ASL version

If you are DeafBlind or prefer to watch the video in a high contrast format, watch the DeafBlind friendlier ASL version instead. To adjust the video speed, use YouTube's playback speed tool.

English version

Hello everyone! I’m Darlene Zangara and I’m the Executive Director of the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing. I am a white woman with blond hair, glasses, and wearing all black.

I have a lot of great news to share with you today!

Newborn Screening for cCMV

As of this month, Minnesota is the first state in the country to start screening all newborn babies for congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV). In Minnesota, it is estimated up to 300 babies born each year will have cCMV. Sometimes, babies will have hearing loss caused by cCMV, either at birth or when they are a little older. Early detection and support services for these babies and their families is an important step to give the babies access to language and a successful start to life. The Minnesota Department of Health has information about newborn screening on their website.

Mental Health Day Treatment Program Survey

On February 6th, a statewide survey was sent out to give us an idea about what type of program or curriculum is needed for Minnesota students who are deaf, deafblind & hard of hearing and would benefit from a day treatment program for mental health services. We are collecting responses from parents and teachers or professionals who work with deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing children. We are partnering with VONA staff and the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf mental health team.

Lobby Day and What's Happening at the Legislature

Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing Lobby Day will happen on Tuesday, March 7, 2023! Please join us for a day of training, accessible Capitol tours, meaningful conversations with your legislators, and a rally with presentations and awards.

The board voted on this year’s legislative agenda at our January 20, 2023 meeting. The agenda is posted on our website and we are sending out legislative updates and information on hearings to attend. Please follow our newsletter, website, and social media to stay updated.

One legislative highlight so far was a tour at Metro Deaf School with Rep. Ruth Richardson, Rep. Leigh Finke, and Rep. Cheryl Youakim. Executive Director Susan Outlaw and the MDS community were warm and welcoming and provided a fantastic tour of their school and programs.

HLAA-TC and MNCDHH Town Hall

The Commission and the Hearing Loss Association of America – Twin Cities chapter are hosting a town hall meeting for people with hearing loss who use speaking and listening to communicate. It will happen on Saturday, February 25, 2023 from 10 am – 12 pm and it will be on Zoom. ASL interpreters and CART will be provided. We are looking forward to connecting more with members of the hearing loss community.

DeafBlind Focus Group

The most recent DeafBlind focus group met to review the Commission’s video accessibility policies. Many thanks to the community members who attended and shared their feedback. Now that the meeting has finished, we are doing a survey with DeafBlind community members to collect more feedback. If you are DeafBlind and want to participate in the survey, please email Anne Sittner Anderson, anne.sittner-anderson@state.mn.us, and let her know.

Picture Slideshow

Here are pictures of the recent events.

Riss Leitzke Photography

Riss Leitzke Photography

Riss Leitzke Photography

Riss Leitzke Photography

Suggestions?

I will send out another update next month. Please let me know if there is any information you would like me to share in a future update. You can contact me by email, darlene.g.zangara@state.mn.us. Thank you!

Credits

Featuring Darlene G. Zangara, Executive Director. The Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing thanks:

Jamie Schumacher for voiceover.

Keystone Interpreting Solutions for film production.