Recent Announcements

E-News (August 16, 2019)

The August 16, 2019 E-News has been posted.

Accepting Applications: Missouri SSP Program & DeafBlind Scholarship Programs for Independence and Education

MCDHH is now accepting applications for the Missouri SSP Program & DeafBlind Scholarship Programs for Independence and Education through Friday, August 9, 2019. Click here for more information.  

Governor Parson Signs Statewide Hearing Aid Distribution Program Into Law

Jefferson City, MO (July 11, 2019) - This afternoon, Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed Senate Bill 101 into law. This measure will allow the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) to begin establishing a statewide hearing aid distribution program for low-income Missourians. Senate Bill 101 was Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed by the Missouri legislature on May 14, 2019.

The law also created a dedicated Statewide Hearing Aid Distribution Fund. The corresponding program would allow individuals with hearing loss whose household income is at or below the federal poverty level to obtain hearing aids. On average, a pair of hearing aids cost $2,500 and needs to be replaced every few years.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the bill’s sponsor Senator Jeanie Riddle expressed gratitude to Governor Parson. "I am thankful for the governor’s action on Senate Bill 101. This is an important piece of legislation that has the potential to help countless Missourians who suffer from a loss of hearing. The cost of a hearing aid should never stand in the way of someone being able to live, work and raise their family."

Dr. Opeoluwa Sotonwa, Executive Director of the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, shared a similar sentiment: "I thank Governor Parson for his action on this bill, as well as Senator Jeanie Riddle and Representative Ann Kelley for their leadership on this issue." Dr. Sotonwa went on to explain how he envisions the legislation will impact Missouri. "Workforce development is an important cornerstone of Governor Parson’s agenda. He is committed to making Missouri a model state for employing people with disabilities. Making hearing aids accessible to low-income Missourians is critical to keeping them employable."

The structure and scope of the statewide hearing aid distribution program will depend on how much funding MCDHH receives from legislative appropriations as well as outside funding sources. For more information about this program, contact MCDHH by calling 573-526-5205 or by email mcdhh@mcdhh.mo.gov.

###

About MCDHH:

MCDHH works with individuals, service providers, businesses, organizations, and state agencies to improve the lives and opportunities of all Missourians with hearing loss. It functions as an agency of the state to advocate for public policies, regulations, and programs to improve the quality and coordination of existing services for individuals with hearing loss, and to promote new services whenever necessary. More information about MCDHH and the services it offers are available at http://mcdhh.mo.gov.

Grant Deadline Extended

MCDHH has chosen to extend the deadline for DeafBlind programs grant proposals from Tuesday, February 5 to Friday, February 8, 2019. If you have further questions, please email Emily.Morrison@mcdhh.mo.gov. Read the original information on the grant here: https://mcdhh.mo.gov/new-grant-opportunity-for-deafblind-programs/

New Grant Opportunity for DeafBlind Programs

In 2016, the Missouri Legislature passed House Bill 1696, a.k.a. the SSP bill, which gave the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) the authority and responsibility to administer the “issuance of grants to deaf-blind adults and children and their families,” subject to appropriations. The statute is set forth in section 161.412, RSMo. For Fiscal Year 2019, MCDHH was appropriated $300,000—save $9,000 for the Governor’s Reserve—to use toward section 161.412, RSMo. Of that $291,000, $193,895 has already been granted out through the MO SSP Program. The remaining $97,105 will be distributed to new DeafBlind programs via this grant. The purpose of these new programs is to supplement the MO SSP Program in a way that fulfills each of the intended outcomes of section 161.412, RSMo. This grant will cover services for DeafBlind children and their families and assistance for DeafBlind adults that is beyond the scope of an SSP. Click this link for the full grant document with more information. If you have questions about this grant, please send them to Emily.Morrison@mcdhh.mo.gov.