Section 1463 - Powers and duties of the officeThe Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, with the advice of the Advisory Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and as directed by the Secretary of Labor and Industry, shall:
(1) Advocate and promote the accessibility to all governmental services to deaf and hard of hearing citizens in this Commonwealth, including those with multiple disabilities.(2) Advocate and promote the establishment of a directory of agencies, both public and private, which provide community services, evaluate the extent to which they make services available to deaf and hard of hearing people, and cooperate with the agencies in coordinating and extending these services.(3) Advocate and promote the establishment of regional service centers for the deaf and hard of hearing.(4) Advocate and promote the mutual exchange of ideas and information on services for deaf and hard of hearing people among Federal, State and local governmental agencies and private organizations.(5) Advocate and promote the use of qualified interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing.(6) Collect, systematize and make available for other agencies information in regard to deaf persons and other persons who are hard of hearing in this Commonwealth, including their numbers and characteristics, such as the nature, causes and severity of their hearing losses, their educational and economic status, and any other relevant information.(7) Maintain a listing of persons qualified in various types of interpreting for deaf and hard of hearing persons and make this information available to local, State, Federal and private agencies.(8) Act as a source of information for the deaf and hard of hearing to State agencies and public institutions providing services to the deaf and hard of hearing and to local agencies and programs.(9) The Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing shall act as an advocate for and promote the interests of the deaf and hard of hearing before any department, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the Commonwealth, or of any political subdivision thereof, as might be needed to enable it to properly carry out its activities under this section.(10) Perform the duties and responsibilities outlined in this section only to the extent that they do not conflict with or duplicate services currently provided by the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.1986, Dec. 16, P.L. 1621, No. 184, § 3, effective in 90 days. Amended 1997, June 25, P.L. 334, No. 37, § 1, effective in 60 days.