Top ten Tools for your toolbox on deafness and Hearing loss Teresa Dell, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Access Specialist Region 4, Abilities Success, Inc. Brian Determan, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Access Specialist Region 7, Communication Axess Ability Group funded by Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) – Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (ODHHS)

Learning objectives: The audience will be given a resource list to develop their own toolkit; The audience will understand a definition of “qualified interpreter” and will identify local resources to get quality interpreting services and other services; The audience will have a greater understanding of a variety of accommodations, its benefits, and its impact upon communication access for the students, who are Deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened or Deafblind.

What is communication access? Communication access means having the chance to fully understand everything. There are many different ways to achieve communication access – depending on individual needs. <> Many people, who are deaf or hard of hearing, have experienced frustration because they do not understand what is being said around them. More and more laws have been passed to make sure this does not happen. Some people use assistive technologies, like hearing aids, pocket talkers, or real-time captioning. Other people who use sign language may work with interpreters.

The ADA’s definition of a Qualified interpreter

Hearing loss Categories Deaf Hard of Hearing Late Deafened DeafBlind

Is your toolbox empty?

Roundtable – 10 minutes

Top Ten Tools for your tool box

Is your toolbox fully equipped? If not, let us know.

Other resources 1 2 3

Wrap-Up Questions Evaluations Thank you!

What is a program that students, who meet certain criteria, can apply to have their tuition waived at state-supported, post-secondary schools in Texas?

There is a state program that helps people who have a disability that interferes with their access to telephone networks purchase specialized assistive equipment or services. What is it called?

There is something that is designed to help job seekers secure the employment, education, training and support services necessary to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. What is it called?

HHSC – Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (ODHHS)

Deaf and hard of hearing Access specialists

Deaf and hard of hearing Technology specialists

List of twc VR counselors

Texas Technology access programs

List of sign language interpreting agencies

List of captioning service providers

List of local audiologists

List of deafness/hearing loss related device catalogs

List of technical assistance providers