My name is Patty Warmack, as a person who is Deaf and the President of the DAC, I was shocked to learn on Friday, April 1, 2011 the Betty and Leonard Phillips Deaf Action Center of Louisiana (DAC) had lost two critical contracts we’ve held for over 28 years. These contracts are worth $260,000 over a 3 year period and are essential for the Center to operate at our high standards. More troubling than losing this critical funding, the northwest Louisiana Deaf Community was not consulted and will be losing some of the vital services it has had in the past and deserves in the future. This is a terrible blow for a group that has worked hard to be a important and productive part of northwest Louisiana.

The Deaf Action Center has a 30 year documented record of providing quality interpreting and assisted listening device services throughout north Louisiana.  Without regard for that history, the current executive director of the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf (LCD) has provided limited, and in some cases, inaccurate, information to the LCD regarding DAC’s performance. Consequently, LCD, acting on limited time before the new state fiscal year, awarded these contracts to another agency with very little working knowledge of deafness, Deaf Culture, limited experience in working with the Deaf Community and no qualified/certified interpreters.

Therefore the Deaf Action Center is asking you to consider signing this petition to stop LCD from turning a deaf ear to north Louisiana’s Deaf and for it to take the following actions:

1.  Ask the the Deaf Community before making such an important decision.  Their opinion should be taken into consideration, regardless of the circumstances.

2.  Cease any contractual arrangements for interpreting services and equipment distribution services with New Horizons Independent Living Center in Shreveport, Louisiana and contract with the Betty and Leonard Phillips Deaf Action Center of Louisiana for these services (interpreting and assistive listening device distribution).

3.  Even though the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf is not required to solicit Requests for Proposals (RFPs); to immediately establish an RFP process by which agencies can submit proposals to demonstrate their fitness to provide specific services.

4.  And, further, to establish an oversight committee made up of commission members and consumers to oversee the selection, awarding, and fulfillment of LCD contracts.