Important Dates
Recent Announcements
Accepting Applications: Missouri SSP Program & DeafBlind Scholarship Programs for Independence and Education
July 12, 2019MCDHH 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.
Read More »Governor Parson Signs Statewide Hearing Aid Distribution Program Into Law
July 11, 2019
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.
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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.
Read More »Grant Deadline Extended
February 1, 2019MCDHH 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/
Read More »New Grant Opportunity for DeafBlind Programs
January 7, 2019In 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.
Read More »MCDHH Announces $200,000 Grant Opportunity for DeafBlind Program
July 27, 2018Jefferson City—The Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) released a grant opportunity Wednesday to award $200,000 through the Missouri Support Service Provider (SSP) Program to organizations across the state for independent living of DeafBlind Missourians. An SSP empowers persons with combined hearing and vision loss to make their own decisions without relying on friends and family members for daily activities. The SSP assists by allowing the DeafBlind person to integrate into the community by providing guidance, environmental information, and communication assistance. Organizations receiving funding through the Missouri SSP Program are responsible for both training SSPs and coordinating scheduling and payment for services. Some examples of situations a DeafBlind person may need an SSP include: navigating a doctor’s office, locating products in a grocery store, and reading mail. Dual sensory loss presents unique challenges because solutions for living with blindness often rely on hearing, and Deaf Culture relies heavily on visual information. This creates a spectrum of lifestyles for DeafBlind individuals, and therefore a wide array of service needs. In 2016, the Missouri Legislature passed House Bill 1696, establishing 161.412, RSMo. This authorized the MCDHH to issue grants to organizations providing services to deaf-blind adults, children, and their families, subject to appropriations. The grant details can be found online at http://mcdhh.mo.gov/fy19-mo-ssp-program. The deadline for grant applications is noon on Friday, August 9, 2018. MCDHH works with individuals, service providers, businesses, organizations, and state agencies to improve the lives and opportunities of all Deaf and Hard of Hearing Missourians. 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.
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For More Information: Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing mcdhh@mcdhh.mo.gov (573) 526-5205 http://mcdhh.mo.govRead More »