NY lawmakers consider creating state office for the deaf

A bill is working its way through the New York legislature that would create a state office dedicated to serving the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

New York State Senator James Skoufis

While New York has many schools for the deaf there is a lack of coordination of services. It leads to misunderstanding between the deaf and hearing communities as well as some people never getting the help they need.

Sponsoring the bill is Democrat James Skoufis who says:

“It’s actually astonishing. I think most people would be surprised to learn that there really is no office, no department, no agency in state government that people, New Yorkers, who are hard of hearing or deaf can turn to. It’s just a void, a black hole for literally millions of New Yorkers who are hard of hearing if they are looking for, looking for programming support, guidance, navigating state government, navigating services.”

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