| To: | Community Members and Interested Persons |
| From: | Heidi L. Reed, Commissioner, MCDHH |
| Date: | January 19, 2011 |
| Re: | William Hoy Council on Deaf Studies and Work Development |
The report of the William Hoy Council of Deaf Studies and Workforce Development is posted on the Mass.Gov website for the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH). This report is a result of research, data collection, and discussions related to developing guidelines for a grant program, financial assistance, and marketing and outreach to further advance Deaf Studies and American Sign Language (ASL) training and interpreter programs within the Commonwealth's postsecondary schools.
I would like to acknowledge with gratitude the extensive commitment from service providers, educators, students, and agency and program administrators who came from across our state to bring perspective, experience, and vision to the Council. The Hoy Council met during the 2009 and 2010 fiscal years and formed teams to identify resources, compile data, and conduct discussions with key stakeholders from the college and service provider communities. The Council sought to identify strengths within the state's postsecondary programs and recommend guidelines for responding to gaps with a systematic model of enhanced training, recruitment, and financial support.
As mandated in the Chapter 526 of the Acts of 2008, this report was submitted to the Joint Committee on Higher Education and to the Joint Ways & Means Committee within the Massachusetts State Legislature; for their review and to be used to guide further Deaf Studies and Workforce Development in Massachusetts.
The Hoy Council looks forward to the recommendations and programs Massachusetts implements in the near future to improve and expand the presence of ASL skilled personnel across the workforce. The Council has scheduled quarterly meetings during 2011; to be held on January 24, March 22, May 16, and July 19. For more information, please contact my assistant, Charles Bates at Charles.Bates@massmail.state.ma.us, Voice: 617-740-1611 or TTY: 617-740-1735.
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This information is provided by the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.