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Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

1103 Rear Southwest Boulevard
Jefferson City, MO 65109

Phone: (573) 526-5205 ext. V/TTY
Fax: (573) 526-5209

Email: mcdhh@mcdhh.mo.gov
Website: http://www.mcdhh.mo.gov/

Director: Dr. A. Barry Critchfield, PhD.

Details on Board or Commission

Authority: RSMo 161.400

Department: Elementary and Secondary Education

Mission:
The Missouri Commission for the Deaf functions as an agency of the state to advocate public policies, regulations, and programs to improve the quality and coordination of existing services for deaf persons, and to promote new services whenever necessary. To these ends, the Missouri Commission for the Deaf will work with individuals, organizations, and state departments as an active force, to better the lives and opportunities of all deaf and hard of hearing Missourians.

Function:
The Missouri Commission for the Deaf is mandated to promote deaf awareness; to develop state certification of sign language interpreters; to maintain the quality interpreting services; to maintain a census of the deaf population in Missouri; to promote the improvement of physical and mental health services for deaf persons; and to establish an effective communication network among the deaf adult community.

Subcommittees: none

Details on Meetings

Number of meetings: 4 meetings

Location of meetings: Jefferson City

Duration of meetings: 1 and 1/2 days

Preparation time for meetings: 1 day

Total time commitment: 7 hours

Details on Members

Total members: 9

Appointed members: 9

Term length: 3 years; 1 reappointment allowed

Compensation: Members receive reimbursement for realized and necessary expenses.

Member Requirements: 2 members must be deaf; 1 must be a parent of a deaf child; 1 must represent the business community; 1 must represent the Missouri School for the Deaf or the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; 1 must represent local public school administration; and 1 must be a professional from the field of audiology, psychology, speech pathology, mental health, or medicine; 1 must be an interpreter for the deaf; 1 must represent and organization that represents the interests of deaf and hard of hearing people.

Political Requirements: no

Geographic Requirements: no

Senate Consent Required: No

MEMBERS

Mr. Paul Blicharz
Association Representing Deaf
Saint Louis
Term begins: Jul 11, 2002
Term expires: Mar 22, 2003

Vacant Slot
Business Representative

Mrs. Gloriana T. Pack, Vice Chair
Interpreter for Deaf
Saint Louis
Term begins: Feb 14, 2008
Term expires: Mar 22, 2010

Mr. Michael Boyd
Member who is Deaf 1
Florissant
Term begins: Nov 20, 2003
Term expires: Mar 22, 2006

Vacant Slot
Member who is Deaf 2

Term expires: Mar 22, 2007

Mrs. Antonina Wilson, Chair
Parent of Deaf Child
Saint Ann
Term begins: Dec 20, 1996
Term expires: Mar 22, 2000

Vacant Slot
Professional from specified field

Mrs. Barbara Garrison
Rep from DESE or Mo. School for Deaf
Fulton
Term begins: Apr 1, 2011
Term expires: Mar 22, 2012

Vacant Slot
Representative from Public School