Sarah Bolmarcich

The Hard of Hearing Task Force meeting agenda includes call to order and introductions, an Executive Director Report, Community Engagement Report, reports from the Hard of Hearing Specialist and Program Manager, and discussions on ALOHA Leadership Announcements and HLAA Chapter Leadership Announcements. Other discussion items involve Arizona's 11th Annual Walk4Hearing 2026, an Employment Update, and Arts & Culture Venue Access.

This strategic plan outlines a comprehensive five-year roadmap to enhance services and resources for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, and individuals with speech disabilities across Arizona. Key focus areas include enhancing the accessibility of information, education, and training; increasing awareness and usage of support services; strengthening interpreter development and mentorship; increasing knowledge of communication and safety technology; and optimizing language acquisition and literacy for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind children. The plan aims to improve communication access, expand resources, provide critical support for vulnerable groups, and strengthen statewide advocacy.

The meeting commenced with accessibility notices regarding ASL interpreters and CART captioning, along with an explanation of CART's utility. A new task force member was introduced. Key discussions centered on the acceptance of the November meeting minutes. The Executive Director provided an update on her new role, emphasizing a commitment to centering lived experiences and ensuring representation for deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, and speech-disabled Arizonans in all statewide initiatives. Policy updates included discussions on FCC rules concerning the modernization of the Telecommunication Relay Service (TRS) and the need to expand the tax base for the Telecommunication Fund for the Deaf beyond landlines to include wireless revenue for agency sustainability. Personnel changes noted the retirement of the Deputy Director. Updates from the Community Engagement Coordinator covered the success of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Deaf Blind Legislative Day, a collaboration with the Arizona Burn Foundation for distributing free lifesaving alert systems (installing 455 alarms over two years) and an upcoming community burn alarm walk. Other engagements included presentations at the Arizona Museum of Natural History, Still University for audiology students, Saddlebrook Ranch Retirement Community, and the University of Arizona for American Sign Language students. The Heart of Hearing Specialist detailed outreach activities, including presentations across the state, visits to the Arizona State School for the Deaf and the Blind, and community resource sharing at health fairs and senior centers.

The meeting included discussions regarding committee membership and representation, specifically addressing adding new roles for Early Intervention/Early Learning Provider (EI/ELP) candidates and a Newborn Screening Technician (NBST) candidate. The committee voted to add two new EI/ELP positions and one NBST position. New business focused on updates to the ACDHH Family Services materials, including a timeline magnet and draft videos, with suggestions made for revisions. Community updates covered potential funding opportunities and the announcement of the Annual Family Picnic date for April 5, 2026.

The meeting commenced with a roll call. Key discussions centered on the Executive Director position, specifically addressing the withdrawal of the initially selected candidate, Eric. The Board considered options for the next steps in recruitment, including reviewing remaining candidates or initiating a new search, and discussed these matters in executive session. Subsequently, the Board voted in open session to advance the two remaining candidates, Michelle Michaels and Nikki Sukup, to the final round of interviews. Following this decision, the Board entered executive session again to discuss job expectations for the newly selected executive director.