Board of Commissioners for the
Louisiana Commission
for the Deaf
The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf (LCD) Board of Commissioners, in accordance with RS 46:2352, consists of qualified and knowledgeable members with experience which enables them to represent the concerns, needs, and recommendations of d/Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing persons. This board is established to support the work of LCD and to advocate on behalf of d/Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing communities and their families. Board members include d/Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing representatives, parents, professionals, and representatives from related state organizations and the state legislature.
Access meeting minutes and agendas on this webpage.
- American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters and live captioning will be provided. Presenters, members, and guests may submit requests for additional accessibility and accommodations prior to a scheduled meeting. Please submit a request to jazmyne.lemar@la.gov at least one week prior to the meeting with details of the requested accommodations.
- In lieu of verbal public comment, individuals may submit a prepared statement in accordance with Senate Rule 13.79. Statements should be emailed to jana.broussard@la.gov and must be received at least 24 hours prior to the meeting to be included in the record for the meeting.
- To help us ensure our meetings are fully accessible, please share your meeting experience by completing this form https://redcap.link/iym5kh
Public Meetings
The Board of Commissioners meets quarterly to help guide program efforts and activities. 2026 LCD Commission Board Meetings will take place on the following dates from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. These meetings are open to the public. Locations may vary. The Bureau of Family Health is committed to promoting transparency, accessibility, and public engagement in all board, commission, and council meetings. The link to access the meeting online is provided for convenience for members of the public as a part of that commitment.
Access meeting agendas and minutes for the public meetings.
Access live captioning for the meetings.
NOTE: The captioning link will prompt you to answer a few questions. It is not required to answer the questions, as you can skip the prompts to access the captions.
Use the links below to access live stream viewing at the time of each meeting:
Upcoming Meetings for 2026
- November 6, 2026
Previous Meetings for 2026
- January 16, 2026
- May 29, 2026
- July 17, 2026
Interpreter Registration Policy Ad Hoc Committee
The Interpreter Registration Policy Ad Hoc Committee was created by the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf Board of Commissioners at the July 2026 meeting. This Ad Hoc Committee is charged with identifying and recommending the following potential policies to the Board for consideration:
- Allowing sign language interpreters from out-of-state to work temporarily in Louisiana (Ex: A licensed interpreter from Alabama providing interpreting services during a weekend conference in Louisiana)
- Allowing sign language interpreters in Louisiana to serve as substitutes for routine interpreting assignments in a setting in which they are not registered (Ex: A Registered Generalist interpreter substituting for a Registered PreK-12 interpreter at an elementary school)
- Allowing sign language interpreters to work temporarily in Louisiana while their Request for Exception is pending Board approval
Eligibility
A person may be eligible for appointment to the Ad Hoc Committee if their position, knowledge, or experience qualifies them to represent the concerns, needs, and recommendations of the d/Deaf, DeafBlind, hard of hearing community or the sign language interpreter workforce in Louisiana. The Ad Hoc Committee can have a maximum of nine members, which may include Board of Commissioner members and members of the general public.
Membership Expectations
The Ad Hoc Committee adheres to the expectations set by the Board of Commissioners, and each member must:
- Be familiar with the purpose, charge, and work of the Commission
- Review agendas and accompanying materials before Ad Hoc Committee meetings
- Consistently attend the regularly scheduled meetings for the entire duration of each meeting
- Respect confidentiality policies that pertain to sensitive discussions or topics
- Demonstrate flexibility in consensus building discussions and take into account different viewpoints
- Volunteer for their fair share of “homework” assignments between meetings and meet deadlines
Meeting Information
All meetings held by the Ad Hoc Committee are open to the public with both in-person and virtual options (hybrid). Time and frequency of meetings to be determined by the committee chair.
The Ad Hoc Committee will convene at the close of their research and recommendation to the Board, which is expected at the January 2027 meeting. For more information contact lcd@la.gov.
Current Commissioners
Dr. Shirley Lewis
Louisiana Special School District since July 2025
Dr. Lauren Wells
Dept of Education Designee since October 2025
Other Information
- Member Roles and Responsibilities
- Apply to Become a Commissioner: Some positions are appointed by the Governor. In order to apply to serve on LCD Board, you must first fill out an application with the Governor’s office. Next, you must email a resume and brief bio to BFHpolicy@La.gov. You will receive a response confirming submission. If you are selected, you will be notified by the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf.
- Learn more about LCD