1. A. As used in this Chapter the following definitions apply:

   1. Board of Commissioners—the group of individuals named or appointed to inform and support the work of the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf
   2. Commission—the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf, an organizational unit within the Louisiana Department of Health
   3. Deaf—a condition of or person with some or complete absence of auditory sensitivity, regardless of when the hearing loss occurred, and is most often represented with a lowercase letter “d.” Methods of communication may include American Sign Language or spoken English. The term “Deaf,” when written or expressed with an uppercase letter “D,” specifically refers to a group of deaf individuals who identify as a cultural and linguistic minority with specific languages, namely visual or tactile methods of communication, and social mores.
   4. DeafBlind—a condition of or person with noncomitant visual and auditory sensitivity to the extent that it causes extreme difficulty in gaining independence in daily life activities, achieving psychosocial adjustments, or obtaining vocation
   5. Department—the Louisiana Department of Health
   6. Hard of Hearing—a condition of or person with total or partial inability to hear sound, but not to the extent that the person must rely primarily on visual communication
   7. Hearing—any person who has average to above hearing levels
   8. Interpreter—an individual involved in the process of interpreting or transliterating between the English language and American Sign Language or any communication modes used by d/Deaf, DeafBlind, or hard of hearing persons. Communication modes may include, but are not limited to, cued speech and tactile sign
   9. Secretary—the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health

Authority Note

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated pursuant to the authority in R.S. 46:2352 (A) and R.S. 47:1061.

Historical Note

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Social Services, Office of Rehabilitation Services, Commission for the Deaf, LR 13:93 (February 1987), amended LR 17:388 (April 1991), LR 21:589 (June 1995), amended by the Department of Health, Office of Public Health, LR 49:1395 (August 2023).