The State Journal-Register released another article yesterday morning about the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission (IDHHC). In this article written by Dean Olsen, commission spokeswoman Veronica Vera is quoted saying, “IDHHC continues to work with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) in an advisory capacity concerning educational interpreters.”
Number four of the eight IDHHC mandates states the IDHHC is to “Evaluate and monitor State programs delivering services to deaf and hard of hearing persons to determine their effectiveness; identify and promote new services or programs whenever necessary; and make recommendations to public officials about changes necessary to improve the quality and delivery of services, programs, and activities and about future financial support to continue existing programs and establish new programs.”
The Early Intervention and Education Taskforces led by IDHHC in the late 2000’s identified many issues; these problems, including quality of education interpreters, continue to worsen.
Our question for IDHHC: why is the IDHHC only advising the ISBE when the law says them can make recommendations to public officials to improve the quality of offerings to Deaf individuals?
