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Sandy Duncan selected for Hamilton Relay 2011 Deaf Community Leader Award for the State of Pennsylvania

October, 07 2011

Sandy Duncan has an extensive history of promoting improved services for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind. Through his involvement in a variety of organizations he has made a positive impact on the community in Pennsylvania. Although Sandy retired in 2007, he remains active in advocating for the rights of individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind.

Outlined below are the various organizations in which Sandy has been involved:


  • Member of the Pennsylvania Hearing Loss Association

  • Member of the National Association of the Deaf

  • Member of the National/State Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf

  • Member of the Erie County Council of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc.

  • Member, Secretary and President of the Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf (PSAD)

  • Director of Pennsylvania ODHH (1988-1994)

  • Coordinator of Services to Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind in the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (1994-2007)

  • PSAD Board Member (current)

  • Member At Large (East)

  • Chairman of the 2010 PSAD Annual Conference

  • Member of the Elwyn Board of Directors (current)

  • Secretary of the Greater Harrisburg Association of the Deaf (current)

  • Treasurer of the Greater Harrisburg Chapter of PSAD (current)

  • Chairperson, PSAD History and Preservation Committee (current)

  • Secretary, Valley View Task Force (current)

  • Advisory Board of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

  • Advisory Committee for Persons who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

  • Pennsylvania Telephone Relay Service Advisory Board

  • Steering Committee of Educational Resources for Children with Hearing Loss

  • Pennsylvania Transition Coordinating Council

  • Advisory Committee of the Transition Training Project for Youth who are Deaf-Blind

  • Advisory Board of Pennsylvania's Initiative on Assistive Technology

  • Governor Ridge's Disability Agenda Work Group

  • Advisory Board for the Gallaudet University Regional Center

  • Task Force on Disabilities, Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg


Sandy was instrumental in the development of the Pennsylvania Telephone Relay Service and the Telecommunication Device Distribution Program (TDDP). He worked with the Governor's Management Directive to help mandate the use of certified sign language interpreters in all state government operations and was involved in a pilot project which spearheaded the use of Visual Interpreting Services (VIS) in Pennsylvania.

As you can see, Sandy has worked tirelessly to support individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind in Pennsylvania. He has been described by his peers as having a pleasant personality which allows him to continue accomplishing great things with tact, patience and grace.

This leadership recognition has been brought to you by Hamilton Relay.

About Hamilton Relay
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