Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

3216 Emerald Lane
Jefferson City, MO 65109

Phone: (573)-526-5205 ext. V/TTY
Fax: (573)-526-5209

Email: mcdhh@mcdhh.mo.gov
Website: https://mcdhh.mo.gov/

Details on Board or Commission

Authority: RSMo 161.400

Department: Elementary and Secondary Education

Mission: The Missouri Commission for the Deaf functions as an agency of the state to advocate public policies, regulations, and programs to improve the quality and coordination of existing services for deaf persons, and to promote new services whenever necessary. To these ends, the Missouri Commission for the Deaf will work with individuals, organizations, and state departments as an active force, to better the lives and opportunities of all deaf and hard of hearing Missourians.

Function: The Missouri Commission for the Deaf is mandated to promote deaf awareness; to develop state certification of sign language interpreters; to maintain the quality interpreting services; to maintain a census of the deaf population in Missouri; to promote the improvement of physical and mental health services for deaf persons; and to establish an effective communication network among the deaf adult community.

SubCommittees: None

Details on Meetings

Number of meetings: 4 meetings

Location of meetings: Jefferson City

Duration of meetings: 1 day

Preparation time for meetings: One week

Total time commitment: 7 hours

Details on Members

Total members: 9

Appointed members: 9

Term length: Three years; one reappointment allowed

Compensation: Members receive reimbursement for realized and necessary expenses.

Member Requirements: Two members must be deaf; one must be a parent of a deaf child; one must represent the business community; one must represent the Missouri School for the Deaf or the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; one must represent local public school administration; and one must be a professional from the field of audiology, psychology, speech pathology, mental health, or medicine; one must be an interpreter for the deaf; one must represent and organization that represents the interests of deaf and hard of hearing people.

Political Requirements: No

Geographic Requirements: No

Senate Consent Required: No