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Communication Access Fund
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 budget requests 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.
FY2024 & 2025 Pilot Priorities (July 2023 through June 2025):
- Assistance for Attorneys
- Special Healthcare Access
- Access Conversion
Assistance for Attorneys:
- Description and Policy for CAF Component Supporting Attorneys – July 2023
- Press Release on CAF Component Supporting Attorneys - November 21, 2023
Special Healthcare Access
KCDHH aims to close communication access gaps often found in healthcare settings. Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act requires healthcare providers to provide communication access for all individuals with disabilities, which includes deaf and hard of hearing. This initiative aims to ensure communication access happens.
Unfortunately, many healthcare providers have not tried to provide communication access or ensure that their deaf or hard of hearing patients have effective communication during their appointments. KCDHH hopes that this initiative will help these healthcare providers to become better educated on how to find resources and other solutions especially in the rural areas, and to provide initial communication access until they assume their full responsibility.
Some healthcare providers have a misinterpreted understanding that they could rely solely on video remote interpreting (VRI) in place of an in-person interpreter onsite. Some patients may have additional disabilities which could severely limit their ability to use VRI, like those who are deafblind or have limited visual abilities, have additional language barriers, or may be in situations VRI should never be considered such as when a higher-qualified interpreter is required. Some patients don’t know sign language, they may need a different communication access solution. KCDHH aims to show these healthcare providers when they should honor their patients’ primary preference and how to achieve effective communication by showing what a difference true effective communication would make.
KCDHH puts a higher priority on those situations that involve, but not limited to, deaf or hard of hearing making informed consent on their healthcare services such as the elderly being placed into a nursing facility, cancer treatment or major surgery possibly impacting the patient’s well-being, or for a child’s parents who are deaf or hard of hearing. Or rural areas wherever they must pay extra for an interpreter coming from a larger metropolitan area where they are more widely available.
Access Conversion
KCDHH has recognized many instances of gaps in communication access. KCDHH hopes that this initiative will change and improve communication access.
Some situations may involve communication access that may become inappropriate or prohibitively expensive unless a different approach is being employed, which would yield greater cost savings or possibly a better solution. Examples may include securing a driving instructor fluent in ASL for a group of deaf students in lieu of securing interpreters for driving classes, using a professional who is fluent in ASL to provide direct services or assessments, or considering a linguistic design environment (LDE) which involves more use of ASL for or between participants.
Other considerations will involve efforts to overcome disparity in the rural areas where interpreters or other communication access services may be severely limited.
Future Expansion Plans
- Centralized Coordination for Emergency Management and Response
- Courts and Court Related Services
- Development of New Communication Access Services
- Other Access Gaps
To request for consideration of assistance through pilot CAF program, please email the KCDHH Executive Director.
To request for an interpreter or other communication access services, please email DCF.KCDHHrequests@ks.gov
For additional information and/or to request for appropriate forms or documents, please contact KCDHH at 785-368-8034 or VP 785-246-5077.
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