Social Services for the Deaf

The Department of Social Services provides a variety of outlets for members of the deaf community. In larger metropolitan areas there are a greater number of services available, whereas in smaller more rural communities that number may be more limited.

Interpretation Services

The department provides registered interpreters for the deaf community for the purpose of interpreting services related to legal, educational and medical functions. These individuals are generally fluent in English and the American Sign Language system. Additionally, some of these individuals also provide their services to members of the blind community.

Community Assistance Services

Real-time captioning services, assistance with telephone call placement and instructions on using assisting devices including TTY telephones.

Mental Health Services

The services provided in this area are very similitude to those offered in the traditional mental health setting such as psychiatric care, family counseling, group counseling, drug and alcohol treatment and individual counseling. Depending on the local agency, they may also provide assistance for the deaf community concerning cultural sensitivity issues. The professionals in this area are also trained to signed fluently and have an understanding with the deaf community and the issues they face.

Independent Living Services

Some agencies also provide services to assist members with training programs to transition into independent living options. The areas that the training programs generally focus on include transportation, budgeting, education, health and housing. Upon successful completion of the training program, these individuals should be able to live independently.