From Linda Sakin, ALDA Boston representative, Hearing Loss Consortium

CUTS IN FUNDING AT MASSACHUSETTS COMMISSION FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING LEAD TO POSSIBLE HEARING LOSS CONSORTIUM FORMATION

Due to ongoing budget problems, the Massachusetts Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) will be unable to fund regular communication access (CART) for community group meetings (ALDA, HLA, MIC, etc.) in fiscal year 2010, which began July 1, 2009.

In order to respond to these funding changes, ALDA Boston and MA HLA groups have met to explore cooperative solutions to communication access at their meetings. An early approach would be a Hearing Loss Consortium which would share meetings [educational and informational] to maximize financial resources for communication access, which can cost as much as $150.00 to $450.00 per meeting.

Much needs to be resolved to see the full implementation of a Consortium since each group would have to be flexible about meeting sites, time of meetings, and topics. We would have to confirm the ability of all participating groups to provide cost sharing. (8/2009)