Institutional and Community Planning Planning Session Report September 7, 2007 Office of the Vice President of Research and Development My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning Table of Contents Executive Summary .............................................................................................................3 Protocol ................................................................................................................................4 Common Themes .................................................................................................................5 Group Notes .........................................................................................................................6 Group Priorities..................................................................................................................22 Participant’s List ................................................................................................................26 Coordination/Appreciation ................................................................................................29 Event Photos ......................................................................................................................31 Draft Mission Statement for the Rio Grande for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Communities Serving West Texas and Southern New Mexico .........................................32 Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 2 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning Executive Summary On December 31, 2006 the El Paso Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (EPCDHH), acting on a decision by the Board of Directors, suddenly shut down without any warning. No plans were made to help consumers transition in the wake of the Center’s closure, leaving a population in need of vital services without any identified provider to get these services. Following the closure the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, people of the El Paso area, an already underserved population, were left in limbo. The needs of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing population of El Paso County and surrounding regions, and Southern New Mexico, are unique for several reasons. First, hearing loss impacts them enormously on ability to communicate. There is much diversity, including Deaf culture, in the diagnosis of the population. Many different intensities of hearing deficiencies make it difficult to develop services that can sufficiently accommodate all the people within these communities. Secondly, several different family, social and cultural living arrangements within the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities make for a diverse need of services. There are hearing parents with deaf children, hearing children with deaf parents, hard of hearing spouses with hearing spouses, and a number of other scenarios making the task of serving this population in need of a wide-array of services. Lastly, the geographic proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border raises some diverse communication issues. In this region, in addition to the spoken language diversity of the area, several types of sign language are used, thus making interpretation and education for children as well as adults difficult. Most deaf individuals use American Sign Language (ASL) while others use Mexican Sign Language, and the public school system is teaching deaf children in Seeing Essential English (SEE). With a variety of services not being met the service delivery and referral process has fallen onto the shoulders of a few people that have actively served the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community for many years and who remain in a service capacity after the closing of EPCDHH. However, the resources of these few people and the agencies and organizations they represent are limited. Communication Services for the Deaf (CSD) which was housed at the EPCDHH prior to its closing and is the sole surviving provider, maintains the Resource Specialist Program with a staff of one, with funding assistance from DARS, Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (DHHS). (Note that CSD has recently added a second Resource Specialist that focuses on the hard of hearing population). CSD admits to being overwhelmed with service requests and unable to meet the demand. They provide advocacy, service coordination and referral, and interpreter services. The El Paso Community College Center for Students with Disabilities provides interpreter services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals who want to pursue higher education, but their staff faces interpreter shortages at times. Additionally, EPCC has a training program for American Sign Language Interpreters to help address the interpreter shortages within the community. The DARS Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) maintains a Counselor for the Deaf to serve eligible Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. The Americans with Disabilities ACT (ADA) places legal liability on the public and private sectors to provide interpreters services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. The Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 3 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning problem with the ADA laws is that often they are not enforced or providers find loop-holes so as to avoid providing the needed access services. CSD, through the Resource Specialist program, provides ADA information that can assist consumers in understanding the laws and assisting them to file complaints. Lack of communication due to interpreting deficiencies causes numerous societal problems that impact all of the community. If there are communication breakdowns in the service delivery process this often negates the intent of the service whether it is medical, legal, or financial or related to life skills. Adding to the difficulty of communication, many Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals are categorized as at-risk and may have limited education and literacy levels. The Rio Grande Coalition for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing was formed in the aftermath of closing of the EPCDHH by Alma Bebee of CSD, Mary Mooney of EPCC Sign Language Program, and Sandra Williams of New Mexico Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH), Las Cruces, who formed the initial planning group. This Coalition group began working toward hosting a planning meeting to address the issues directly related to the closure of EPCDHH and to the service needs of the community. This was a first step towards helping the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities to regroup and move forward following the closure. Protocol The Coalition planning group was expanded to involve a committee consisting of agency representatives from organization like CSD, EPCC, La Fe Clinic, and DARS-DRS. They met weekly to put together the first formal meeting of stakeholders of the area. The EPCC Department of Institutional and Community Planning assisted with organizing the formal meeting which was held on September 7, 2007 and hosted by EPCC. Participants were invited from various agencies that serve or have a stake in serving the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities. The meeting involved 75 participants from various agencies1. The participants were divided into five (5) discussion groups. Each group was facilitated by a member of EPCC staff to guide the discussion. The groups addressed the topics of Medical and Mental Health Services, Legal and Court Ordered Services, and Service Gaps throughout the Continuum. Each topic was discussed for an hour and at the end of the session the groups were asked to share the three (3) most vital outcomes from the discussion2. 1 2 See attached participant’s list pg. 26 See 3 most important priorities pg. 22 Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 4 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning Common Themes In evaluating the notes from the planning meeting several common themes emerge from the various groups. Some of the issues that arise frequently include: • • • • • • • • Awareness about issues facing the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities needs to be highlighted. Service providers need to be made aware of their responsibilities and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities need to know their rights. The public as a whole and law-makers need to be educated on the issues the Deaf and Hard of Hearing are facing. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing also need to become aware of what programs are currently available. A centralized location housing Deaf and Hard of Hearing services and sources of referrals for services is needed to replace the EPCDHH. The closure of the Center has left a void in the Community’s social support process that was made possible by the Center, including the support that the Deaf and Hard of Hearing persons provided to each other by being brought together at the Center. A uniformed referral system is needed between the various service providers (e.g. public schools, colleges, juvenile probation dept., etc.). The Youth Initiative Program (YIP) is a good example of a referral document for services that are available. Medical professionals and the medical service provider facilities need to be aware of their responsibilities under ADA laws. Violations of the law need to be reported in order to insure the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community are receiving the services to which they are entitled. The region suffers from a lack of high quality certified interpreters. Many agencies such as school districts are relying on non-certified persons to facilitate communication. Scholarships and other incentives need to be made available to get more people to become certified interpreters. Funding is limited for interpreter services. Funding sources need to be pursued in the form of grants and other collaborative efforts. Agencies need to include budget line items specific to interpreter services. Medical professionals and facilities need to pay for interpreter services for which they are liable. Transitional services are needed for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students to help them move on from the public school system to higher education and to the workforce. Deaf and Hard of Hearing persons residing in rural areas are underserved and young deaf children may be placed in special education classes because no special program is available for them. Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 5 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning Group Notes Group I I. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Medical and Mental Health Services Undocumented Students cannot access services outside of public school system All doctors office visits require an interpreter, written communication is inadequate for the deaf Lack of education on disabilities by medical professionals can be improved by: o Public Awareness o Public Education o Making deaf aware of programs that are currently available for them o Get doctors to take the needs of the deaf community seriously Mental health providers don’t feel comfortable with interpreter there Possible HIPPA Violations Providers do not want to pay for interpreter services Doctors rushing through services for deaf to cut cost of interpreter o Patients calling back through relay services with unanswered questions Doctor has to prove they can’t pay for service Interpreting services fees for doctors are affordable over an annual basis ADA laws need to be enforced o Doctors know laws are not enforced they continue to violate the law o Communication Services for the Deaf (CSD) currently handles ADA complaints Discrimination at doctors offices o Deaf people cannot hear in the waiting room Doctors using non-certified interpreters to communicate with deaf patients Doctors using exaggerated gestures for communication Accidents are being caused by lack of communication Not every deaf person has the same needs Doctors need to allocate funding in their miscellaneous expenses budget for interpreter services Interpreters save medical professionals liability cost Emergency rate for interpreters Social Security interpreter signs but is not certified Once a month schedule all clients in need of interpreter services for medical/mental health visits Deaf are charged same rate for services as hearing patients but not receiving full services Deaf and Hard of Hearing going to CSD and EPCC for referrals Secure Horizons provides a TTY for referrals Adult Protective Services (APS) has a budget for deaf and hard of hearing Juvenile Probation Department (JPD) currently uses computers to communicate Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 6 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning • • II. • • • • • • • • • III. • • • • • • • • • • • • o Provides interpreters for court Awareness of “deaf culture”, education is needed for hearing families with deaf children Interpreters have a code of ethics Legal Services and Court Ordered Services Courts more familiar/sensitive to needs of the deaf community than medical professionals Jury duty refused to provide interpreter for hard of hearing person and fined the person for failure to appear Issues with interpreter expenses for court ordered services Additional services not paid for by the courts limiting access (e.g. AA meetings, anger management) Limitations in services (e.g. follow-up services not paid for) Progress is monitored when it is court ordered By law parents must maintain responsibility for children o Lack of communication between parent and child o Child’s voice is not heard in court States agencies allocate funds for services Deaf culture in the court room is often seen as being rude or impolite o Signing requires many gestures that hearing people might interpret wrong Service Gaps throughout the Continuum Differences “fitting in” for hearing, hard of hearing, and deaf Deaf Center was important for socializing o Deaf feel isolated from their own families Regional Day School Program for the Deaf/EPISD offers free sign language classes for anyone at Hillside Elementary o Mondays 6:00-7:30 P.M. o Wednesday 9:00-10:30 A.M. EPCC offers college credit classes Spanish speakers have no way of learning to communicate with their deaf children CSD is swamped with people Rural deaf have no access to any kind of services outside school districts The deaf are current using “word of mouth” to find services Lack of case management Informal referrals such as Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), SSI, and language classes at EPISD with Regional Day School Program for the Deaf VOLAR has yet to see very many people with hearing disabilities o VOLAR offers numerous services for people with disabilities (e.g. independent living) o Looking into housing services for the Deaf Pamphlets needed in English/Spanish about services (resource books) Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 7 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Youth Initiative Program (YIP) has monthly meetings, help desk, grass roots Need for monthly meetings with Mayor, County Commissioners Involve community organizations (e.g. Lions Club) have events like walks to raise awareness Find personnel to pursue grant funds Small non-profits have difficulty competing with larger non-profits Use existing administration from non-profits to house services for the deaf Low literacy rates make communication more difficult Most write American Sign Language Video phones available for communication needs (high-speed connection required) Not all people can afford the internet People needing interpretation can call CSD or Sorenson from a cell phone o CSD 866-327-8877 o Sorenson 866-793-1076 Video phones needed at the Public Libraries (only the main branch downtown has one) EPCC library has 3 video phones o 2 at Valle Verde Campus o 1 at Rio Grande Campus Police Department/Hospitals need video phones All TTY should be replace by video phones New technologies in cell phones e.g. (T-Mobile sidekick) helping to improve communication Deaf consumers under STAP can qualify for a free phone (have to pay for the service) UTEP/EPCC provide services for deaf students o Deaf students get priority registration Local technical schools do not provide services for the deaf UTEP/EPCC have shortage in interpreters Transition specialist at local school district are helping to provide access to education Collaboration between educational institutions needed to help deaf students Regional deaf pre-school in New Mexico with district providing transportation is available Interpreters need a day school who can teach and address student’s needs EPISD services for deaf children from ages 0 – 3 years with home visits once a week. Regional Day School Program for the Deaf has an education program for Deaf/Hard of Hearing for any student in the County and City of El Paso with Interpreter in Grades Pre K to 12. DARS, Pride Industries, CSD, Upper Rio Grande Workforce, help find employment for the deaf o Pride offers on the job training Elderly deaf have to also deal with ageism o They don’t get out of their homes o APS investigates exploitation Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 8 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning • • • • • • • CSD is bringing in a hard of hearing specialist starting in October 2007 No retirement homes or health care specifically for the deaf No interpreters available for programs like home health San Marcos Texas has model facilities for deaf elderly Certified teachers needed to teach deaf children Deaf Center closure left the deaf community with a lack of social activities o Some deaf moving away from El Paso as a result Miracle League of El Paso has baseball league for ages 3 and up Group II I. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • II. • • • • Medical and Mental Health Services Lack of Interpreters Lack of awareness within the professional medical community Awareness within deaf population Process and right responsibilities Lack of direct services Educate service providers and deaf Identify needs of the community Education and communication o Making the deaf and hard of hearing responsible for there own needs o Educate parents at the elementary level o Parental network Medical School- Auditory services and specialist, training of deaf and hard of hearing Contact medical association can earn CEU’s offer those professionals, track new employees Include in once a year service stay (free of charge or donation) Possibility in communication Have other interpreters available at school districts CSD faxing list of interpreter agencies list of recourses El Paso has difficulty getting interpreters o Interpreters leaving the city o Offer course in El Paso ASL (American Sign Language) o Deaf education teachers are not easy to find Legal and Court Ordered Services Probation, courses mandatory for deaf and hard of hearing Who pays for interpreting services o Funding for court ordered (where’s the interpreter) Juvenile resources How can we inform others of entry into the juvenile system Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 9 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning III. • • • • • • • • Service Gaps throughout the Continuum El Paso Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community o Transitional Period Early Childhood Pre-Kinder Kindergarten Elementary Middle School High School College/University “Real World Need for transitional services/programs support What services for teens needed now? o Parent services o Provide more classes in ASL (EPCC) Agency support services o Sharing information between school districts Numbers Names of different departments Transportation What referral sources are educators giving to parents? o Audiologist o Outside agencies How do agencies handle situations? o Hire more specialist for deaf and hard of hearing Have focus groups o More specialist in areas that concern deaf and hard of hearing community o Educate the community of El Paso How can services collaborate? o Across state lines o Build partnerships What resources are needed to be brought together? o State level o Different agencies o To continue this kind of reform o Local support needed o Lobbyist o Local partnership and support Group III I. • Medical and Mental Health Services Unmet needs o Undiagnosed issues Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 10 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning • • • • II. • • • o Rural areas/colonias/Southern New Mexico with no interpreters Not enough interpreters Lack of skilled professionals that sign No direct communication between deaf individuals and the professional No appropriate testing for deaf and hard of hearing (hearing impaired battery) Misdiagnosis as Mentally Retarded o Difference between deaf and hard of hearing are not viewed by the hearing population o Tri-lingual services-lack of understanding in differences in cost, also intermediate deaf interpreting o Service providers do not want to provide interpreter services o Need individuals committed to the deaf and hard of hearing community and that are not self serving o Misappropriation and miss-management of funds (Fraud/Waste/Abuse) Referrals (informal) handled o They are not handled o Need for awareness Confidentiality issues o Communication (lack of) affect perception of confidentiality What can be done to improve communication (between medical professionals and deaf individuals)? o Provide training for medical students at UTEP and EPCC o Cultural competencies training should incorporate disability to the core curriculum o CEU’s in disability cultural competencies o More classes specific to the deaf and hard of hearing o Self Advocacy o Scholarships for non-certified interpreters to get certified Agency Funding (seeking) o Probation has funds o Social services has funds Legal and Court Ordered Services How are they currently being handled? o Sub-contracting-used the Deaf Center previously. El Paso has only 3 certified interpreting full time jobs o High need for court certified interpreting Is court ordered services meeting their intent? o No o Service providers are not willing to pay the fee Problems with miscommunication/breakdown in the system o Lack of court ordered compliance can result in incarceration o Service provider in anger management, parenting classes etc. refuse to provide court ordered interpreting may result in loss of children etc. Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 11 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning • III. • • o Providers use the law (less than 15 employees) as a crutch. They do not consider that they must prove financial hardship NO DEAF CENTER o Funding? Courts? Service provider? Online? • Accessible? Grant proposals for funding Service Gaps throughout the Continuum What service gaps exist for children? Adolescent members? Local/Urban? o In rural areas deaf children are being placed in special education, rather than appropriate resources being provided. To avoid this a referral from a Physician about the child’s hearing loss can give appropriate services to the Deaf Ed. Program o If appropriate accommodations are not being provided documentation is necessary students receiving Special Education services not in Regional Day School Program for the Deaf may not be getting appropriate accommodations o Identify an adequate tracking system after diagnosis of hearing loss o Distinguish the difference between positive and negative tracking systems o Recreational or summer services o Transportation from: Elementary Secondary Post secondary Workforce o Identify unique unmet needs of: Deaf children of deaf parents Deaf children of hearing parents Hearing children of deaf parents o What unique services do children/adolescents need? Recreation Socialization Mentorship/role models Religious o Sex education/Teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol services (intervention) Support services to assist deaf and hard of hearing persons and their families o Accessible interpreters (free resources) o Filling the gap (e.g. ECI-up to age of 3) Appropriately trained staff personnel with other agencies The gap is from 3-High School no other support services except those provided by education system Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 12 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning • • What referral sources do you currently use? o ECI o Schools o DARS o Interpreting agencies o Texas Relay-VRS o VOLAR Center for Independent Living o Medicaid Benefits-State Medicaid (e.g. WIC) o Social Security/SSI benefits o Audiologist Top 3 priorities o Education o Parental involvement, mentoring, communication o Centralization of Services Group IV I. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Medical and Mental Health Services Doctors need awareness of specific needs and accommodation Documentation needed to simplify awareness, short 2-3 page document of doctors role and responsibilities o Need training to deal with request of interpreters o Provide tools to communicate o Staffing gets intimidated with special needs Most people are not aware of their rights Parents (e.g. hard of hearing) do not get addressed instead communicate with children Need access to communication Do not have current procedures (e.g. deaf) Hospitals must be held accountable o Need for formal procedure with in hospital on how to provide services especially in the emergency room o Can lead to lawsuits and many problems (e.g. Department of Justice) Need to educate general/deaf population on their rights Families must take friends, family often doesn’t know terms etc. How to address private practice services? Limited services in hospitals leads individuals to go to further locations (not convenient) Approach administration then go to the next level Military: Exceptional family members program o What does military need to know to serve? Families need information of needs Need to keep educating of the laws (e.g. 504, ADD) Undocumented individuals left without services/no rights or benefits People are not aware of their rights o The procedure and process must be known Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 13 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Need for community awareness or the benefits of serving and including all (e.g. the beauty of every language of sign) ID common points that all medical providers must comply with Trickle down theory (Awareness) o Give information to critical people and they disseminate Interpreter services must be easy to identify and be accessible for renewals for doctors Doctors need to be aware of contact information o Need policy/procedures ahead of time Awareness is the challenge Why should the consumer be responsible? o Why burden the consumer? List of available services/interpreters in Austin/Dallas: Interpreters specialized system On-Call Most people don’t know how to demand services, not aware of what to do One Stop Shop (phone number) referrals for medical services El Paso Yellow Pages has no listings, maybe providers but not classified as interpreters services Mental health practitioners may not be aware of “body language” and will misdiagnose Quality of services may suffer Impact to family: o Miscommunication may lead to problems/misunderstandings contribute to mental health issues o Affect cultural dynamics of family Psychologist misdiagnose because of lack of awareness Interpreters must be qualified… but not certified o Need higher certifications to ensure no mistakes in interpreting/communication, need more training to upgrade skills Share of TX o Certification required for legal interpreting o Specialize in Legal/Medical How are referrals currently being handled? o UTEP-health center/CSD work together (but interpreters not full-time), CSD acts as mediator o NMCCD- make referrals but educate first on how to get interpreter etc. (middle man), provided only when hard of hearing ask for help Specific person or program needed to create awareness o Who is this individual? Funding? City of El Paso? County? Other Texas cities have been doing that o Dallas/Austin-advocacy (25 years ago), it’s the practice o Funding? No single pot of money Resource specialist needed to seek funding Need a building: a center (long term) one stop for services o Promote signing for the hearing/promote communication Service training for professionals (put in the training agenda) Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 14 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning • • • • • • • II. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Create awareness that leads to policy Provide sensitivity training If just lecture doesn’t get to the point, need to experience it Medical and mental services are the most important of all issues and will be critical in life and deaf situations Aging population will need more services and currently few exist (e.g. nursing homes) Many people need to move to cities with services o Loosing members of our community Services for people with disabilities must be available to have good quality of life in El Paso Legal and Court Ordered Services El Paso struggling to provide services When court orders to go to programs where deaf and hard of hearing people are unable to communicate Not aware of any referral system Now looking for points of service Trying to develop in-house programs without need to refer out (Adult Probation) Maybe can collect a list of vendors required to have (interpreting) services Courts can say must comply with ADA or don’t refer clients One issue is that many agencies providing services, vendors are limited (1-2) Can put certain conditions/terms to get contracts What is the root cause for some agencies to provide services? o Lack of awareness o Do not want to deal with the hassle Provide sensitivity training (to providers/courts) If services are not provided people do not get due process Alcoholics Anonymous does not charge, they are not required to provide services o Should the state or court provide the services? If the court refers them then they are responsible Agencies that receive federal funds must comply with ADA, 504 Maybe CDBG will provide grants Other issues through the legal system o Don’t have the right people to communicate o Police don’t know what to do, jail may not be equipped either o Police procedures without interpreter may not know what to do and end up paying consequences for not following the rules Courts trying to provide (interpreter) services Child support (family interactions may be miss-interpreted and lead to the wrong conclusions Child Crisis Center Funding for court services provided by the courts, no other funds are available o Legal aid for legal services but not for interpreters Each agency has funds but are not marked for specific disabilities Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 15 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning • • • • • • • • • • III. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Lack of resources for legal services Gap- if court requires services than it should provide the funding Do courts have a statement that addresses discrimination? Yes o If yes, must comply with providing services o Courts could be the ones responsible or make AA responsible (since volunteer program can not) o Need to advocate for government to provide funding or earmark money Unfortunately this will not happen soon Need to promote legislators to provide attention/funding Very difficult to contact elected officials especially for deaf and hard of hearing Need center to come together and build leadership and skills to approach legislators Adult probation can help advocate for services for the deaf Department of Corrections have developed a grant to identify deaf and provide services Locally all deaf referred to only one probation officer (need more) Service Gaps throughout the Continuum Educational interpreting (Gadsden ISD) Accept any help you can get UTEP has interpreters but is running thin o Some gaps in classrooms o Additional providers will mean more demand Another call center coming to El Paso Smaller surrounding communities feel left out Willing to work together to share resources Need advocates for services that are lacking EPCC-interpreter training process is slow (2-3 year process) no overnight fix Need more advertising in need for interpreters Private sector provides more funding for interpreters Strong network and referrals Mentoring programs at the high schools Need to establish communication/network New Mexico has mentoring/shadow certified person Advertise our area (trilingual opportunities) Entertainment for youth/promoters will not provide interpreters sometimes need one month in advance Family support services- some situations are hard to arrange accommodations Need referral services and need to make the public aware of that service Movies-limited with open captions, need to plan ahead and pay more money with limited captions o Limited for children o Limits family outings o Other cities do have better system for open caption movies (support services are more organized) Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 16 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning Other issues are money, theatres are unwilling market is limited Scheduling is not convenient Need to close caption at times Rural schedules have transportation issues Need to collaborate to schedule with theatres, advance planning o www.insightcinema.org Personal counseling and family counseling Social work Daycare After school activities Soccer tryouts o Kids want to join, how do we do that? Sports La Fe o Art contest o Speech contest o Kerville TX, camping o Self esteem activities Boy and girls clubs Teens disconnected from each other o Families suffer because there is no support network Outdoor activities, camping Gus and Goldie swimming programs Physical activity programs o Instructors intimidated about safety issues o They’re just kids We have few good models around here o People are not wealthy o May not know about programs o Need to promote awareness/transportation o Need more outreach Support services needed: o Child intervention programs o Need system to identify family needs o Identify hard of hearing early and children of adults with special needs (CODA) o Services for hearing children with deaf parents o Hearing children may not know how to interpret in an adult situation e.g. principal’s office School should provide interpreters and not rely on children L.C. commission for (CDHH) only program Community identifies a few people in the community and they get over sheltered but don’t know the right people to contact “Low functioning deaf” not served o Very complex to communicate/ people give up on some children but they have a right to communicate (whether adults of children) o o o o • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 17 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • o People may try to only address part of the problem o These children may have low literacy so there is no point of reference e.g. floods in 2006- newspaper listed services but deaf not aware of FEMA and other services In natural disasters deaf often don’t know services available or find out when it is too late Documents often too difficult to read (red tape) Huge gap in services o What improvements can be made? o Educate Need central organization to contact all services and people Need someone to step forward (too overwhelming) Service providers are very busy to take it on… Need someone with time and passion o Budget management within the city (contact City Manager) Areas existing resources: o Chamber of Commerce-business titles come together (trickle down theory) e.g. tourism-good linkages Organizations function differently e.g. probation, higher education Can start with referral system e.g. for interpreters (Ft. Bliss) soldiers seek assistance at UTEP CSD… would be good to know how each agency supports the deaf Ft. Bliss now has wounded soldiers program o Are soldiers briefed about their rights/services? Funding is needed to bring it all together Identification problems Leadership Checks and balances to avoid past mistakes/situations Networking Group V I. • • • • II. • • • Medical and Mental Health Services Security issues at jail and El Paso Psychiatric Center o Workshops are sometimes provided for individuals if deal with courts More funding for emergency/medical settings o More training funding Security process training at jails would help No centralized coordination for interpreters or other staff that need training Legal and Court Ordered Services Arresting officers often need help interpreting with deaf person o Communication with persons about process Deaf people are isolated in jail to protect them Need for specialized language for deaf children and families at children’s hospital and with more pediatric specialist Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 18 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • o Advanced training needed for interpreters using medical terminology Training for interpreters entering jail Libraries can access to video conferencing for deaf people No one in El Paso area is making Choclear Implants o Need at medical school, children’s hospital need staff interpreter at Texas Tech/Thomason Deaf community may be wary at times dealing with interpreters o Deaf community needs education about there rights to request interpreter o Bilingual interpreter Funding source may define required protocols for particular age group when children “age out” of rehabilitation services at age 3, no non-profit organization that picks up children after age 3, schools/education only, not medical necessity No network for those who have specialized interpretation skills o Social workers o Speech pathologist A directory is needed o YIP directory has social services o Nelly Tovar at El Paso Police Department may be able to help o May not be able to list individuals o No one stop shop Only 1 family in El Paso is certified in foster care knows American Sign Language Need a person to call as specialized people are needed at different times/different situations o Often people in directory move/change numbers etc. Need to contact person in each agency Alma Bebee (CSD)- referral specialist is the only person in the office Need a systemic based approach what if Alma Bebee is out sick or takes a day off? Would help to look at existing models o John Cage- San Antonio protocols o E.g. does Children’s Miracle Network know where to refer? Austin-CSD person contacts agencies to get appropriate contact people Need systemic approach to be institutionalized Interpreters unsure of protocols No central registry for interpreters o Stop-gap measure may be a regional services outreach program to help centralize Inter-agency agreements o Regional specialist Doug Dittfurth DARS/DHHS Randi Turner Region 19 has no central point of contact to find/pay contractor that they need Need to have paperwork in advance in order to pay contractor Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 19 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning • • • • • • • • • • • III. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CSD or other interpreter agency needs to help announce that interpreter are available on XXXX days Shortage of interpreter o CPS may need immediately o CSD told CPS would take 3-4 days, CPS was out of state/federal compliance Need some flexibility with interpreters because clients may have to reschedule Educating consumers about services and what they need to know to access services Dealing with cultural issues Need a centralized one stop agency Train professionals in ASL? o Why take on additional responsibilities? Use students with mentors to go into agencies o Be used in more technical situations Call back individuals who have left the field Offer CEU’s Every member of Region 19 network with Sorenson Service Gaps throughout the Continuum Gaps- Specialized interpreters for medical/legal Education for families in selecting method of education for children o SEE vs. Oral vs. ASL o SEE used in schools but not the most common Parents need education in the method that will be the most effective at home Early childhood-ECI o Birth to age 3 Regional Day School can service parents and deaf children up to age 21/22 o With no cognitive impairments children graduate at approximately 18 Public schools teach SEE, UTEP and EPCC use ASL No language alignment between K-12 (SEE) vs. ASL No current courses in ASL for college students to learn (not to be an interpreter, just to learn to communicate in ASL) Austin Community College offers ASL through continuing education for children and adults Some schools offer sign language basics High percentage of students use ASL by the time they reach adulthood Colleges interpret in ASL Schools provide books in SEE and training classes in SEE Deaf culture is different from literal interpretation sometimes Sensitivity training needed for agencies Basic sign training for agency personnel Agency personnel may not understand differences in languages/linguistics issues School campus administrators need awareness/training that hearing disability is not cognitive disability Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 20 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Education for agencies, deaf people and families on where to find medical equipment for assistance listening STAP program on DARS website for free equipment Television program needed about deaf services to approach the mass market Social workers- high turnover, no time to network, so use existing contacts Visit professional meetings of social workers or at UTEP while they are still students Diagnostician program (educate students here) o Special “Education” Hearing children of deaf parents at high risk dropping out of school o CODAS (children of deaf adults) Parenting classes needed later may become more hyper-responsible or rebel o No existing support for these children Depth of commission is lessened if children don’t have training Psychological help needed for youth with deaf parents Place for children to congregate with other deaf or hard of hearing children o Sports, contest, etc. City said they will provide interpreters at parks and recreation facilities o Currently have a baseball program Family Violence- holistic workshop for instructors to know how to refer No formal training for college faculty on child abuse reporting/identification/family violence o Sent to counselors but no interpreter available at schools Even when trainings are offered attendance is low, language and culture come into play State and Local o Formal communication between agencies is critical o Training/education for parents/children o Need a central “go to” place to call 24 hour access o Coordinated interpretation services are needed Establish protocol to access interpreter services Need to establish a one-stop resource for faculty/staff/students Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 21 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning Group Priorities Group I ¾ Advocacy and more emphatic awareness of deaf community ¾ A place to call “our own: o a central place o easily accessible ¾ Lack of service for deaf seniors in the Rio Grande area, improve the quality o time for waiting for services is too long Group II ¾ Medical & Mental Health o provision of interpreters service providers responsible interpreters (qualified) available o direct service providers RS, medical, mental health personnel ¾ Legal Services o juvenile services o court ordered programs (funding needed) o lack of intermediary interpreters, CDI’s, legal, Spanish, LSM ¾ Service Gaps throughout the Continuum o resource/outreach center o legislative funding, support o partnerships local statewide inter-state Group III ¾ Medical and Mental Health Services o Unmet Needs: Lack of diagnosed Mental Health issues Underserved rural areas • not enough interpreters • lack of skilled professionals that know how to sign • no direct communication between a deaf person & professionals • no appropriate testing for the DMH • misdiagnosis of MR & Learning Dis. Lack of understanding between a deaf individual and a hard of hearing individual Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 22 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning Lack of understanding of why Trilingual Inter. Services are needed as well as IDI services, and the funding related to obtaining these services Service providers do not want to provide the service of interpreting Need advocates for D/HH community who are not self serving Need individuals to run a center Misappropriation/mismanagement of funds by previous administrators - Fraud/Waste/Abuse o Informal Referrals Handled They are not handled Advocate awareness o Confidentiality Issues Lack of communication affects confidentiality Perception of confidentiality is different for everyone o What can be done to improve communication between professionals and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals? Provide training for medical students Core curriculum should be modified to include specific needs of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing populations in helping professions and medical professions CEU’s/classes to be included in professional level Information/Education/Self Advoc. Classes for Deaf and Hard of Hearing population Improve collaboration o Agency/Funding (seeking) Adult Probation – have money to contract services within Adult Probation, but they can’t fund outside referrals for anger management City and County “usually” fund services for WIC/Food stamps Some group III members do not know if agency is seeking funding ¾ Legal Services o How is it handled? Subcontracting used the Deaf Center previously, El Paso only has 3 court certified interpreting; have full time jobs Lack of preventative services to help keep Deaf and Hard of Hearing populations out of system Need court certified interpreting o Is court ordered services meeting their intent? No Service contracted providers are not willing to pay the fee Lack of continuity of care/service o What are the problems caused by miscommunication/breakdown in the system? Lack of court ordered compliance Can result in incarceration Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 23 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning Violating CPS court order because there are no interpreting services available at parenting classes or anger management Employees and administrators are not on the “same page” when it comes to providing access to services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals Providers use law as a crutch No DEAF CENTER! o What types of funding are currently available to receive court-ordered services? There are not state/federal funding available because service provider bears the cost, but they don’t comply and provide interpreting Limited funds Online? Classes/Courses available? Is there money sitting around that we are not accessing or grants we are unaware of? ¾ Service Gaps for Children Rural areas and local schools are not addressing appropriate needs. Yet Deaf and Hard of Hearing kids are placed in special education The system is stagnant/will not be creative Appropriate accommodations are not being provided Identify adequate tracking system after the deaf of hearing loss Distinguish the difference between the positive and negative factors Summer/recreational programs for children Transition from: elementary, secondary, post secondary and workforce Identify unique unmet needs of hearing kids of deaf adults, deaf kids of deaf adults, deaf children of hearing adults o What unique services do children/adolescents need? Recreation Socialization Mentorship/role models Religious Sex education Drug/alcohol intervention o Support services to assist Deaf and Hard of Hearing person and their families Interpreter resources, free resources, access to resources Appropriate, trained staff with other agencies such as ECI, HEADSTART, etc. o What referral resources are currently used? ECI Schools DRS/DARS Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 24 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning Relay, VRS, VOLAR SS Medicaid, etc. Audiologist Group IV ¾ Medical and Mental Health Services Doctor’s need awareness of specific needs and accommodations Need concise document of roles and responsibilities Need to educate general deaf population of their rights Need to provide information to critical people to trickle down to others Awareness is key and it is the challenge ¾ Legal and Court Ordered Services Not aware of a referral system Provide sensitivity training to service providers re. courts Lack of resources for legal services ¾ Service Gaps throughout the Continuum Need advocates for services we lack Need strong network and referral Entertainment for youth Once we have a referral system need to make public aware of that service Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 25 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning Participant’s List Name Agency Diana Alba Communication Services for the Deaf (CSDVRS) Catherine Bachtold West Texas Community Supervision Correction Dept. - WTCSCD Jaime Barceleau El Paso Rehabilitation Center Daniel Barr Staff Judge Advocate Office at Ft. Bliss Alma Bebee Communication Services for the Deaf of Texas El Paso William Bennet City of El Paso Blanca Carrasco Interpreter Gerardo Castillo InterAmerican Interpreting Services Carmen Castro Auditory Impairment Teacher from YISD Yoshiko Chino Interpreting Program Director for the Community Outreach Program for the Deaf (COPD) at New Mexico Sarah Compton Sorenson Communications Jennifer Dahlgren New Mexico Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NMCDHH) Michelle Ellington City of El Paso – Community Development Liza Enriquez Communication Services for the Deaf - Interpreter Jasmin Escamilla Restoration Company Martha Faeldog Interpreter Jessie Fernandez Dept. of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services - DARS Angela Feltner Dept. of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services - DARS Lisa Fragoso Sorenson VRS Alex Furnari United Way of El Paso Janine L. Gallinar Centro Salud Familiar La Fe Armida Garcia Secure Horizons Bianca Garcia Sorenson VRS - Interpreter Celine Gerber Tim Hanson Dept. of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services - DARS Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 26 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning Name Agency Julie Hernandez Gadsden Independent School District Sandra Hinojos Gadsden Independent School District Jose Lara VOLAR Jan Lockhart Center for Student w/ Disabilities Director at EPCC Martha Macias City of El Paso Elizabeth Mariscal Dept. of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services - DARS Sara Martinez Literacy Programs Manager at EPCC Eduardo Molina El Paso Regional Days School Program (EPISD) Mary Mooney Sign Language Interpreter and Coordinator at EPCC Rosa Moore Audiologist from Ysleta Independent School District Maggie Morales West Texas Community Supervision Correction Dept. - WTCSCD Christina Moya Dept. of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services - DARS David Myers Dept. of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services at Austin - DARS James Nance El Paso Sheriff’s Office Maria Nava Dept. of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services at Lubbock - DARS Selma Nevarez Gadsden Independent School District Josie Parra VOLAR Maria Perez VOLAR Norma Perez El Paso Rehab Deborah Peterson Dept. of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services - DARS Jose Prieto Sign Language Interpreter at EPCC Lorena Ramirez El Paso Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Angelica Rodriguez Region 19 Charles Roybal Dept. of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services - DARS Cristina Salgado EVERCARE Pat Sanchez Communication Services for the Deaf - Interpreter Susana Santillan UTEP/Disabled Student Service Office James Saunders UTEP/Disabled Student Service Office Victoria Schwartz El Paso Regional Days School Program (EPISD) Mark Seeger Communication Services for the Deaf - Interpreter Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 27 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning Name Agency Jo Sosa Restoration Company Luz Taboada Workforce Development Director at EPCC BJ Thrash Interpreter Randy Thrash Dept. of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services - DARS Roberto Viera LIONS/Centro Salud Familiar La Fe Ray Vigil Social Security Margaret Villalobos Gadsden Independent School District Donna Villareal West Texas Community Supervision Correction Dept. - WTCSCD Sandra Williams NM Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing - NMCDHH Patricia Wolschlager Sexual Trauma & Assault Response Service - STARS Teresa Woody Juvenile Probation Department Luis Zamarripa Child Protective Services Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 28 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning Coordination/Appreciation El Paso Community College’s Office of Institutional and Community Planning facilitated the Rio Grande Coalition for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services planning session on September 7, 2007. We had a total of 75 participants. We would like to thank the following individuals who lent their talents, patience, and hard work to make this planning session a success. *Overall Coordination Dr. Dolores Gross Director, Institutional and Community Planning Sandra Mejia Administrative Assistant Institutional and Community Planning Christopher Gomez Administrative Office Assistant Institutional and Community Planning Mary Mooney Instructional Coordinator for Sign Language Interpreter Preparation Program *Facilitators Silvia Dominguez, Career Services mployment Specialist Ray Dorado, Career Services Employment Specialist Christopher Gomez, Institutional and Community Planning Administrative Office Assistant Dr. Dolores Gross, Institutional and Community Planning Director Lucia Rodriguez, Grants Management Manager *Interpreters Blanca Carrasco Lisa Enriquez Martha Faeldog Bianca Garcia Pat Sanchez Mark Seeger BJ Thrash *Special Thanks to the Speakers David Myers - Department of Assistance and Rehabilitative Services/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services-Austin, TX Tom Dillon - New Mexico Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ruben Schaeffer - Community Advocate James Saunders - Director of U.T. El Paso Disabled Student Services Office Rio Grande Coalition Co-Chairs – Alma Bebee, Mary Mooney, Randolph Thrash, and Sandra Williams Office of the Vice President of Research and Development 29 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning *Rio Grande Coalition for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Committee Members Alma Bebee Communication Services for the Deaf Jasmin Escamilla Restoration Company Jessie Fernandez Dept. of Assistive & Rehab Services Janine Gallinar Centro Salud Familiar La Fe Tim Hanson Dept. of Assistive & Rehab Services Rebecca Luevano Communication Services for the Deaf Christina Moya Dept. of Assistive & Rehab Services Lorena Ramirez El Paso Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Ruth Ramos Dept. of Assistive & Rehab Services Randy Thrash Dept. of Assistive & Rehab Services Sandra Williams NM Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Roberto Viera LIONS *Special Thanks! Communication Services for the Deaf (CSD) in cooperation with Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) & Angela Feltner, Sorenson VRS and the El Paso Hearing & Speech Inc. for the donations, the Lions Club, Alliance Insurance, El Paso Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (EPRID) Office of the Vice President of Research & Development 30 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning Event Photos Office of the Vice President of Research & Development 31 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08 Institutional and Community Planning Draft Mission Statement for the Rio Grande Coalition for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Communities Serving West Texas and Southern New Mexico Our mission is to create and provide a cohesive and defined network of agencies, organizations and service providers serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind persons and their families by working collaboratively to promote a full array of community services and to ensure full and equal access and successful integration into the broader multicultural and multilingual communities residing along the Rio Grande corridor areas covering Texas, New Mexico and our neighbors in Mexico. The Rio Grande Coalition will work collaboratively to promote community awareness and advocacy for Deaf services and programs that lead to an educated and successful individual and family and empowered contributing community members. Preliminary Service Coalition Goals: (Non-prioritized) • • • • • • • • • Identify a “one stop” agency for D/deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing persons to access services and to not get “lost in the systems” Develop an adequate and trained personnel system for information and referral services Maximize, expand and create new community and inter agency agreements to maximize existing services at both local and state levels Develop leadership and mentorship programs to increase Deaf and Hard of Hearing participation in community services and organizations Create a network of early childhood, and after school, and teen educational services targeted to at risk students and families Identify gaps in services and professional expertise to create a plan to addressing critical areas: mental health, drug and alcohol abuse, human sexuality, parenting and family wellness Provide community awareness/advocacy program and training for existing program staff and professionals Create a network of information sharing avenue including print media, public TV, and technology to include VRS, text paging, email Address the interpreter referral systems and community and educational based shortages For contacts, please email any of the Rio Grande Community Coalition Co-Chair Members: Mary Mooney, El Paso Community College Sign Language Program - mmooney1@epcc.edu Alma Bebee, Communication Services for the Deaf (CSD) Outreach Specialist abebee@c-s-d.org Sandra Williams, New Mexico Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons (NMCDHH) Outreach Specialist - SandraWilliams@state.nm.us Randolph Thrash, Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) Vocational Rehabilitative Service (VRS) Counselor- Randolph.Thrash@dars.state.tx.us. Office of the Vice President of Research & Development 32 My Documents/Planning Sessions/Deaf and HH Report Revised: 04/08/08