Lawmakers hear hours of testimony on deaf and blind services; advocates urge a state commission and funding for interpreters

Lawmakers spent the better part of an afternoon hearing from dozens of advocates, professionals and residents about gaps in access for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind or have low vision, and whether a state-level commission could help coordinate services.

Multiple witnesses described failures in everyday access. Chelsea Ellertson of Deaf Intervention Services recounted missed or unreliable video-remote interpreting (VRI) in emergency departments that left patients without timely communication during care. One speaker said an interpreter screen repeatedly failed while a surgery was being cleared; another recounted being arrested and held overnight with inadequate access to interpretation and then appearing in court without an interpreter.

Workforce and agency panels detailed capacity limits and funding constraints. Leslie Van Orman at Vision Outreach Services (VOS) said the program has roughly 10 FTEs and serves about 2,400 people but estimated up to 8,000 adults statewide could need services at a level warranting accommodation; VOS reported limiting visits and staffing to manage demand. Nikki Harper (Division of Vocational Rehabilitation) and Lori Selinski (Wyoming Relay manager) said vocational rehabilitation, relay services and equipment distribution provide important supports, but they identified workforce shortages, especially certified sign-language interpreters and orientation-and-mobility specialists.

Witnesses and agency staff described a funded but vacant FTE intended to coordinate interpreters and provide statewide coverage. The panel said the posted salary of $24.78/hour has deterred candidates; agencies cited market postings near $38.24/hour and freelance interpreting rates of $65'$150/hour as a barrier to recruitment and retention. "All 3 [offers] refused the job due to the low wage," the panel told the committee of recent recruitment attempts.

Deaf Intervention Services urged creation of an independent commission reporting to the governor with a $3.5 million start-up estimate (the group proposed borrowing Nebraska's model). Advocates said a coordinating, staffed body could provide a statewide point of contact, education about legal obligations (including ADA requirements), enforcement assistance, improved contracting and training programs to grow the interpreter pipeline.

Members of the Wyoming Council of the Blind praised VOS but urged more outreach capacity and three or four additional consultants to stabilize service delivery and reduce waiting lists. The panel also explained the Montgomery Trust Fund: a historic charitable trust used through an advisory board to buy high-cost equipment and training for blind residents.

Several parents and educators highlighted language-deprivation risks for deaf children whose hearing families lack access to free sign-language training; advocates asked for low-cost or no-cost family sign-language training distributed through a central resource.

What happens next: The appropriations committee asked state agencies for written options, costs and reclassification analysis for the interpreter FTE and pledged to consider the testimony as it evaluates supplemental and biennial budget requests. No formal decision on a commission was taken; committee members said they wanted more community input and costed options before proceeding.