Get to know the Division's Staff: Meet Mandy Pierce-Turner, one of the Division’s two schedulers! You may recognize her from Governor Polis’ COVID press briefings — she was the Deaf Interpreter on screen. With nearly 15 years at the Division, Mandy coordinates scheduling for Division Services, including Communication Access Services (CAS), ensuring communication accommodations are readily available in both legal and rural settings, and DeafBlind Programs for Community Interveners and Support Service Providers. Outside of work, Mandy enjoys gardening and grows tomatoes, cilantro, and peppers. She also has a one-year-old Deaf Dalmatian named Picasso who knows several signs, including bathroom, eat, stop, and sit! Have questions about scheduling? Contact Mandy at cas.cddhhdb@state.co.us.

The Connection Hour: The March Edition of the Connection Hour is this weekend! The event will be held in Castle Rock on Saturday, March 21, from 10AM to 12PM. This is a wonderful opportunity for sign language interpreters and the DHHDB communities of Northern and Southern Colorado to come together and connect at a central location. Come grab a coffee, make new connections, and be part of the conversation! We look forward to seeing you at Black Rock Coffee Bar (4985 Factory Shops Blvd, Castle Rock, CO 80108). Questions about The Connection Hour? Email cas.cddhhdb@state.co.us.

Get to know the DBAC: The DeafBlind Advisory Council (DBAC) focuses on the specific needs and concerns of the DeafBlind community. Meetings are held every other month on the second Thursday, from 3:30 to 5:30PM. The next meeting will be on Thursday, April 9. All are welcome to attend, regardless of hearing or vision status. The DBAC is made up of six council members representing the following communities: DeafBlind, Deaf Low Vision, Hard of Hearing Blind, Latent DeafBlind, Parent of a DeafBlind Child, and Professional working with the DeafBlind Community. Questions about the DBAC? Email Elli Streifer, DeafBlind Programs Coordinator, at dbp.cddhhdb@state.co.us.

Deaf Seniors of America’s Survey: If you are 50 or older, this Deaf Senior Survey is for you! Deaf Seniors of America (DSA) and National Association of the Deaf (NAD) created a national survey to better understand the experiences, needs, and strengths of deaf older adults. This survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Need assistance completing the survey in ASL? Contact info@deafseniors.us to schedule a VP appointment with a DSA team member. Your participation matters in making sure Colorado is represented in the data!