Dec. 15, 2023 — This is a follow-up to our message on Wednesday about the Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind’s (CCDHHDB) services. A number of recipients were concerned that the CCDHHDB will be stopping services. We want to reassure you that is not the case.
The CCDHHDB will be continuing to provide services in all program areas. Because we are receiving more service requests than expected for a few of our key programs, we have developed ways to prioritize which requests are filled for the Rural Auxiliary Services Program, DeafBlind Services/Support Services, and Legal Auxiliary Services Program. We will be communicating out the prioritization structure for each program to vendors and consumers of those programs soon.
In addition, any new applications for the Communications Technology Program (CTP) will be put on hold until additional funding is available, as we have done in prior years. However, our federally funded programs — Colorado Early Hearing Detection and Intervention and the National DeafBlind Equipment Distribution Program/iCanConnect — will continue as normal.
Please keep sending your service requests. We will be able to fill some requests. And for those that we cannot fill, it will be important for us to collect that data to better understand our community’s needs so we can work to address any service gaps for the future.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mindy Gates, deputy director of the Office of Adult, Aging and Disability Services, at mindy.gates@state.co.us.