Delaware Association of the Deaf (DAD)

Update Note: job posting now online at https://mota.applytojob.com/apply/eyRfqfTzFy/Director-Office-Of-Deaf-Deaf-Blind-And-Hard-Of-Hearing.

Here’s the draft posting below for the Director role, given by our contacts at the DC Mayor’s Office. Most of it is directly from the legislation that was passed in the DC Council last summer. Please feel free to share, however, the final job posting may have some changes. Hopefully, will be posted online sometime this week.

Please let me know if you have any questions. If you know anyone you’d recommend, please let me know at vicepresident at dcadeaf dot org.

All the best,

Graham Forsey

POSITION: Director, Office of Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing (ODDHH)

CLASSIFICATION: Excepted Service, Grade 9

SALARY: Will be in the range of $115,960 to $156,787

OPEN: October 5, 2021

CLOSE: Open until filled

BACKGROUND

The Executive Office of the Mayor is seeking an experienced, dynamic, with strong connections to and embracement of DC values to serve as the first Director of the Office of Deaf, Deafblind and Heard of Hearing. The Director of ODDHH will serve as a member of the executive cabinet, and will lead the, develop policy and manage staff. The candidate selected will understand the uniqueness of Washington, DC in its diverse population, represent the interest of residents served by the office from all eight wards and shape policy and programs. Located in and reporting to the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, the Office for the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing (ODDHH) will advance the civil rights of the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing communities by ensuring and overseeing District-wide compliance with laws that affect the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing communities.

Office of Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing:

• Advocate for the adoption of laws, policies, and programs that benefit the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing communities;
• (Provide community outreach, training, and education on issues affecting the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing communities;
• Provide information about existing programs and services for the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing communities;
• Refer members of the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing communities with problems or concerns to the appropriate District agency or organization;
• Assist educational institutions, employment agencies, social service agencies, and businesses comply with District and federal laws that affect the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing communities;
• Provide members of the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing communities with access to specialized services, including case management, interpreter services, technology services, such as assistive listening devices, independent living services, and information services;
• Maintain a registry of available qualified interpreters in the District and work to increase the number of qualified interpreters in the District;
• Create and distribute visor communication cards to the Metropolitan Police Department containing instructions on how to effectively communicate with a deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing motorist, along with images of common traffic situations;
• Assist agencies in developing policies and practices that consider the needs of the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing communities;
• (Ensure District-wide compliance with laws and policies that protect the civil rights of the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing communities;
• Assist agencies and the Council with referrals to qualified interpreters;

Director of ODDHH

Appointed by the Mayor, the Director shall be deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing and who shall serve as the Chief Administrative Officer and will organize personnel, re-delegate authority, develop programs, and take other action consistent with appropriations and other applicable law. The Director will lead the office and perform core duties, which include but are not limited to:

• Develop policy and practices of the office that ensure cultural competency and reflect the diversity of Washington, DC.
• Direct and oversee an efficient system for the provision of services, policies, and programs to provide full and equal opportunity for deaf, late deafened, and hard of hearing individuals throughout the Commonwealth
• Advocate for the dignity and independence of deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing individuals by providing leadership, and expertise to direct policy and programs with emphasis on supporting DC values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and self- determination
• Develop an operational plan which incorporates goals and objectives that work towards the strategic direction of the Mayor and ODDHH.
• Initiate and develop policy or actions for resolution of problems affecting deaf and hard of hearing services and programs consultation with the Office of Human Rights, the Office of Disability Rights, The Office of Disability Services and other agencies.
• Coordinate team meetings with all reporting staff to share information and ensure alignment within ODDHH.
• Recruit, hire and train hire qualified individuals who are members of the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing communities.
• Oversee development and submission of an annual report to the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, Mayor and the Council.
• Oversee an evaluation of the availability of American Sign Language interpretation, real-time captioning, assistive listening systems, and other language access measures for the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing communities, at agencies and the Mayor and the Council; and
• Make recommendations for new laws, policies, or programs that address the needs of the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing communities.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will have strong ties or comprehensive understanding of the complexity of the District of Columbia, including government functions and community diversity, and will be a member of the deaf, deaf blind or hard of hearing community. Additionally, candidates must demonstrate the following:

• Have direct knowledge of the policies, practices, regulations, and laws concerning the Office of the Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing including processes and initiatives.
• Have direct knowledge and a vision for the missions, roles, functions, organizational structures, and operation of ODR, and organizations that govern, interface with, and/or influence the disability rights process.
• Be fluent in American Sign Language (preferred)
• Have strong skills to plan, organize, and direct the functions and staff in critical aspects of development and production, support of systems, subsystems, or equipment and to coordinate various aspects of disability access systems to include engineering, re­engineering, construction, contracting, financial management, configuration, test, and implementation.
• Ability to supervise, mentor, motivate, appraise, and work with subordinate supervisors and non-supervisory employees.
• Ability to effectively communicate, clearly, concisely, and with technical accuracy.

COVID-19 PREVENTION POLICY

The Government of the District of Columbia values the safety of our employees, our residents, and our visitors. In support of these values, if you are selected for this job you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, except when vaccination is not medically advised or violates your sincerely held religious beliefs. If you are invited to join our team, you must submit proof that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to your initial HR representative, or you must request an exemption from your representative. New employees must either provide proof of vaccination or be granted a medical or religious exemption by the hiring agency before working with the Government of the District of Columbia.

DOMICILE REQUIREMENT

There is a legal requirement that each new appointee to the Excepted Service either: (1) be domiciled in the District of Columbia at the time of appointment; or (2) establish District domicile within one hundred eighty (180) days of appointment. The law also requires that Excepted Service employees maintain District domicile during the period of the appointment. Failure to maintain District domicile during the period of the appointment will result in forfeiture of employment.