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Deafness « Disabilities – Conditions

Articles, Publications, Organizations and Resources
Regarding Deafness

"It was ability that mattered, not disability, which is a word I'm not crazy about using." – Marlee Matlin

Articles

  • Deaf Community Backs Stiffer Regs for Interpreters (Crains Detroit Business – 11/24/13) 
    The deaf and hard-of-hearing community is heartened by proposed regulations on interpreters issued late last week by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights that give deaf patients the ability to use good-faith judgment to refuse inadequate video remote interpreting services at medical facilities.
  • Dept. of Public Welfare Discriminates Against Deaf Pennsylvanians (PR Newswire 2010)
    Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania filed a class action lawsuit in U.S. District Court today against the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare alleging multiple violations of federal law in how they provide services to deaf persons with intellectual disabilities.  
  • Discrimination and Reasonable Accommodations
    Your rights in the workplace may depend on who your employer is.    
  • Hearing Aid Tax Credit in 2009/2010 (Better Hearing Institute)
    The Hearing Aid Tax Credit has been reintroduced in BOTH the House of Representatives (H.R. 1646) and the Senate (S.1019)! It's now more critical than ever to write your Members of Congress and ask them to support this important legislation! 
  • How do Deaf-Blind People Communicate? (American Association of the Deaf Blind – 2/11/09)
    Deaf-blind people have many different ways of communication. The methods they use vary, depending on the causes of their combined vision and hearing loss, their backgrounds, and their education.  
  • IDEA Part B Issue Brief: Cochlear Implants
    Cochlear implants (CIs) are addressed under three different sections of the IDEA Part B Final Regulations, released in 2006.
  • Learn Sign Language With Marlee Matlin in New App, Marlee Signs (Media dis&dat – 10/9/12)
    A new sign language app that features Marlee Matlin. Marlee Signs uses high-quality demo videos; among its special features are a “Slow Motion” setting for watching any video in greater detail and a “Spell” section for spelling any word in signs.  
  • MSU Provides Living/Learning Option For American Sign Language Communicators, Learners
    Starting with the fall 2008 semester, Michigan State University will offer students an opportunity to live in a residence hall environment where American Sign Language is the primary mode of communication.
  • Problems Faced by Deaf Individuals in Finding Jobs 
    About 400,000 U.S. residents are considered profoundly deaf, PBS reports in the article Deaf Culture: Changes and Challenges, while an additional 20 million are classified as hard-of-hearing. Compared to people with normal hearing, both populations face notable challenges in finding jobs.  
  • What is a TTY?
    TTY stands for Text Telephone. It is also sometimes called a TDD, or Telecommunication Device for the Deaf. TTY is the more widely accepted term, however, as TTYs are used by many people, not just people who are deaf.
  • Work and Being Deaf (About.com)
    Finding work can be challenging for a deaf or hard of hearing person. Deaf and hard of hearing people may experience discrimination, both before and after finding employment.

Publications

Organizations & Services

  • American Society for Deaf Children
    A national, independent non-profit organization founded as a parent-helping-parent network.
  • American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
    The professional, scientific, and credentialing association for members and affiliates who are speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists in the United States and internationally.
  • Association of Late Deafened Adults
    ALDA is about communication and acceptance of every deafened individual.
  • Communication Access Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
    CAC has grown from a non-profit agency in 1972 from a handful of people to around 50 serving the needs of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
  • Deaf & Hearing Impaired Services, Inc.
    Established from a need for deaf and hard of hearing older adults to access services, otherwise made impossible or difficult to access due to the communication barrier.
  • Deaf C.A.N.
    Utilize our services for casework assistance.
  • DeafHope
    Provides a variety of information about the Deaf community.
  • Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans
    NEADS was established to train and provide rescued dogs and donated puppies to assist people who are deaf or physically disabled in leading more independent lives at work, at home and at school.
  • E-Michigan Deaf and Hard of Hearing People
    A statewide coalition of agencies and organizations working together to improve accessibility and services for Michigan’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing people.
  • Hands & Voices
    A nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to supporting families and their children who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as the professionals who serve them.
  • Hearing Loss Association of America
    Information, education, advocacy & suport
  • Michigan Deaf Association, Inc.
    Statewide organization for, of and by people who are deaf.
  • Michigan Deaf Community
    To be informed of important information and events in the deaf community.
  • Michigan's Hands & Voices
    If you or your child/student talk or sign; if you talk or sign, we care, we need you. We rally around the need to improve educational outcomes for our kids and to enhance their quality of life.
  • Michigan School for the Deaf
    Mission is to provide academics and social excellence – rich in ASL and English literacy for all students from infancy to graduation, to be the leader in educating Deaf and Hard of Hearing children in Michigan, and to provide services to their families and the community.
  • National Association of the Deaf
    The nation's premeir civil rights organization of, by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the U.S.
  • National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA)
    The official voice of Black deaf and hard of hearing Americans – a community that has historically been neglected in terms of provision of equal access to education, employment and social services.
  • Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)
    RID is a national membership organization representing the professionals who facilitate communication between people who are deaf or hard of hearing and people who can hear.
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service's website 
    The site indicates that they will provide sign language interpreters, but not foreign language interpreters. I am interested in hearing from anyone who has had any problems getting a sign language interpreter from Immigration.

Resources: Websites & Blogs

  • Deafined (American Sign Language)
    Geared to three main groups (parents, students, community) to help people who are deaf no longer feel isolated and left out of conversations.
  • Let's Talk Video Series (MDHHS)
    MDHHS releases videos for individuals who are deaf, deaf blind, and hard of hearing to  help navigate mental health services. There are five original video clips designed to increase awareness of how to access to community mental health coverage for deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing individuals. There is an emphasis on cultural and linguistically appropriate services for this underserved population and encouragement from peers for seeking help with depression, anxiety, trauma and other behavioral health issues. The video clips are produced in American Sign Language with captioning and voiceover.
  • Listen Up
    Specializing in information for people who are deaf and hard of hearing.
  • Michigan websites related to deafness (Michigan Assn. for Deaf and Hard of Hearing)