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Commission Board Information

The commission board, in accordance with RS 46:2351, consists of qualified and knowledgeable members with experience which enables them to represent the concerns, needs, and recommendations of d/Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing persons.  This board is established as a separate and distinct body to support the work of the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf and to advocate on behalf of d/Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing communities and their families.

Commission Board Public Meetings

Louisiana Commission for the Deaf meets quarterly to help guide program efforts and activities. Commission members include d/Deaf and hard of hearing representatives, parents of d/Deaf children, and representatives from related state organizations.

2023 LCD Commission Board Meetings will take place on the following dates from 9:00am - 1:00 pm. These meetings are open to the public.

To view meetings via livestream, please visit  https://house.louisiana.gov/H_Video/HD/HCR4

Minutes from previous meetings can be found here.

Live Meeting Captioning can be found here

 Upcoming Meeting for year of 2023: please click on the date below to view the agenda

 Parking Information

  • Parking: Street parking may be available around the Capitol.  Parking may also be found in front of the Claiborne Building at 1201 N 3rd, Baton Rouge, La 70802

Additonal Meetings


  • Not yet to be announced 

 

Current Commissioners

Below are our current LCD Commissioners. Click a commissioner's name or image to learn more about them. 

 

Dr.Natalie Deglado
Chairperson
Deaf Representative
Appointed by Governor in 2022

 

   

Jay Isch
Vice-Chairperson
Deaf Representative
Appointed by Governor in 2016

 

Dr. Ashley Argrave-Smith
Secretary
Professional Representative
Appointed by Governor in 2020

 

 

Senator Sharon Hewitt
President of the Senate
Designee since 2020

 

Representative Scott McKnight
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Designee since 2021

   

Melissa Bayham
LA Workforce Commission
Designee since 2019

 

Sherry Powell
Department of Children and Family Services
Designee since 2022

   

Davondra Brown
LA Department of Health
Designee since 2022

   

Cammy Gaspar
Parent of Deaf Child 
Appointed by Governor since 2022

 

 

Louisiana School for the Deaf
VACANT 

 

Denise Crochet

LA Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
President Designee since 2022

 

 

Jimmy Challis Gore
LA Association of the Deaf
President since 2019

 

Brad Wellons
Hard of Hearing Representative
Appointed by Governor in 2020

 

 

 

 

Bambi Polotzola
Director of Governor's Office of Disability Affairs
Designee since 2022

 

Sajata Varner
Office of Behavioral Health
Designee since 2022

 

 

Megan Wimberly
DeafBlind Representative
Appointed by Governor in 2022

 

Marissa Ramos

Professional Representative
Appointed by Governor in 2022

      Lynne Gomez
Dept of Education
Designee since 2022

 

 

 

 

 

Other Information

 

 

 lcd@la.gov | 1-800-256-1523 | (VP): (225) 228-1203 | PO Box 3214, Baton Rouge, LA, 70821