§1218. Services to persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing








1. Mental health services. 
The department shall provide accommodations and services for persons who are deaf
or hard-of-hearing in order to provide access to mental health programs funded or
licensed by the department. These accommodations must include, but are not limited
to, the following:





A. Appropriate mental health assessments for clients who are deaf or hard-of-hearing; [1993, c. 519, §1 (NEW).]










B. Provision of interpreter services for treatment; [1993, c. 519, §1 (NEW).]










C. Educational and training for mental health staff providing treatment to persons
who are deaf or hard-of-hearing; [1993, c. 519, §1 (NEW).]










D. Placement of telecommunication devices for persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing
in comprehensive community mental health facilities; [1993, c. 519, §1 (NEW).]










E. Support and training for families with members who are deaf or hard-of-hearing who
experience mental health problems; and [1993, c. 519, §1 (NEW).]










F. Establishment of a therapeutic residence program for persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing
and in need of residential mental health treatment. The therapeutic residence program
must be operated in conjunction with existing rehabilitation, education, mental health
treatment and housing resources. The therapeutic residence program must be staffed
by individuals trained in mental health treatment and proficient in communication
for the deaf. [1993, c. 519, §1 (NEW).]







[
1995, c. 560, Pt. K, §24 (AMD)
.]








2. Services for persons with intellectual disabilities or autism. 
The department shall provide accommodations and services ensuring access for persons
who are deaf or hard-of-hearing to programs funded or licensed by the department providing services for persons who have intellectual disabilities or autism. These accommodations and services must include, but are not limited to, the following.





A. The department shall ensure the provision of appropriate assessments for clients who
are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Assessments must be performed by a person who is proficient
in American Sign Language and must include an assessment of intellectual disability or autism and an assessment of communication skills, including the capacity to communicate
using American Sign Language. The department shall survey the client population to
determine which clients are deaf or hard-of-hearing. [2011, c. 542, Pt. A, §65 (AMD).]










B. For purposes of treatment, the department shall ensure the provision of interpreter
services by a person proficient in American Sign Language. [1995, c. 560, Pt. K, §24 (AMD).]










C. The department shall ensure that staff providing direct services to persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing have education
and training in American Sign Language and deaf culture. [2011, c. 542, Pt. A, §65 (AMD).]










D. The department shall provide for the placement of telecommunication devices for persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing in any location that provides residential, employment or other community-based services
for persons eligible under this Title. [2011, c. 542, Pt. A, §65 (AMD).]










E. The department shall ensure the provision of support and training for families with
members who have an intellectual disability or autism who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. [2011, c. 542, Pt. A, §65 (AMD).]










F. The department shall establish therapeutic residence options for persons with intellectual disabilities or autism who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and in need of a residence. The therapeutic residences
must be operated in conjunction with existing rehabilitation, education, housing and other community-based service resources. The therapeutic residences must be staffed by individuals trained in providing services for persons with intellectual disabilities and autism and proficient in American Sign Language. Therapeutic residence options must be
flexible and allow for individual choice. [2011, c. 542, Pt. A, §65 (AMD).]










G. The department shall designate in each regional office one staff person who is responsible
for the coordination of deaf services in that office. The department shall provide
ongoing training to regional office staff with the goal of having at least one person
in each regional office who is proficient in American Sign Language. [1995, c. 560, Pt. K, §24 (AMD).]







[
2011, c. 542, Pt. A, §65 (AMD)
.]








3. School-aged children. 
This section does not diminish or alter in any way the Department of Education's
responsibility to provide free and appropriate education to students with disabilities.


[
1993, c. 519, §1 (NEW)
.]








4. Report. 
The department shall prepare a biennial report that describes accommodations and
services available under this section and identifies unmet service needs and a plan
to address those needs. The commissioner shall include representatives from deaf
communities, families and public and private service agencies in the preparation of
the report. The report must be submitted to the joint standing committee of the Legislature
having jurisdiction over human resource matters and the Office of the Executive Director
of the Legislative Council by January 15th of every even-numbered year.


[
1993, c. 519, §1 (NEW)
.]





SECTION HISTORY

1993, c. 519, §1 (NEW).
1995, c. 560, §K24 (AMD).
2011, c. 542, Pt. A, §65 (AMD).