History - Legislation And Public Policy

RICDHH has been a leader in public policy and advocacy for deaf and hard of hearing individuals for over 25 years. Collaborating with stakeholder groups to address public problems, such as lack of access, communications, equal rights, justice, and awareness is what RICDHH attempts to do through its lobbying efforts. This, in tandem with other policy responses, fulfills the charge of the Commission as originally mandated by the legislature over 25 years ago.

RICDHH has introduced numerous bills such as Anti-discrimination provisions, ASL, Equal Rights of Blind and Deaf Persons, Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Emergency and Public Access Communications, Guide Dogs for Blind and Deaf, Hearing Aids, Independent Living, Motor Vehicles, Sign Language Interpreters, Telephone Equipment Adaptive Fund, and many more that has been enacted into RI State Laws.