The Federal Group, Inc.

For more information about the DHHA, please contact Patrick Cooney
at (202) 347-0034 or
via email at Patrick@federalgrp.com

A Coalition of Consumer and Professional Organizations

The purpose of the DHHA is to focus on federal public policy that can improve the quality of life for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and all people with hearing loss. The DHHA’s major objective is to provide a forum whereby relevant information can be shared, plans made and actions taken for collaborative and mutually supportive efforts. The DHHA implements actions approved by its membership.

Current Issues in the 111th Congress

Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)

Legislative Update: 5/4/2009

Rep. Lois Capps introduced the EHDI reauthorization bill on March 2, 2009. On March 4th it was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and on March 30th it was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on a voice vote.

You might recall that the House moved swiftly to move the EHDI bill during the previous Congress as well, but the Senate was unable to act. This was due in part to the absence of the Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Senator Edward Kennedy, for health reasons.

The Senate champions for EHDI reauthorization (Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) are expected to introduce legislation soon, however it is unclear when the legislation will see action in the HELP Committee or on the Senate floor.

Federal Appropriations

DHHA Letter to Congress on FY09 Funding (PDF)

Member Organizations of the DHHA

Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
www.agbell.org

AG Bell is a lifelong resource and advocate for listening, learning, talking and living independently with hearing loss. Through advocacy, education and research, AG Bell promotes the use of spoken language and hearing technology in support of its mission: Advocating Independence through Listening and Talking!

American Academy of Audiology
www.audiology.org

The Academy is the world's largest professional organization of, by and for audiologists. The membership is dedicated to providing the highest quality of hearing healthcare service to children and adults described by our national slogan "Caring for America's Hearing."

American Society for Deaf Children
www.deafchildren.org

The ASDC supports and educates families of deaf or hard of hearing children and advocates for high quality programs and services. ASDC provides services to families and works to improve public policy.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
www.asha.org

ASHA is the professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 110,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. ASHA's mission is to ensure that all people with speech, language, and hearing disorders have access to quality services to help them communicate more effectively.

Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf
www.ceasd.org

CEASD promotes excellence in educational opportunities and supports the efficient and effective management of schools and programs serving learners who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Council of American Instructors of the Deaf, Inc.
www.caid.org

The mission of the Council of the American Instructors of the Deaf, Inc. (CAID) is to establish and to bring together state and regional organizations of teachers of students who are deaf and hard of hearing and support personnel for the purpose of promoting quality education for students. With a focus on student learning and development, CAID supports its 450 members by establishing, developing and expanding state and regional teacher organizations; fostering best practices through networking; sharing current educational, legislative and technological trends; facilitating opportunities for professional development; disseminating current information and research; advocating for high quality educational programs and services at the state, regional and national level; and representing the membership on policy issues at the state, regional and federal level.

Cued Language Network of America
www.cuedlanguage.org

Hands and Voices
www.handsandvoices.org

Hands & Voices is a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to supporting families and their children who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as the professionals who serve them. We are a parent-driven, parent/professional collaborative group that is unbiased towards communication modes and methods. Our diverse membership includes those who are deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing impaired and their families who communicate orally, with signs, cue, and/or combined methods. We exist to help our children reach their highest potential.

Hearing Loss Association of America
www.hearingloss.org

Hearing Loss Association of America’s mission is to open the world of communication to people with hearing loss through information, education, advocacy, and support.

Media Access Group at WGBH
access.wgbh.org

The Media Access Group at WGBH, founded in 1972, is the pioneer in the field of creating access solutions for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired to media used at home, in classrooms, at work and in the community.

National Association of the Deaf
www.nad.org

Established in 1880, the mission of the NAD is to promote, protect, and preserve the rights and quality of life of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America.

National Court Reporters Association
www.ncraonline.com

NCRA is a 27,000-member nonprofit organization committed to advancing the judicial reporting, realtime communication access and captioning professions.

National Cued Speech Association
www.cuedspeech.org

The NCSA is a non-profit membership organization whose mission is to promote and support the effective use of Cued Speech for communication, language acquisition and literacy.

TDI
www.tdi-online.org

TDI is a non-profit national consumer organization that promotes equal access to telecommunications and media for individuals who are deaf, late deafened, hard-of-hearing or deaf-blind.

TECUnit
www.tecunit.org