Sec. 4.

(1) Under the supervision of the department, the division shall do all of the following:

(a) Advocate for deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing persons who encounter communication and other difficulties in employment, education, public accommodation, public service, and housing.

(b) Work closely with all public and privately funded organizations that provide developmental, educational, financial, preventative, protective, placement, recreational, rehabilitative, or health services to deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing persons.

(c) Encourage providers of services to deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing persons to improve the quality and coordination of their delivery systems.

(d) Provide information on deafness to deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing persons and the public.

(e) Provide information and referral services to deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing persons to ensure that their rights are protected.

(f) Provide information to deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing persons on programs and services provided for them by each level of government.

(g) Promote new services, when necessary, for deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing persons.

(h) Sponsor or cosponsor conferences, workshops, or seminars to educate deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing persons and the public about deafness.

(i) Maintain statistics, facts, and data pertaining to deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing persons of all ages and degrees of hearing loss.

(j) Provide technical assistance to state agencies and the public regarding communication accessibility for deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing persons.

(k) Coordinate with state agencies, the legislature, and the governor on requests for direct interpreter services.

(l) Fulfill its duties under the deaf persons' interpreters act, 1982 PA 204, MCL 393.501 to 393.509.

(2) The division may assess reasonable fees for conferences sponsored or cosponsored by the division, the use of materials developed by the division, and for services provided by the division.

History: 1937, Act 72, Eff. Oct. 29, 1937 ;-- CL 1948, 408.204 ;-- Am. 1988, Act 434, Eff. Mar. 30, 1989 ;-- Am. 2016, Act 135, Eff. Aug. 24, 2016 Compiler's Notes: For transfer of the advisory council on deaf and hard of hearing from the family independence agency to the department of labor and economic growth by type II transfer, see E.R.O. No. 2003-1, compiled at MCL 445.2011.For transfer of powers and duties of division on deaf and hard of hearing and advisory council on deaf and hard of hearing from department of licensing and regulatory affairs to department of civil rights, see E.R.O. No. 2011-4, compiled at MCL 445.2030.For renaming of division on deaf and hard of hearing to division on deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing, and renaming of advisory council on deaf and hard of hearing to advisory council on deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing, see E.R.O. No. 2014-5, compiled at MCL 445.2035.For transfer of powers and duties of division on deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing within department of licensing and regulatory affairs, see E.R.O. No. 2017-4, compiled at MCL 445.2036.