The Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing works with individuals, service providers, businesses, organizations, and state agencies to improve the lives and opportunities of all Missourians with hearing loss.

The Missouri Commission for the Deaf (MCD) was established by the Missouri Legislature in 1988 with the passage of House Bill 1385. The MCD office opened in July 1990 and was housed at the Missouri School for the Deaf until late 1994. At that time the office was moved to Jefferson City. The name was changed to the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) in 2002 with the passage of House Bill 1783.

Vision

A Missouri where every Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing individual thrives with equitable access, inclusion, and opportunity.

Mission

Remove barriers and advance access, communication, inclusion, and opportunity for all Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing Missourians through leadership, education, advocacy, and collaboration. .

Guiding principles

Integrity

Collaboration

Empowerment

Equity

Innovation


Legal Mandates RSMo 161.405

The Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing 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 and hard of hearing persons, and to promote new services whenever necessary. The commission shall:

  • Promote deaf awareness to the general public and serve as a consultant to any public agency needing information regarding deafness.
  • Develop a system of state certification for those individuals serving as interpreters of the deaf.
  • Maintain the quality of interpreting services.
  • Maintain a census of persons with a hearing loss in Missouri – Census of Persons with Hearing Loss.
  • Promote the development of a plan which advocates the initiation of improved physical and mental health services for deaf Missourians.
  • Conduct or make available workshops or seminars as needed for educating nondeaf individuals of the problems associated with deafness and ways by which these groups or agencies can more effectively interact with those who are deaf.
  • Promote the development of services for deaf adults, such as shelter homes, independent living, skill training facilities and post-school educational training which will help provide for those deaf individuals requiring such services an opportunity to live independently.
  • Establish a network for effective communication among the deaf adult community and promote the establishment of TDD relay services where needed.
  • Develop and establish interpreting services for state.
Glossary of Abbreviations