(photo) Sen. Seminara applauds committee passage of bill to help CT’s deaf and blind community

For Immediate Release

Sen. Lisa Seminara, Ranking Senator on the Human Services Committee, today issued the following statement regarding the committee’s unanimous Mar. 19 passage of legislation to establish a Bureau of Deaf, Blind and Hard of Hearing Services under the Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services.

“Connecticut must do more to help the deaf and blind community, so I am pleased to help advance this bipartisan legislation. Centralizing services will make them more accessible, so it makes sense to have this discussion on how to improve the ways in which we serve state residents.  Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to join the American School for the Deaf and many other advocates to announce the launch of the ‘Don’t Leave Anyone Lost In Translation’ campaign, which aims to create more awareness and understanding around the needs of the state’s deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind communities, particularly in the fields of health care and education.  Communication can be the difference between life and death in medical settings, or connection and isolation at school.  Incredible work is being done to break down barriers for these communities, and I am honored to be a part of this collaborative effort.”

The bill now awaits a vote by the full House of Representatives.