues, The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is excited to announce an upcoming kickoff event for the transition initiative, Expect, Engage, Empower: Successful Transitions for All!, virtually on May 10, 2023, from 1:00 – 2:30 pm Eastern! The event is open to the public and your support in sharing this information is greatly appreciated.
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