American Association of the Deaf-Blind

Front (sitting), left to right: Lt. Governor Brown, Senate President Miller, Governor O'Malley and House Speaker Busch. Back row (standing) Left to right: George Kosovich, Hearing Loss Association of America; Montgomery County Chapter, Laurie Corcoran, ODHH; Elizabeth Spiers, AADB; Lisa Kornberg, ODHH; Julie Schafer, ODHH; Laura Quinn, ODHH; Mike La Chance, MD Department of Aging.

Ms. Elizabeth Spiers had the honor of witnessing the Governor of Maryland, Martin O"Malley, signing Senate Bill 79 into law on May 4, 2010. This bill established a deaf-blind community representative position for the advisory council of the Maryland Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH). Earlier this year, Ms. Spiers testified on this bill to explain the need for a deaf-blind community representative for ODHH to assist staff in working with deaf-blind Maryland residents. This is a great step for deaf-blind people in Maryland!

The representative will begin his or her duties on October 1, 2010. For more information about ODHH"s advisory council, people can contact Laura Quinn at lquinn@gov.state.md.us, and/or learn more about the advisory council on ODHH"s website at http://www.odhh.maryland.gov/advisory_council.html.