Recent Announcements

E-News (November 19, 2021)

November 19, 2021

This week’s e-news has been posted.

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Accepting Applications: DeafBlind Programs

November 19, 2021

MCDHH is now accepting applications for the Missouri SSP Program & DeafBlind Scholarship Programs for Independence and Education for the 2022 fiscal year through November 30, 2021. Learn more about the opportunity using either document format below:

• PDF
• Word

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Accepting Nominations: Lifetime Achievement Award

August 13, 2021

MCDHH will be hosting its annual awards ceremony at the Missouri Interpreters Conference banquet on Saturday, October 2, 2021. We are currently accepting nominations of outstanding individuals to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Past award recipients have included Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals, interpreters, educators, and service providers. The guidelines for the award are below; please submit your nominations by August 30 to mcdhh@mcdhh.mo.gov.   Guidelines:

1. Any Missouri resident may nominate a person to receive MCDHH’s Lifetime Achievement Award
2. To nominate, submit the person’s name, current contact information, and a letter explaining why you believe they deserve this award; if available, the person’s resume and a recent headshot are also helpful
3. MCDHH will present the Lifetime Achievement Award to one or more individuals on a periodic basis—typically at the Missouri Interpreters Conference
4. The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual to honor outstanding service over a significant portion of the person’s life to Missourians who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
5. No person shall be given the Lifetime Achievement Award more than once

  Past Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients 2020: NA 2019: Craig Jacobs, Anette Nitko, William Walker 2018: April Dunlap, Jeffrey Dunlap, Ernest Garrett, III 2017: Geneva Shearburn 2016: Paul Blicharz, Kimberly Schaeffer 2015: Glorianna Pack 2014: NA 2013: Michael Boyd 2012: Ellen Foshay 2011: Sister Maureen Laurent 2010: Tom Bastean 2009: Ella Eakins, Paul Hrabovsky 2008: Larry Hoard 2007: Pat Adams, Kevin Babin, Nancy Dietrich, Leslie Hall, Antonina Wilson 2006: C. William Blank, Dinna Dickrader, Allan Ensor II, Sister Laura Grube, Denise Kerns, Charles Luetje 2005: Kenneth Alexander, Judith Bastean, Robert Foster, William Sheldon, Norma Vickers, Ula Williams 2004: Alta Bradshaw, Daniel Bradshaw, Harold Hankins, Marthada Reed, Mary Stodden 2003: Denise Rogers, Rev. Arthur Steidmann, Lawrence Yates 2002: Joseph Carrico, Jean Galloway, Georgetta Graybill, Charlotte Rose Hamilton, Richard Reed 2001: Sister Arline Eveld, Mary Leubke, Franky "Tuffy" Morris, Peter Ripley, Marjorie Yates

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Call for MO-BEI Raters

August 6, 2021

The Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is seeking applicants to be on our MO-BEI Rating Team.  Applicants who are selected to become raters will be compensated for their services. Please submit your letter of interest or a signed video with your interest to become a rater and a current resume to: Jessica.Kallenbach@mcdhh.mo.gov.   Rater Responsibilities:

1. Evaluate the expressive and receptive skills of interpreter candidates who take the Basic or Advanced level performance tests by utilizing the prescribed subjective and objective scoring methodology established by the BEI Board and test development experts
2. Attend mandatory training sessions prior to participating in rater scoring sessions
3. Consistently score exams within an acceptable standard deviation range to ensure a high level of inter-rater reliability
4. Contribute effective dialogue by discussing the candidates work objectively while using appropriate linguistic terminology

  Hearing Interpreter Raters will score a candidate's performance to assess their proficiency in the following areas:

1. Spoken English-to-ASL
2. Spoken English-to-Signed English
3. ASL-to-Spoken English
4. Signed English-to-Spoken English
5. Written English-to-ASL (Sight Translation)

  Criteria for becoming a Hearing Interpreter Missouri BEI rater:

• Preferably an associate’s degree or higher
• Preferably a minimum of 10 years interpreting experience
• Knowledge of linguistics, sign language theory, and interpreting
• Ability to effectively work in a team
• Interpreters shall hold MICS Advanced, MICS Master, MO-BEI Advanced, or a MO-BEI Master Certification

*or a Certification from another entity that is recognized by the BCI as equivalent, pursuant to 5 CSR 100-200.170   All interpreter raters will be expected to take the TEP (written exam) and the BEI performance exam within one year of their rater training.   Deaf Raters will score a candidate's performance to assess their proficiency in the following areas:

1. Spoken English-to-ASL
2. Spoken English-to-Signed English
3. Written English-to-ASL (Sight Translation)

  Criteria for becoming a Deaf Missouri BEI rater:

• Preferably an associate’s degree or higher
• Preferably a minimum of 10 years working with interpreters or interpreter training students (i.e. mentoring, teaching ASL, or teaching interpreting classes)
• Knowledge of linguistics, sign language theory, and interpreting
• Ability to effectively work in a team
• Preferably CDI certification through BEI or RID

  Confidentiality. All Raters must be able to maintain strict confidence of all aspects of the rating system and materials, as required by section 161.409, RSMo. All Raters will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement before engaging in any training or evaluations. The dates and times of rater training and evaluation sessions are also considered confidential and should not be disclosed, except as is reasonably required to coordinate with close family and business associates, and for personal safety.   The deadline to submit information is August 25, 2021.  Candidates selected to attend the rater training will be contacted no later than September 1, 2021.  It is possible that not all candidates will be selected to be a rater.

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Join the MCDHH Team: Now Hiring a Staff Interpreter

July 16, 2021

Are you looking for an opportunity to work in a highly visible and respected state agency? Do you have what it takes to blend with a creative, talented, and innovative team? This may be the job for you! MCDHH is currently looking for applicants to fill the position of Staff Interpreter. Learn more and apply here.

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