Transcript The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing MCDHH Announcement: MCDHH’s “Communication Access” Training Now Mandatory in Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) Curriculum Visual Description: A bald Black man with a black and gray goatee is wearing a maroon suit with a white shirt, complemented by a tie featuring a semi-solid repeating pattern and a white pocket square on the left side. We have exciting news that will significantly benefit Deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened, and deafblind individuals across the Commonwealth. Earlier this year, the Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC), which oversees training standards for municipal police officers, invited MCDHH to integrate our “Communication Access Training for Law Enforcement Officers” into their official curriculum for FY 2025. What does this mean? While MCDHH has offered training to thousands of police officers and our specialized sessions have been popular at police academies, this training has never been part of a mandated curriculum. Now, with MPTC’s invitation and the collaborative efforts of both our teams, this training will become a required course for 24,000 municipal officers across the Commonwealth. This change will enhance how police interact with Deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, and deafblind individuals, improving their service to the community. Acknowledgments We appreciate the input from our constituencies and the positive feedback from law enforcement officers who highlighted the importance of this training. We also recognize the dedicated efforts of MCDHH and MPTC staff, as well as law enforcement officers and State Police Troopers, who supported the CATTS team by participating in training scenarios, reviewing content, and creating the curriculum. Thank you for your partnership and continued support. Follow us on social media! Scan the QR code below or visit linktree.com/MassCDHH