ODP Deaf Services for
Independent Monitors
for Quality (IM4Q)
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
Office of Developmental Programs
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Harry M. v. DPW
Settlement Overview
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Harry M. v. DPW
• Settlement agreement approved in
August 2013
• Communication access for people who are:
– Deaf
– Served through the Consolidated Waiver
• Agreement and summary in English and ASL:
http://www.drnpa.org/page/harry-m-v-dpw/
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Harry M. v. DPW - Requirements
• New data fields in HCSIS
• Statewide Deaf Services Coordinator
• Identification of individuals who are deaf
• Identify current deaf-skilled staff
• Provide interpreters and communication assistance
• Provide individuals options to choose skilled SCs
and providers
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Communication Assessment
• Establish a standardized communication
assessment procedure
• Complete communication assessment for
individuals who are deaf
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Training Requirements
• Training for:
– Supports Coordinators
– Providers
– Investigators, Licensing Inspectors, Monitors
– Communication Assessors
• Topics include deaf culture, needs of waiver
participants who are deaf, role of Deaf Services
Coordinator
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Training Outline
• Deaf culture
• Unique needs of waiver participants who are deaf
• Communication with class members
• Identifying and reporting problems with effective
communication
• When and how to contact the DSC
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Deaf Culture
• Only about 30% of English is visible on the lips
• Many deaf people do not read/write English well
enough for anything beyond basic facts (name,
DOB, address, etc.)
• Highly attentive visually
• May love hearing technology (or not)
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Team Meetings
• Allow enough time
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Team Meetings
• Meet in a quiet, well-lit room
• Deaf person should be seated with back to
window
• Circle or wide “U” shaped seating best
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Team Meetings
• Ask 1 person to talk at a time
• Talk face to face, about 3 feet apart
• Speak to the person
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Interpreters
• Types of ASL interpreters
• Interpret everything that is said
• Practice may be needed
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Coordinating and Working
with Interpreters
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Licensing staff, investigators and monitors are
required to provide communication assistance
when meeting with an individual who is deaf.
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Sign Language Interpreters
• Office of Deaf and Hard of
Hearing database
• Department of General
Services list
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Sign Language Interpreter Search
http://www.odhh.state.pa.us/S
earch/InterpreterSearch.aspx
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
Search online for
“PA ODHH Interpreter”
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Helpful Hints
• 2-hour minimum
• Create and maintain a list
• Be flexible if interpreter is needed on short
notice
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Certified investigators must document attempts
made to secure interpreters and any difficulties
with needed communication services.
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Monitoring Tool Changes
• Administrative Entity Oversight Monitoring
• Supports Coordination Orientation Monitoring
• Provider Monitoring
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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AE Oversight Monitoring
• Ensure assessment information is recorded
accurately
• Ensure that recommendations
follow-up is completed by Supports Coordination
Organization (SCO)
• Ensure provider qualification information is
updated accurately
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Provider Monitoring
• Communication assistance deemed necessary
while rendering service
• Notify SC in 10 days if become aware of
communication assistance that needs to be
included in ISP
• Contact DSC if having difficulty providing
communication assistance
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Supports Coordination Monitoring
• Written protocol to request and obtain the
necessary communication assistance
• Communication assistance provided during SC
services
• Required information completed in HCSIS, once
communication assessment completed
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Identifying and Reporting
Problems with Effective
Communication
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Communication Assistance
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Provide a Safe Environment
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Sample Recommendations
Door knocker light
Doorbell signaler
Sonic Boom
Alarm Clock
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
Heavy
Duty Bed
Shaker
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Video Communication Common Among the
Deaf Community
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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IM4Q Monitors
• Report through regular reporting process at your
agency
• Regional Office in ODP
• Report to Customer
Service Line
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Contacting the Deaf
Services Coordinator
(DSC)
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Contacting the DSC
• Difficulty finding a provider to meet a
communication need identified in the ISP
• Communication assistance need is not being
met as specified in the ISP
• Information on providers who have specialized
expertise
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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Contacting the DSC
Maureen Veety, DSC
– Phone: 570-614-1318
– Email: RA-ODPDeafServices@pa.gov
Tom Corbett, Governor
Beverly Mackereth, Secretary of Public Welfare
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