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History
The Office on Deaf and Hard of Hearing grew out of a desire to have an agency that would focus on the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community. In 1997 the Mississippi Legislature passed the bill establishing ODHH with the following mandates:
- To improve interpreter services in Mississippi by:
- Increasing the number and certification level of interpreters.
- Maintaining a list of qualified interpreters.
To provide community outreach, training and education on issues that relate to deaf and hard of hearing people. To encourage and conduct research on issues related to deaf and hard of hearing people. To provide information and advice to the Mississippi Legislature on issues that relate to the deaf. To work with public and private organizations, including our colleges to accomplish ODHH's responsibilities. To collect and maintain information that relate to deafness.
An Advisory Council was created to give the deaf and hard of hearing community involvement in the work of the office. The Council meets quarterly to advise the director on issues important to the deaf and hard of hearing community. Each member of the Council is appointed by the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services and serves for a specific period of time. The council is made up of deaf and hard of hearing individuals. |
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