calling all d/Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing folks! What do YOU want out of your community resource center?
I work at an American d/Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and HoH resource center with a 30 years-long history of engagement with and dedication to these communities that they serve. Our organization was started by d/Deaf and HoH folks, and it’s been run and supported by d/Deaf and HoH folks ever since, with partnership from local Deaf-Blind groups, on an entirely nonprofit basis. We’re not direct services in the usual sense - we don’t give money, rent/job assistance, or legal services - but we have an in-house interpreter program and weeknight ASL courses, and we focus on giving folks resources and information (adaptive technology, rights under the ADA, regional health, financial, and social resources, etc.).
However, as our older members are starting to drop out due to age, we’re looking for ways to expand our programming, with a particular emphasis on meeting the needs of teens, young adults, and adults 25-40. We’re especially interested in providing resources for intersectional d/Deaf, HoH, and Deaf-Blind communities; multiply disabled d/Deaf, HoH, and Deaf-Blind folks; possibly immigrant d/Deaf, HoH, and Deaf-Blind folks (a big project, since to our knowledge that population has been addressed... well, never); and anyone else who feels like they aren’t getting the resources and support that they need in the existing d/Deaf, HoH, and Deaf-Blind communities. We’re also looking to expand our programming into what I would call “soft resources” - social events, support groups, affinity group get-togethers, etc.
If you are d/Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Deaf-Blind and take 5-10 minutes to fill out our survey here, and then reblog this post, it would mean the world to us.
If you are Hearing, please help us signal boost this survey so that we get as many responses as possible!
