Communication Access

KCDHH works with agencies and organizations throughout Kansas to assure availability and coordination of services for people who are deaf and hard of hearing, including communication access.

For many years, KCDHH has maintained a registry of qualified sign language interpreters in order to track interpreters’ credentials, areas of expertise and geographic areas of practice of the interpreters working in the State of Kansas. As required by K.S.A. 75-4355b (a), “All interpreters for the deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired shall be certified or registered with the KCDHH or an agency designated by the Commission.” This is applicable to all interpreters hired or contracted by state agencies or any political subdivisions of Kansas, including the Courts.

As result of actions made by 2022 State Legislature, KCDHH has added a regulatory (rules-making) authority in matters regarding interpreting and other communication access services in Kansas. Also, KCDHH is expanding resources, employing new strategies, and strengthening or otherwise developing coordination support for other communication access services, including but not limited to Communication Access Real-Time (CART, a.k.a. on-site or remote captioning) and Support Services Provider (SSP, a.k.a. co-navigator) for DeafBlind. A provision for communication advocates is being explored and developed at this present time. Another strategy in consideration includes promoting direct communication by professionals who are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL).

Also indicated in K.S.A. 75-4355b (e), "If preferred by the deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired person and if feasible, other communication access services or other technology may be used in place of an interpreter.” KCDHH believes that this legal concept supports individuals having their primary preference in how communication access is being provided in order to achieve effective communication.

Starting Fall 2023, KCDHH is spearheading a pilot Communication Access Fund (CAF) to address most common communication access gaps in Kansas. The pilot CAF is focusing on 3 specific areas of priority while KCDHH has made a budget request for future CAF expansion to include other areas of priority which will also consolidate KCDHH’s role of statewide coordination in providing these communication access services to a single point of contact.