Staff
'Public Service is a Public Trust'
We are here to serve you!
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Executive Office |
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Featured in: KCDHH Spotlight Q&A January 2022 |
Ms. Anita Dowd – Executive Director Anita has held a variety of positions since being hired in 1998. Regardless of the position, advocacy was at the forefront of her duties. She is passionate about advocating for effective communication and working with families with deaf and hard of hearing children. She is also a certified ADA coordinator and loves public speaking. Anita attended Gallaudet University and graduated from Eastern Kentucky University. She has two awesome daughters that also have hearing loss. When not working she keeps busy collecting crafting supplies in hopes that someday she will have time to actually make something with them. |
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Executive Administrative Secretary Vacant |
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Office of Administrative Support The KCDHH Office of Administrative Support staff works closely with the Executive Director and assists with all functions of the agency, including legislative, budgetary and administrative duties to support the Commission Board and keep the agency running on a daily basis. This office is the backbone of the entire agency and supports the other offices as they complete their responsibilities to the consumers we serve. |
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Featured in: KCDHH Spotlight Q&A September 2022 |
Justin Stanley - Policy Specialist Justin joined KCDHH as a Policy Specialist in 2022. Among other positions, he previously served as Executive Director of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services of Northwest Florida in Pensacola, Florida. He lives in Lexington with his wife Christine and their three dogs. He is currently re-learning ASL after several years and enjoys traveling, reading about history, and learning about technology. He is a 2020 graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Law and a 2005 graduate of the University of Richmond (B.A., Classics). |
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Featured in: KCDHH Spotlight Q&A January 2023 |
Ms. Rachel Morgan Kincaid – Executive Staff Interpreter Rachel has worked as an interpreter in several states, and holds National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Level IV and National Interpreter Certification (NIC). In her experiences interpreting, she has developed an appreciation of the changes in the profession and the strengthening of the partnership between the deaf community and interpreting profession. Rachel, a daughter of deaf parents, joined KCDHH in 2002, and her main duties are providing interpreting services and managing the budgetary and financial aspects of the agency with the Executive Director. She loves the arts and spends any extra time she has with her children. |
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Office of Equitable Access / Telecommunications Access Program (TAP) The Access Center (AC) provides services to deaf and hard of hearing individuals throughout the state. The AC coordinates quality interpreting services for state agencies across the Commonwealth and is mandated to serve only state agencies. The primary purpose of the AC is to streamline the process of requesting interpreter/captioner providers for state agencies, thus saving funds by centralizing scheduling efforts. AC coordination services are provided at no cost to individual state agencies. The Access Center is also a valuable resource for interpreters and people who want to become interpreters. The Telecommunications Access Program (TAP) provides residents of Kentucky, who are deaf, hard of hearing, speech impaired or have both a hearing and vision loss, with landline or wireless equipment to make communication on the telephone more accessible. |
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Featured in: KCDHH Spotlight Q&A October 2022 |
Ms. Rachel Rodgers – Interpreter Referral Specialist Rachel schedules interpreters for state agencies and also administers the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) test at our office. If you are interested in becoming a sign language interpreter, she would love to provide you with information to get you started on that path! Rachel is the mother of Riley, born in July 2012, and she enjoys being a mommy. In the little spare time she has, she loves to go out for a run. |
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Interpreter |
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Featured in: KCDHH Spotlight Q&A April 2022 |
Ms. Jessica Endler Smith – TAP Program Coordinator Jessica joined KCDHH in July 2013 and works as the Program Coordinator for the Telecommunications Access Program. Deaf herself, she has a passion for providing telecommunication access to deaf and hard of hearing Kentuckians. Jessica's hometown is Louisville, where she graduated from Butler Traditional High School. She earned her billing/coding certificate from Jefferson Community & Technical College. Jessica's background includes working in her family's restaurant and medical coding at Robley Rex Veterans Hospital. Jessica lives in Shelbyville with her husband Jeremy, and is mother to Morgan and bonus mom to Mykayla, Mykenzie, and Mason. Jessica is a fan of game nights and always on the lookout for new exciting games to try with her family and friends. |
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Featured in: KCDHH Spotlight Q&A June 2022 |
Mr. O.J. Disney II - Document Processing Specialist II O.J. joined KCDHH in March, 2022, as the Document Processing Specialist II and will be part of the Telecommunications Access Program (TAP) team in processing applications, as well as researching and reviewing equipment to make sure KCDHH is providing the most cutting edge for consumers. O.J. received his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science in 1993. He lives in Shelbyville with his wife, Tracy. They have two children: Luke and Katie. O.J. also enjoys watching horror and science fiction movies. |
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Administrative Specialist II Vacant |
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Office of Information Services The KCDHH Office of Information and Advocacy is a valuable resource for deaf and hard of hearing individuals, their friends and family, and anyone interested in learning more about the issues related to hearing loss. Contact us if you need information, would like us to do a presentation for your group, feel your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act have been violated or have other questions related to hearing loss. |
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Featured in: KCDHH Spotlight Q&A August 2022 |
Ms. Jayna Oakley – Information Office Supervisor Jayna, who joined the staff in January 2016, will be involved in researching, designing, writing, photographing, editing and distributing printed and verbal communications, materials, press releases, brochures, booklets, etc, as well as tracking, planning, developing and evaluating the public relations programs throughout the state. Jayna received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Kentucky and has spent the last 15 years fundraising for national nonprofits. She lives in Lexington and enjoys spending time with her family, especially her parents and "Grannie." |
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Featured in: KCDHH Spotlight Q&A February 2022 |
Ms. Emily Kimbell – Information Coordinator for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Emily joined KCDHH as an Information Program Coordinator in June 2012 after working two years as a special education teacher aide in the Hickman County school system. In her day-to-day job duties, Emily helps empower deaf and hard of hearing individuals, directing them to resources to help improve their access to effective communication in a variety of settings. Since graduating from Gallaudet University in 2007, the Paducah native has worked with deaf and hard of hearing students in a deaf school as well as a public school setting. In her spare time, Emily loves coaching and attending basketball games. |
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Featured in: KCDHH Spotlight Q&A May 2022 |
Mr. Blake Campbell – Information Coordinator for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Blake began working at KCDHH in July 2012, and is a proud 2011 graduate of Gallaudet University, having earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies, with a minor in Photography. He enjoys his position as Information Coordinator; being an advocate, to educate public businesses about Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and equal communication access for the deaf and hard of hearing community! Blake lives in his hometown, Louisville, where he stays active with his Australian Shepherd named Zora, and exploring life in Kentucky’s largest city. |
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Information Technology The KCDHH Information Technology Office manages the agency’s internal network, the Web server and Web site, computers, printers, videoconferencing equipment, and other on-site technology. This office also researches technology available for the deaf and hard of hearing population. |
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Featured in: KCDHH Spotlight Q&A July 2022 |
Mr. Jim Rivard – Network Analyst II Jim joined KCDHH in February 2008. Originally from New York, he attended and graduated from Model Secondary School for the Deaf in Washington, D.C. He then attended Gallaudet University, Eastern Kentucky University and Wichita State University where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. After working in the social services field for several years, he fell into information technology and never looked back. Jim obtained various certifications in computing and started working exclusively in information technology. |
