RELEASE: April 29, 2004

Previous Screen

Division of Deaf & Hard of Hearing holds first statewide conference
“Are You in the Loop?” theme urges staying up to date

TRENTON – Department of Human Services Commissioner Jim Davy welcomed attendees to the first statewide conference hosted by the department’s Division of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DDHH) today at the Lafayette Yard Marriott Hotel in Trenton.

Commissioner Davy encouraged the attendees and their families to “stay up to date on the technological environment which is changing so quickly, to learn about DDHH resources and to discuss new ideas for increasing accessibility and services for people who are deaf and hard of hearing.” He promised there would be more conferences of this nature.

Terri Wilson, DHS Deputy Commissioner, Services for People with Disabilities, welcomed the crowd by signing “good morning” and told of her trips to Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. and the Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf in West Trenton, as part of her duties to learn as much as possible about the full range of disabilities that effect people in New Jersey.

According to DDHH director Brian Shomo, the theme “NJ and Hearing Loss: Are You in the Loop?” is a double-entendre. Many people with hearing loss do not receive information as rapidly as others, due to their hearing loss – through radio public address systems, etc. Also, a “loop” (audio-loop) is a piece of equipment that amplifies sound and enables people who are hard of hearing to understand the spoken word. “Therefore, we are asking constituents if they are up to date on our technological environment which is changing so quickly,” explained Shomo.

The conference covered updates on the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening test, educational interpreters’ code of licensing, cochlear implants, laws against discrimination, and new legislation which would require health insurers to provide coverage for hearing aids – Grace’s Law.

The conference, co-sponsored with Northeast Technical Assistance Center (NETAC) and Camden County College, evolved from several regional community forums conducted by DDHH during the last two years. A major issue revealed through these forums was that many service providers, including physicians and private attorneys, continue to be inaccessible by not providing interpreters, captioning or assistive listening devices. While hospitals have improved greatly in providing communication access, more community education and outreach about available resources needs to be done, according to DDHH officials.

Participants and speakers included:
? Leslie Beres-Sochko, Program Manager & Kathryn Aveni, Research Scientist, Department of Health & Senior Services
? Therese Sheehan, Coordinator of Educational Programs & Resources, Department of Education
? Dr. Richard Fee, Educational Consultant, Cochlear Implant Program, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
? Dennis Russell, Superintendent, Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf
? Dr. Samuel Trychin (non-affiliated motivational speaker)
? J. Frank Vespa-Papaleo, Esq., Director & Chris Tester, Special Projects Coordinator/Investigator, Division on Civil Rights
? Patricia Billies, Project Coordinator, NETAC0

? 32 exhibitors included booths with new technology and assistive devices, information on service dogs, books about sign language, and agencies that provide resources and services.

Services under DDHH include advocacy, various publications, monthly newsletter, assistive device demonstration center, workshops, interpreter/communication access referrals, equipment distribution program, baby alert system, smoke detector program, interpreter screening, Awareness Day events, information and referral (I&R), telephone (TTY) rate discount application, NJ Transit Reduced Fare Card Certification, and Americans with Disabilities (ADA) information.

To reach New Jersey's Division of Deaf and Hard of Hearing, call 1-800-792-8339 V/TTY or 609-984-7281 V/TTY, 609-984-0390 fax.

###