Scott Madsen

The board meeting featured a transition in leadership, the honoring of departing members, and the welcome of a new commissioner cohort. The Executive Director provided an update on organizational foundation-building, performance metrics for the upcoming fiscal year, and staffing updates. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to reviewing interpreter complaints, resulting in the dismissal of several cases and a 30-day license suspension for one individual due to professional conduct violations. Additionally, the board appointed members to the Interpreter Licensing Committee, announced a series of upcoming community town hall meetings, rescheduled a future meeting date to avoid conflict with a national conference, and identified key topics for the next agenda, including support for state schools and legislative concerns regarding public comment limits.

The committee discussed updates to the Journey Through Screening and Beyond materials, specifically refining milestone language to align with national EHDI standards. Proposals for a centralized QR code system to improve resource access and updates on the Family Survey initiative were reviewed. Plans for a more streamlined Family Resource Booklet were introduced. New business included revisions to newborn screening videos to improve tone and accessibility, and a status update on the EHDI grant. Various community and professional updates were shared, covering event planning for family audiology and summer events, as well as outreach efforts for the Navajo Nation.

The committee reviewed and provided feedback on design mockups for informational materials regarding screening milestones, emphasizing simplified language and accessibility for families. Updates were provided on the upcoming multi-language family survey and the ongoing development of a family resource booklet. Additionally, the committee discussed concerns regarding ASL interpretation quality and affect in a new video series for the Deaf Mentor Program, concluding with a decision to request revisions from the production company.

The meeting featured a roll call of commissioners and staff, followed by an interim chair's report announcing officer elections for the upcoming meeting and acknowledging outgoing commissioners. The executive director provided an update on strategic initiatives, organizational growth, performance metrics, and staffing changes, including a report on the agency's strategic plan and upcoming tour. Additionally, a public comment was read regarding a license renewal issue, and the board addressed procedural requirements for voting on past meeting minutes.

The meeting included reports from the Community Relations Manager, Hard of Hearing Specialist, and Hard of Hearing Program Manager, covering topics such as community tours, agency anniversaries, hearing assistance partnerships, educational presentations, relay services, and the development of an Ambassador Program. The committee also received reports from the Adult Loss of Hearing Association and various task force members regarding chapter activities, employment trends for seniors, and advocacy for accessibility at arts and culture venues. A key action item involved the approval of an Auracast initiative for the state of Arizona, with a focus on maintaining existing loop system accessibility.