Deaf Service/Advocacy Agencies

• General Service (Similar to Deaf Empowerment)
• Specific Service Providers

Directory of National Organizations of and for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People

http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/InfoToGo/184.html

This directory was developed with information provided by each organization. All of the organizations are national and nonprofit and provide information on deaf and hard of hearing people and/or specific professional or consumer areas of interest.

General Services

(Click on the state name to open the list, 
and on the agency name to see more information)

• Arizona

  • Valley Center of the Deaf (Phoenix, Arizona)

    • http://www.valleycenterofthedeaf.org/

    • Valley Center of the Deaf is a non-profit organization, established in 1978 to coordinate human services, activities, referrals, and advocacy for the Deaf in the Phoenix metropolitan area.  In 1982, VCD joined with Community Outreach Program for the Deaf (COPD) and Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona to strengthen its ability to provide interpreting, telephone relay and counseling services.  Funding for professional staff was provided by a grant from the Arizona Department of Economic Security.  VCD's staff are professionally trained to help others meeting the challenges associated with Deafness. Some of the services we provide are:  Counseling, Interpreting, Job Placement, Employer Support, On-the-Job Training, Independent Living Skills, College Educational Support  (Very flashing and nice website)

• California

  • Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Center (Fresno, California)

    • http://www.dhhsc.org/

    • To advocate, seek equality, and promote self-determination through empowerment for those who seek our assistance; and to enhance the awareness and understanding of Deaf Culture and the unique communication needs of Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. In order to assist deaf and hard of hearing individuals in achieving their goals of independence and equality, DHHSC offers the following services: Advocacy, Interpreting Services, Independent Living Assistance,  Peer Counseling & Health Education, Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention,  Job Counseling, Training, and Placement, Community Education & Outreach, Bookstore & Equipment Display

  • Deaf Counseling, Advocacy and Referral Agency

    • http://www.dcara.org/

    • DCARA is a non-profit, community-based social service agency serving the deaf community. Established in 1962 as one of the first deaf-run agencies in the country, DCARA provides a comprehensive range of services to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in 14 counties in northwestern California, including the San Francisco Bay Area. DCARA is governed by a deaf-majority board of directors, administered by a deaf majority, and staffed by a dedicated team of deaf and hearing people. Funding comes from the State of California's Department of Social Services, the United Way, and private donations. Services/programs include: (Counseling/Independent Living Skills, Deaf Latino Program, Deaf Gay and Lesbian Center, Employment Services, The Deaf Store, Computer Training Lab, Deafened Adults, Deaf Seniors, Foreign-Born Deaf Program, Deaf Community Center, California Center for Law and the Deaf).

  • Nor•Cal Center on Deafness

    • http://www.norcalcenter.org/

    • EMPOWER –Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals to live independently and productively within the greater society with equal access and opportunities. EDUCATE – Family members, service providers, employers, and the general public of the unique communication needs, abilities, and accomplishments of deaf and hard of hearing children and adults. ADVOCATE – For equal access and opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in our society.

  • Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center, Orange County California

    • http://www.deafadvocacy.com/

    • To educate the people in Orange County with disabilities of their right to be free from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and from hate violence.

• Colorado

  • Deaf Sure Can

    • http://hometown.aol.com/deafsurecan/myhomepage/business.html

    • Mission Statement: To educate the people of Denver Metropolitan area who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing of their right to be provided equal access in daily living issues such as employment, health, housing, public accommodations, education. Also to educate others who provide services to the Deaf/Hard of hearing community.

       

• Florida

  • Friends of the Deaf Service Center

    • http://www.deafservicecenter.org/

    • Friends of the DEAF SERVICE CENTER, Inc. (FDSC) was established in 1978 as a program of Neighborly Senior Services, Inc. and has been serving the Tampa Bay Area of Florida since 1983. The mission of Friends of the DEAF SERVICE CENTER, Inc. is to make available to the community the full range of products and services that are necessary to enable deaf and hard of hearing individuals to participate fully and effectively as independent and self-reliant citizens fulfilling all the duties and responsibilities and enjoying all the rights and benefits commensurate with their individual skills, talents, capabilities, motivation and ambitions.

• Illinois

  • Heartland Deaf Center

    • http://www.deaf-center.org/

    • Heartland Deaf Center’s mission is to work hand-in-hand with individuals who have a hearing loss, with their families and communities to realize their full potential in any opportunity.

• Louisiana

  • Deaf Action Center of Louisiana

    • http://www.deafactioncenter.org/

    • The Betty and Leonard Phillips Deaf Action Center is a private non-profit, community service organization -- serving approximately 18,000 Deaf, Hard of hearing, multi-handicapped deaf. Established in 1982, the Center provides comprehensive services through one central agency to "bridge the gap" between the hearing and deaf worlds. Since its inception, the Center has made every effort to identify those deaf individuals who have specific needs and to provide adequate services for them. In addition to actively working with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community the Center strives to heighten public awareness as to the specific needs of this group within Louisiana. The Center continuously evaluates itself and the needs of the Community and designs its programs according to the evaluation results.

• Maryland

  • ADARA

    • http://www.adara.org/

    • Our mission is to facilitate excellence in human service delivery with individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. This mission is accomplished by enhancing the professional competencies of the membership, expanding opportunities for networking among ADARA colleagues and supporting positive public policies for individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. In achieving the mission, ADARA members are committed to: full access for members to all aspects of the organization's business, including Board matters, conference planning, presentations and journal publications, recognizing and affirming the ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity of the membership, and fostering an inclusive language community through the use of American Sign Language, signed communication, and other communication strategies used by all members at ADARA events in order to strive for barrier-free communication.

• Missouri

  • L.E.A.D. (Leadership through Education and Advocacy for the Deaf)

    • http://www.deaflead.org/

    • The L.E.A.D. Institute (Leadership through Education and Advocacy for the Deaf) is a non-profit corporation of the state of Missouri. The L.E.A.D. Institute exists to provide individuals who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing with comprehensive, unified and continuous support by enhancing socio-emotional development, effective communication and leadership through education and research within the state of Missouri.

• New York

  • League for the Hard of Hearing (New York & Flordia)

    • http://www.lhh.org/

    • Services include: advocacy, audiology, career & job development, communication therapy, community outreach, fundraising & benefits, health care access, hearing aid and assistive devices dispensary, membership, mental health services, noise center, old timers, research, and volunteer program.

• South Dakota

  • Communication Services for the Deaf

    • http://www.c-s-d.org/

    • A subdivision of the South Dakota Association for the Deaf, which is an affiliate of NAD.  “At CSD, our goal is to ensure a productive life for all individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing. Through quality programs designed to increase self-esteem, communication skills, social skills, independence, well-being, productivity and self-sufficiency, CSD is able to increase opportunities conducive to a positive and fully integrated life.”

• Texas

  • Deaf Action Center – The Elizabeth M. Criswell Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

    • http://www.deafactioncentertexas.org/

    • Our mission is the elimination of barriers to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. This agency is similar to what Deaf Empowerment wants to do just with some little slants. Services include: Advocacy, Apartments, Library, Communication/interpreting, Counseling, Information & Referral, Literacy, Senior Citizen Center, ASL Classes, and Video Communications Center.

  • Goodrich Center for the Deaf

    • http://www.goodrichcenter.com/

    • Services include: Advocacy, Interpreting, CART, Case Management and Senior Groups.

• Virginia

  • Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons

    • http://www.nvrc.org/

    • To empower deaf and hard of hearing individuals and their families through education, advocacy, and community involvement.

• Washington

  • Southwest Washington Center of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing

    • http://www.swcdhh.org/

    • Services offered include: Advocacy (Individual/Community), Communication Access (Spoken Language and in Print such as Letters and Government Documents), Peer Counseling, Information & Referral, ADA Training and Techincal Assistant (Individual, Community and Business), Newsletter, Evergreen Senior Socials, Resume Assistance, Deaf Connfections, Deaf Women’s Support Group, Humble Hands (NA Meetings), Lending Library, Interpreter Resource List, Dept. of Voc. Rehabilitation Vendor, Deafblind services, Hard of Hearing Services.

• Washington, D.C.

  • Deaf Reach, Washington D.C.

    • http://www.deaf-reach.org/

    • In 1972, the National Health Care Foundation for the Deaf--doing business as Deaf-REACH-- was founded as a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization within the District of Columbia. Our mission is to maximize the self-sufficiency of deaf adults needing special services by providing Referral, Education, Advocacy, Counseling, and Housing.

• Canada

  • South-East Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services Inc. (New Brunswick)

    • http://www.south-eastdeaf.nb.ca/

    • Canadian agency. “Our mission is to empower our clients to live independently and productively, with full access to opportunities that are readily available to persons who hear.” Services include: Workshops/Information Sessions, Employment Services, Advocacy, Public Awareness and Professional Development. Programs include: Hearing Aid Bank, Sign Language Courses, Information Sessions on the Sociology of Deafness, Workshops, Training on TTY Usage, Speechreading, CASP (Community Academic Services Program) for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (GED).

Specialized Services

Advocates for Better Communication (A.B.C.)

http://www.lhh.org/abc/

Advocates for better communication (a.b.c.) is an association of volunteers concerned with awareness, access and advocacy for the communication needs of the over 28 million Americans with hearing loss. Allied with the League for the Hard of Hearing in New York, a.b.c. reviews and evaluates communication access in all areas of daily living, including health care, cultural institutions, travel, work, school and home, and provides help and instruction to people with hearing loss. We also commend organizations and individuals who provide comprehensive communication access so that people with all degrees of hearing loss can participate with dignity. We encourage and assist organizations in improving their communication accessibility, and, in doing so, we advocate for people with hearing loss. We seek to ensure that all Americans with hearing loss are offered the services they are entitled to under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Community Healing and Advocacy Reform Movement (CHARM), California

http://victorian.fortunecity.com/churchmews/354/

We are simply a small group of deaf leaders with the responsibility of reforming advocacy. Current trends in California Deaf advocacy is more into economics than support and advocacy. They follow the instructions of donors with large coffers. They also cash in on the special needs of individuals with hearing disabilities. We help reform organizations before they are 'rooted out' by extreme revolutionary deaf groups. We show how these agencies better ways of advocacy so they can continue to be considered as reliable as they try to perceive themselves to be.

Deaf AIDS Project

http://www.deafvision.net/dap/

Education and services related to AIDS prevention for Deaf, primarily in Maryland.

Deaf Women United

http://www.dwu.org/

Deaf Women United is committed to continuing a community of support of Deaf women from all walks of life. DWU believes in having a strong relationship with Deaf women to build bridges by spreading unique knowledge and information involving deaf women issues.

Hard of Hearing Advocates

http://www.hohadvocates.org/

The goal of Hard of Hearing Advocates (HOHA) is to help hard of hearing (HOH) people by creating and implementing programs and   solutions where HOH people have undue problems. We are a non-profit foundation run by volunteers and assisting peers. We seek the advice of industry and others, but to avoid concerns of bias, our functional body is HOH people. Very much geared toward HH NOT Deaf.

Southern California Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

http://www.angelfire.com/ca3/SCADHH/

Southern California Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is an organization that is run by people with different ranges of hearing disabilities and uses different methods of communications. Our membership will consist of people born with hearing disabilities and those who acquire hearing disabilities at any time of their lives. We also welcome those who have had their hearing disabilities remedied through surgical procedures.

Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc.

http://www.tdi-online.org/

TDI is an advocacy organization promoting equal access to telecommunications and media for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened or deaf-blind. We publish the annual Blue Book, a directory of deaf and hard of hearing households, businesses, organizations and agencies that serve people with hearing loss. Listings include TTY numbers, FAX numbers, e-mail and web addresses, pagers, IM, etc. TDI also publishes a quarterly news magazine, The GA-SK, for our members and subscribers. Since 1968, TDI has successfully collaborated with other consumer organizations in passing the ADA (including 911 access and statewide relay services), the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (including captioning standards, product/service accessibility) and many other legislation that gives us improved standards of living.

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Deaf Empowerment
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