Minnesota Agencies

The commission shall advise the governor, the legislature, and the commissioners of the departments of human services, education, jobs and training, and health on: the nature of the issues and disabilities confronting deaf and hard of hearing persons in Minnesota; the development of policies, programs, and services affecting deaf and hard of hearing persons, and on the use of appropriate federal and state money; and statutes or rules necessary to ensure that deaf and hard of hearing persons have access to benefits and services provided to individuals in Minnesota.

The commission shall provide them with a review of ongoing services, programs, and proposed legislation affecting deaf and hard of hearing persons; recommend legislation designed to improve the economic and social conditions of deaf and hard of hearing persons in Minnesota; and recommend to the governor and the legislature any needed revisions in the state's affirmative action program and any other steps necessary to eliminate the underemployment or unemployment of deaf and hard of hearing persons in the state's work force.

The commission shall create a public awareness of the special needs and potential of deaf and hard of hearing persons; propose solutions to problems of deaf and hard of hearing persons in the areas of education, employment, human rights, human services, health, housing, and other related programs; work with other state and federal agencies and organizations to promote economic development for deaf and hard of hearing Minnesotans; and coordinate its efforts with other state and local agencies serving deaf and hard of hearing persons.

The Minnesota Commission Serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing People (MCDHH) was a 15 member statewide advisory council, originally created by the 1985 Minnesota Legislature under the name Hearing Impaired Council. The group's name changed to MCDHH in 1993.

MCDHH served as an independent commission of the state to advocate on behalf of deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing Minnesotans by working to ensure those persons have equal access to the services, programs, and opportunities available to others.

In 2008, the Legislature changed the group's name to the Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard-of-Hearing Minnesotans (Laws of Minn. 2008, chap. 280, sec. 1).

The Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard-of-Hearing Minnesotans consists of seven members appointed at large and one member from each advisory committee established under section 256C.24, subdivision 3. At least 50 percent of the members must be deaf or deafblind or hard of hearing. Members shall include persons who are deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing, parents of children who are deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing, and representatives of county and regional human services, including representatives of private service providers. Commission members are appointed by the governor for a three-year term and shall serve no more than two consecutive terms. The commission shall select one member as chair.