For most people, communicating with a doctor, a police officer, a banker, or a government agency is something they rarely have to think about. But for individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or DeafBlind, those same everyday interactions can present significant barriers when appropriate communication supports are unavailable.
Something as routine as a medical appointment, a financial meeting, or an emergency situation can quickly become frustrating, confusing, or even unsafe without effective communication. Being able to understand what is happening, ask questions, express concerns, and make informed decisions is an important part of participating fully in everyday life.
That is why the recent signing of House Bill 1840 represents an important milestone for Missouri. The legislation expands the responsibilities of the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) by laying the foundation for a statewide Communication Access Services (CAS) program. While the work is only beginning, the bill creates new opportunities to improve communication access for thousands of Missourians and reinforces the belief that communication should never be a barrier to independence.
Why Communication Access Matters
Communication is one of the most basic human needs. It allows people to make informed healthcare decisions, manage their finances, pursue employment, participate in education, access government services, and remain active members of their communities. When communication barriers exist, the impact can reach far beyond a single conversation.
A misunderstanding during a medical appointment can affect treatment decisions. An inaccessible employment meeting may limit someone’s ability to pursue an opportunity. Difficulty communicating during an emergency can create confusion at precisely the moment when clear communication matters most. These are not abstract accessibility issues. They can have very real consequences in people’s everyday lives.
Communication Access Services are designed to help remove those barriers by providing qualified supports such as American Sign Language interpreters, real-time captioning, tactile interpreters for individuals who are DeafBlind, and other communication accommodations that allow people to communicate in the way that works best for them.
These services are not simply conveniences. Communication access helps support equal opportunity, informed decision-making, safety, dignity, and greater independence.
What House Bill 1840 Means for Missouri
House Bill 1840 represents an important investment in Missouri’s Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind communities. One of the bill’s most significant changes removes previous funding restrictions that limited the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing’s DeafBlind Support Services Program. With this change and the establishment of a Communication Access Services program, the Commission has greater flexibility and opportunity to expand services and overall access for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind Missourians.
According to MCDHH Executive Director Becky Davis, the Commission has already begun laying the groundwork for implementation. That work includes building the new Communication Access Services program, developing policies and procedures, and preparing to expand services throughout Missouri. The signing of the legislation is an important step, but building the systems that turn the legislation into meaningful access will continue in the months ahead.
The legislation also includes Mason’s Law, creating an optional designation that can alert law enforcement when an individual may have communication challenges. Having that information available can help officers better understand a situation and communicate more effectively during interactions where confusion or misunderstanding could otherwise create additional difficulties.
House Bill 1840 also establishes Missouri’s Purple Alert System, creating a statewide notification program to help locate missing individuals with developmental disabilities, similar to existing Amber and Silver Alert systems. Together, these changes represent meaningful progress toward making Missouri more accessible, responsive, and inclusive.
Years of Advocacy Made This Possible
Legislation like House Bill 1840 does not become law overnight. Behind it are people willing to share their experiences, educate lawmakers, identify barriers, and continue advocating even when change takes time. Consumers, family members, disability organizations, legislators, and community advocates worked together to demonstrate why communication access is essential to safety, opportunity, and independent living.
Earlier this year, The Whole Person’s Clark Corogenes joined representatives from the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, DEAF, Inc. in St. Louis, and DeafLEAD in Columbia at the Missouri State Capitol to testify in support of Communication Access Services.
During that testimony, advocates highlighted communication barriers that continue to affect healthcare, rehabilitation, financial institutions, employment, housing, counseling, emergency services, and many other areas of daily life. Sharing those experiences helped demonstrate why communication access is about much more than convenience. It is about whether people can understand information, express themselves, make decisions, remain safe, and participate fully in their communities.
The signing of House Bill 1840 is a reminder that advocacy matters. Policy change can take time, but when people with lived experience, community organizations, advocates, and policymakers work together around a common goal, those efforts can lead to changes that affect people’s everyday lives.
Looking Toward the Future
While House Bill 1840 has been signed into law, the work is far from complete. Over the coming months, the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing will continue building the Communication Access Services program authorized by the legislation. As those services develop, more individuals across Missouri may have greater opportunities to access the communication supports they need to participate fully in their communities.
For The Whole Person, this legislation represents more than a policy change. It reflects years of advocacy and a continued commitment to ensuring that people with disabilities have the opportunity to communicate, make informed decisions, advocate for themselves, and live independently.
We are grateful to the consumers who shared their experiences, the advocates who devoted their time and voices to this effort, the partner organizations that worked collaboratively throughout the legislative process, and the legislators who listened. Progress like this is rarely the work of a single organization or individual. It comes from a community of people who believe accessibility and communication are fundamental to full participation.
Continuing the Mission
Communication is at the heart of connection, self-advocacy, choice, and independence. When someone cannot communicate effectively with a healthcare provider, employer, government agency, law enforcement officer, or another important part of the community, their choices can become limited in ways that people without those barriers may never have to consider.
As Missouri begins implementing House Bill 1840, The Whole Person will continue working alongside consumers, community partners, and policymakers to promote accessibility, remove barriers, and help ensure that people with disabilities have opportunities to participate fully in every aspect of community life.
There is still work ahead, but House Bill 1840 represents meaningful progress. It is also a reminder of what can happen when people speak up, share their experiences, and work together to create lasting change.
The Whole Person
3710 Main Street
Kansas City, MO 64111
Phone: (816) 561-0304
