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Deafblind advocates and hard‑of‑hearing residents urge restoring DB CAN and MCDHH funding
Summary
Advocates asked lawmakers to restore funding for the Deaf Blind Community Access Network (DB CAN), increase interpreter and CART services through MCDHH, and pursue insurance coverage or a study to address rising hearing‑aid costs.
Lisa Chango, who represents deafblind community members, asked the committee to restore the DB CAN line item (4110‑1000) and to raise the program’s budget toward a level‑funded amount she stated as $600.00 to meet members’ needs. Chango said DB CAN serves about 70 deafblind residents statewide and that each member is limited to 16 hours of service per month, which she said is insufficient for community access.
Paul Gambina (hard of hearing) urged increasing the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) budget (he cited a target of $11,270,000) to expand interpreting, CART, and provider mentorship programs. Mimi Silva (late‑deafened) described the personal cost of hearing aids and urged support for a study to accurately capture hearing‑aid costs; she referenced a bill number for insurance coverage and said the committee’s chair had asked CHIA to study costs.
Witnesses requested increased mileage compensation for providers, higher service hours, and specialized referral systems to make interpreter services more reliable. They asked for the FY27 budget to restore and expand communication‑access services so that deafblind and hard‑of‑hearing residents can participate in community life and medical care. The committee did not take a vote during testimony.
