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8 Legislative Mandates:

1) Administer Sign Language Interpreter Referral Service.

CDHH provides the Sign Language interpreter referral service for the State of Rhode Island.

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2) Promote awareness and provide information and referral.

CDHH provides general awareness of the unique issues of Deaf and Hard of Hearing people by promoting the positive and productive aspects of their lives, and provides information specific to this populations, its culture and concerns.

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3) Conduct an ongoing needs assessment.

CDHH analyzes and assesses the needs of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in order to identify service gaps and recommends improvements on an ongoing basis.

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4) Engage in advocacy to promote accessibility of services.

CDHH actively promotes accessibility to employment, education, health, and other services by recommending action to remove barriers to services, providing technical assistance when requested, intervening as a knowledgeable party when access is denied, and encouraging effective self-advocacy on the part of the consumer.

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5) Initiate and lobby for legislation.

CDHH initiates and lobbies for legislation benefiting Deaf and Hard of Hearing people, and monitors related legislation at local, state and national levels in order to lobby for favorable outcomes.

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6) Provide networking among agencies and organizations.

CDHH promotes agency cooperation and coordination by networking with all entities that currently serve or have the potential to serve the needs of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and other RI citizens with hearing loss.

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7) Work to improve the quality of life addressing: education, employment, health care, parenting issues and technology.

CDHH takes any other necessary action to improve the quality of life for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and other RI citizens with hearing loss by addressing the unique needs of these populations in areas including, but not limited to, education, employment, health care, parenting and technology.

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8) Develop a Statewide Coordinating Council which will coordinate the implementation of statewide strategic plan for Deaf/Hard of Hearing children in RI.

CDHH establishes a statewide Coordinating Council in collaboration with the Department of Education and other agencies to implement a comprehensive strategic plan to promote the education and well-being of RI children who are Deaf or have a hearing loss.

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