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News & Updates
Want to stay up to date with our new public calendar for events, quarterly meetings, and more? Click on our calendar! 
November 3, 2023: Minimum Qualification Standards for Interpreters working in Educational Settings
ASL Interpreters and manual CART services will be provided! If you are requesting other accommodations, please contact Jazmyne Lemar via email jazmyne.lemar@la.gov to submit your request as soon as possible.
September 1, 2023: DeafBlind Advisory Committee
The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf is establishing its first DeafBlind Advisory Committee. Our first course of action will be to identify and/or research needs/issues brought up by the DeafBlind community. The DeafBlind Advisory Committee has a responsibility to bring needs/issues to the forefront, along with recommendations for solutions to the LCD Board.
- Committee member terms begin in October and will consist of 7 members.
- Meetings shall meet at a minimum of two times a year. (Additional objectives may need to be added to ensure productivity of sessions.)
Who is eligible to apply?
- No training is required, but you must have at least some experience in advocating for the DeafBlind community
- Must be a Louisiana resident
- Fill out the DeafBlind Advisory application and answer the questionnaire
- Submit your application here and submit no later than October 1, 2023
DeafBlind Advisory Comimitte Application: please visit here
To view DeafBlind Word Accessible Document, please visit here
August 18, 2023: Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health (HEIA)
July 10, 2023: Community Emergency Response Training (CERT)
June 14, 2023: Louisiana Commission for the Deaf's First Official Logo
The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf is pleased to announce a winner for our very first official logo!
With the world around us ever-changing, we wanted to ensure we had a logo which accurately reflects our organization’s new mission, vision and values, and represents the d/Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing community- it was a close fierce run before the final round of voting!
We are excited to present to you, the brand new logo of LCD!
Image Description: Opaque white background with "LCD" in lettering in black to symbolize formality and strength, and the middle is cut with "Louisiana Commission For The Deaf" in dark blue color font to emphasize trust. The signed handshape L-C-D in black is tucked inside right above the middle to show a significant importance to our d/Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing community.
A special thank you to our Marketing and Communications Officer, Victoria Regueira, for her creativeness with this project.
May 26, 2023: Proposed Amendments to Louisiana Commission for the Deaf Admin Code- Title 67, Chapter 3
- The Notice of Intent (attached) was published in the May 20, 2023 Louisiana Register;
- Any public comments regarding the revisions must be received no later than June 8, 2023;
- Interested persons may submit written comments on the proposed rule. Such comments must be received no later than Thursday, June 8, 2023 at COB, 4:30 p.m., and should be addressed to Susan Bailey, Director of the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, 7273 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806.
- A public hearing will be held on June 26, 2023, if one is requested and meets requirements of R.S. 49:963(A)(2)(a);
- Interested persons may submit a written request to conduct a public hearing either by U.S. mail to the Office of the Secretary ATTN: LOH Rulemaking Coordinator, Post
Office Box 629, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0629; however, such request must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 8, 2023. If the criteria set forth in R.S. 49:953{A)(2)(a) are satisfied, LOH will conduct a public hearing at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, June 26, 2023 in Room 118 of the Bienville Building, which is located at 628 North Fourth Street, Baton Rouge, LA. To confirm whether or not a public hearing will be held, interested persons should first call Allen Enger at (225) 342- 1342 after Thursday, June 8, 2023. If a public hearing is to be held, all interested persons are invited to attend and present data, views, comments, or arguments, orally or in writing.
- Interested persons may submit a written request to conduct a public hearing either by U.S. mail to the Office of the Secretary ATTN: LOH Rulemaking Coordinator, Post
- July 10, 2023 a Second Oversight Report is due;
- August 20, 2023 publication of Final Rule in the Louisiana Register.
May 26, 2023: LD2 Program Announcment
April 25, 2023: LCD Public Meeting Comments
The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf (LCD) held a public meeting on April 21, 2023 from 9:00AM – 1:00PM. To help the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf (LCD) ensure the Public Meetings are fully accessible, please share your experience by completing this form. Your feedback is valued as we strive to ensure LCD Public Meetings are accessible to all attendees.
Please click on the hyper link below to share your experience.
LCD Public Meeting Accessibility Comment Form
April 6, 2023: LCD Launches First Louisiana Deaf Leadership Development Program
Click the image below to view the following information in American Sign Language
Message from Jana Broussard, Interim Executive Director for the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf:
Hello! On behalf of the Louisiana Commission on the Deaf (LCD), I am thrilled to announce LCD’s first Louisiana Deaf Leadership Development Program (LD2P)! This program seeks to connect, inspire, and empower Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Louisianans. Through Deaf-centric, transformative programming, LD2P will equip participants with the resources, network, and support to build on their skills as they continue to dive deeper into their leadership experience and impact on the Louisiana community.
Facilitated by Innivee Strategies, a Deaf-led organizational and leadership development company, LD2P is a cohort-based program intended for Deaf people who are relatively early on in their leadership journey. This 10-month program will bring together a cohort of 10-12 peers. As the first LCD Leadership Development program, YOU have an opportunity to contribute to this significant first step, as well as become a role model to other Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing participants who seek to become leaders, too!
Message from Shane Feldman, CEO of Innivee Strategies:
We are excited to support this important project and the overall advancement of Deaf leadership within the State of Louisiana. We have seen significant progress in Louisiana thanks to the work of LCD and other Deaf-related advocacy organizations, and we look forward to continuing this transformation through the LD2P Program.
This program’s goal is to collaborate with leaders to transform the Deaf community to become strong leaders in their state. If you are an emerging leader with several years of leadership experience, whether at work, in a volunteer role, or in sports, we hope you will apply!
To express interest in the program, please visit the link below. We are accepting applications until 11:59pm CST on Friday, April 21.
Please click here for more information and to apply for this great program!
Feel free to share with any Deaf, DeafBlind or hard of hearing individuals in Louisiana you believe would be interested in participating.
March 21, 2023: LCD's Town hall Zoom Webinar
March 10, 2023: LCD's Interpreter Assessment Report
The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf (LCD) Interpreter Needs Assessment report has been published! This report was a compilation of a 6 month effort to better understand the current state of sign language interpreters and the services provided in Louisiana. This project was one step toward the LCD’s 2022-2024 strategic plan goals that states, “LCD will establish new systems and standards for American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting which define, describe, and incentivize new expectations for and oversight of the quality of ASL interpreters, including those in educational settings.”
Innivee Strategies, Inc. produced this comprehensive Interpreter Needs Assessment report on behalf of LCD.
Click here to read the full Interpreter Needs Assessment report
Please click the image below to view a summarized version of the report in American Sign Language: The summarized written report can be viewed here
LCD will host a public town hall meeting soon with interested constituents to be able to answer questions regarding the report, and better understand LCD’s next steps for implementing interpreting standards. Stay tuned for more information regarding the Interpreter Needs Assessment Public Town Hall meeting.
March 1, 2023: LCD Interpreter Registry
November 10, 2022: Louisiana Special School District is seeking for a new Superintendent (UPDATE: JOB IS NOW CLOSED AND HAS BEEN FILLED)
The @Louisiana Special School District is searching for a new Superintendent! Learn more about the job and apply at https://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=special+school+district&l=Baton+Rouge%2C+LA&from=searchOnHP&vjk=66125fb9390e68ec
October 01, 2022: LCD Interpreter Assessment Survey
Are you a Deaf, DeafBlind, or Hard of Hearing person who uses ASL interpreters, an ASL interpreter, or an interpreting agency representative? Does your organization or company request or work with ASL interpreters? Then please take our survey!
SURVEY LINK: https://connect.innivee.com/fh86nrgpc
This survey is led by Innivee Strategies, Inc. in collaboration with Louisiana Commission for the Deaf (LCD). Our goal is to gather information about your experience and perspectives on what is currently available in Louisiana, and the changes you want to see within the state’s ASL interpreting profession. This is part of an on-going effort as part of LCD’s strategic plan, and a continuation of several community focus groups held recently.
Your input is important! All responses will be kept confidential. Please take 20-30 minutes to complete this survey by the deadline of October 31, 2022.
August 16, 2022: Statewide Interpreter Policy and Programming Manager
*****UPDATE: POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED******
La Commission for the Deaf is seeking a “Statewide Interpreter Policy and Programming Manager”, responsible for but not limited to, the following:
- Management and oversight of statewide interpreting standards and accessibility services in Louisiana for individuals who are d/Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing. This includes the development and coordination of a statewide program to standardize minimum qualifications and oversight for interpreters working in Louisiana
- The development and management of technical guidelines and administrative functions of the LCD online interpreter registry
- Establish objectives for the training, recruitment, and retention of the Louisiana interpreter workforce.
To learn more about this position, its requirements, and to apply, please visit the link below.
https://www.indeed.com/job/statewide-interpreter-policy-and-programming-manager-52fd455572f00c13
July 25, 2022: RFI for Region 9 (Northshore Area)
*******UPDATE: LIGHTHOUSE IS NOW SERVING REGION 9******
The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf is releasing a Request for Information (RFI) seeking potential contractors who may be able to function as Regional Service Center to provide direct services for Interpreting, Telecommunication, and Hearing Aids programs in Louisiana, Region 9 (Northshore area). Please visit https://wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana.gov/osp/lapac/dspBid.cfm?search=bidno&term=+3000019500+ to read more about services and information required.
NOTE: This Request for Information (RFI) is solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. This information will be reviewed and discussed by the state agency and may result in the advertisement of a formal and competitive Request for Proposal for any or all of the services included in the RFI.
Only information which is in the nature of legitimate trade secrets or non-published financial data may be deemed proprietary or confidential. Any material within a response to this RFI identified as such must be clearly marked and will be handled in accordance with the Louisiana Public Records Act. R.S. 44:1-44 and applicable rules and regulations. Any response marked as confidential or proprietary in its entirety may be rejected without further consideration or recourse
July 5, 2022: Update on SB 28 Bill is now recognized as ACT 128
On February 28 of this year, the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf with Senator Hewitt proposed a bill SB98 that was signed into ACT by our Louisiana Governor John Edwards on July 5, 2022 and is now recognized as Act 128. This bill is to clarify legislative intent for the commission, includes trade definitions, and promotes further inclusively within the La Commission for the Deaf. This measure would add a board member who is DeafBlind to the commission. This position would be held by the executive director of the governors office of disability affairs, or their designee. Board members receive no salary but are reimbursed for travel and expenses incurred during the performance of their duties.
Little fun fact about this day: After signing the bill, our Governer took his time to finger-spelled his name (John) in American Sign Language. Also, the LCD interim director (Jana Broussard) gets to keep the pen that was signed on this specific Act by our governor.
Day of signing by our governor, John Edwards with LCD and the committee.
Photo from below: (From left to the right) Shane Bates, Amy Shamburger, Jana Broussard, Jimmy Gore, Dr. Heather Laine, Jay Isch, Jordan (LDOE), and Jazymyne Lemar.
To learn more about Act 198, click here.
Huge thanks to our Senator Hewitt for her dedication and hardwork to make this happen!
July 1, 2022: Request for Proposal Update (ABL)
LCD submitted a Request for Proposal (RFP) #3000017865 to obtain competitive proposals from qualified proposers to provide high-quality services for the statewide Support Service Provider (SSP) Program. The LCD intends to award a single contract to Affiliated Blind of Louisiana in Lafayette. These services begin on or around July 1, 2022 and will remain in effect until June 30, 2025. To learn more about ABL, please visit their website at https://www.affiliatedblind.org/
May 27, 2022: Statewide ASL/English Interpreting Needs Assessment
The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf and Innivee Strategies have launched a statewide ASL/English interpreting needs assessment project!
Our goal is to gather data and input from the community that will support LCD, the Louisiana Deaf and interpreting communities, and Louisiana government officials and legislators in making fully informed decisions on where and how to improve interpreting standards. Please watch video below and be on the lookout for more information coming this summer!
March 31, 2022: LCD Board Proposes Revisions to RS:46:2351-2356
Act 629 of the 1980 Louisiana Legislative Session established the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf to provide programs and services and to improve communication access to individuals who are D/deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing. Since then, there have been many improvements for individuals who are D/deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing - including the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. As such, certain areas of LCD’s historical responsibilities warranted revision in order to support effective implementation of ADA requirements.
Since 2019, LCD Board members, staff, and Dept. of Health leaders have worked to identify needed changes. On February 28 of this year, Senator Sharon Hewitt (R-District 1) filed Senate Bill 98 (SB 98) to propose these recommended amendements during the 2022 Regular Session. The bill aims to: eliminate reference to services that no longer exist or are no longer under LCD purview; clarify authority surrounding Louisiana American Sign Language Interpreter workforce; and expand LCD's ability to adapt services through rulemaking.
February 1, 2022: Northshore Regional Service Center Permanently Closed
CCGroup Foundation, the Regional Service Center providing LCD services in the Northshore area, has permanently closed. Lighthouse Louisiana will temporarily provide services for this area to ensure there is not an interruption in services.
If you live in the Northshore area and are in need of assistance, please contact Lighthouse Louisiana at (225) 275-1200 or email them at deafservices@lighthouselouisiana.org. A representative will be in the Hammond area once a week to meet with people, so all appointments must be made in advance. We apologize for any inconvenience.
October 8, 2021: Request for Proposals
The full text RFP - including any addenums since the initial posting - is available through the Louisiana Procurement & Contract Network (LaPAC) and the Louisiana Department of Health.