Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission

05/28/2026

The IDHHC page serves to share information with the community. IDHHC does not monitor or respond to comments on posts.

To receive a timely response, please send general questions or information requests by email to [email protected].

We look forward to connecting with you.

05/27/2026

Join us and connect with the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission at our informative table booth during the Community Health Fair for Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing communities on May 31, 2026, from 1pm to 4pm at the Chicago Hearing Society!

This free event offers accessible health education, wellness resources, preventive care information, community referrals, and interactive workshops with ASL and captions provided. Connect with local organizations, explore valuable resources, and strengthen community well-being together.

The CHS Community Health Fair is coming up at the end of the month! We can't wait to see you there. You can find all the information about the event and also sign up on our website or by scanning the QR code.

05/21/2026

The Language Equality Acquisition for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind Children Act (also known as the LEAD-K Bill) has passed the Illinois Senate unanimously and has now passed both chambers.

To stay updated on the bill’s next steps, visit the Bill Status page linked below.

Welcome to the Official government website of the Illinois General Assembly

05/21/2026

The Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) is proud to announce name changes to its workforce success programs, designed to better support, especially Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals seeking employment with State government.

See the IL Careers post below for more information.

Same Mission, New Name: Introducing WSPID

Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) is proud to announce that our employment programs for individuals with disabilities are evolving. To better align with person-centered values, the Successful Disabilities Opportunities Program (SDOP) has been renamed the Workforce Success Program for Individuals with Disabilities (WSPID) and the Disabled Worker Trainee Program (DWTP) has been renamed the Workers with Disabilities Trainee Program (WDTP).

While the name is new, the impact remains the same. WSPID continues to provide qualified candidates with high-priority access to State of Illinois career opportunities by giving preference through the hiring sequence and WDTP reserves titles exclusively for program members.

How to Partner with Us: If you work with individuals seeking employment within State government, ensure they are connected with a DHS/DRS Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to begin the enrollment process for WSPID and the CMS Workforce Success Center to begin the enrollment process for WDTP.

For more information on WSPID, the Workers with Disabilities Trainee Program (WDTP), or the Alternative Employment Program (AEP), visit us at work.illinois.gov or email [email protected].

05/21/2026

The State of Illinois and the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission celebrate today’s Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)! Join us in celebrating three GAAD events sponsored or hosted across Illinois, with ASL interpretation and captioning provided.

The Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) is celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) with Apple today from 3pm to 7pm in Chicago at the Central West Community Center. For more information, visit MOPD GAAD website. https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/mopd/supp_info/upcoming-events.html

The University of Illinois System, along with the Universities of Minnesota and Michigan, is hosting a series of online presentations in celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day today from 9:30am to 2:45pm CDT. Visit their MN GAAD website for details and registration. https://gaad.umn.edu/

The Illinois Department of Innovation and Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT), Office of Information Accessibility is hosting a webinar to celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day for State of Illinois employees today from 11am to 12pm CDT. For more information, visit DoIT Accessibility. https://doit.illinois.gov/doit-news/accessibility-news/gaad-2026.html

Image courtesy of the University of Illinois Chicago. Image description: A colorful poster promoting Global Accessibility Awareness Day, featuring a design of geometric blocks in red, blue, orange, green, and white, incorporating accessibility-related symbols and icons.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day: https://accessibility.day/

04/24/2026

The State of Illinois and the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission celebrate April as Deaf History Month! Illinois is home to over 400,000 individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. The 104th Illinois General Assembly passed a resolution recognizing April 2025 and April 2026 as Deaf History Month.

This resolution encourages Illinoisans to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Deaf individuals and highlights the importance of honoring Deaf history, culture, and achievements as part of Illinois’ commitment to inclusion and accessibility.

View the Full Text of HR0175 Resolution https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus/FullText?GAID=18&DocNum=175&DocTypeID=HR&LegId=163188&SessionID=114

04/24/2026

The Language Equality Acquisition for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind Children Act (also known as the LEAD-K Bill) has passed the Illinois House unanimously and now moves to the Senate for consideration. The legislation HB1783 supports early language development for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind children from birth to age five through improved identification, monitoring, and access to resources for families and providers, as well as the establishment of an advisory committee.

For updates on the bill’s progress in the Senate, visit the Bill Status page: https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus?DocTypeID=HB&DocNum=1783&GAID=18&SessionID=114&LegID=159179

The Commission tracks key bills and resolutions in the 104th General Assembly that impact Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind individuals. A list of trackable legislation is available on our website at Legislation Bills & Resolutions: https://idhhc.illinois.gov/programs-and-services/legislation-bills-and-resolutions.html

The 2026 Spring Session of the 104th Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn on May 31, 2026.

Welcome to the Official government website of the Illinois General Assembly

04/24/2026

The Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse will host a virtual town hall on May 19, 2026, inviting families to share their experiences, ask questions, and offer suggestions to improve early intervention services. The meeting will be held online and will be presented in ASL, English, and Spanish. For more information and to register, visit:

Family Town Hall Meeting information for 2025…

04/24/2026

The Department of Special Education at Illinois State University has launched a fully online Master of Science in Education in Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) sequence, building on a partnership with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to address teacher shortages in the field. Faculty are now focused on sustaining a comprehensive graduate program designed to serve educators across Illinois and beyond. The Master of Science in Education in Deaf and Hard of Hearing sequence is currently accepting applications.

The Department of Special Education has launched a fully online Master of Science in Education in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Sequence, building on a partnership with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to address teacher shortages in the field.

04/06/2026

Job Opportunity: IDHS/DMH is Seeking a Human Services Sign Language Interpreter

The Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health (IDHS/DMH) is seeking to hire a Human Services Sign Language Interpreter for the Chicago-Read Mental Health Center located in Chicago, Illinois to serve as an interpreter for civil and forensic psychiatric inpatient consumers who are Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing and/or Deaf-Blind in a variety of situations.

Work location: Chicago, IL

For more information including salary, qualifications and job responsibilities, and robust benefit package, please visit the Work for Illinois posting at Job Posting: https://illinois.jobs2web.com/job/Chicago-HUMAN-SERVICES-SIGN-LANGUAGE-INTERPRETER-IL-60634/1378804900/ or search Job Requisition ID # 54347 at work.illinois.gov. The posting closing date extended to May 6, 2026.

For questions or assistance, please contact the hiring unit at: [email protected].

HUMAN SERVICES SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER