Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH)
Regional Centers Obligation to Comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act
Regional centers are required to timely provide auxiliary aids and assistance to consumers who are deaf if necessary to afford consumers an equal opportunity to participate in and enjoy the benefits of services. In some circumstances, another person may be designated to represent or support the person served; for example, the parent of a minor child, an adult's conservator, an authorized representative, or other individual chosen by the person served. If the other individual representing or supporting the person served has a communication disability, the regional center must also provide this individual with necessary auxiliary aids and assistance to facilitate effective communication with the person served. The federal government’s guidance about the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may be found at www.ADA.gov
For more details, view the full correspondence(PDF, 136KB) from the Department of Developmental Services to the Regional Centers.
Feel free to download, print, or share this Informational Document(PDF, 450KB) with more details about DHH.
Learn about Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH)
What is Deaf Culture? Deaf culture is the set of social beliefs, behaviors, art, literary traditions, history, values, and shared institutions of communities that are influenced by deafness and which use sign languages as the main means of communication.
What is Deaf community? The deaf community comprises those deaf and hard of hearing individuals who share a common language, common experiences and values, and a common way of interacting with each other and with hearing people.
What is American Sign Language? American Sign Language (ASL) is a complete, natural language that has the same linguistic properties as spoken languages, with grammar that differs from English. ASL is expressed by movements of the hands and face. It is the primary language of many Deaf and Hard of Hearing people.
What is DHH? individuals who have hearing loss in addition to other disability such as a learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and visual impairments. that affect them medically, physically, emotionally, educationally or socially.
Meet ELARC’s DHH Specialist
Natalia Magaña is ELARC's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist. Her role is to support the expansion of Deaf services/resources for people who we serve by the agency. She carries a reduced specialized caseload and is also the point of contact for individuals, families and staff.
If you have any questions, please contact Natalia at:
nmagana@elarc.org
Office Phone: (626) 248-4960
Video Phone: (626) 283-6492
Resources
Emergency Preparedness
- Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and need support in a crisis can text for help, Text “HEARME” to 839863 (Available 24/7)
- Visit the page, Crisis Text and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Support
- Contact ELARC's Emergency Management Coordinator Gina Esparza (626)299-4633; gesparza@elarc.org
- LAPD: TEXT 911- text if you can’t call (write out the description)
Equipment/Technology/Adaptive Resources
Community Organizations
- CA Hands and Voices is a parent driven organization that supports families with children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing without bias around communication modes or methodology.
- Cal-Ed is a non-profit organization that supports quality education of students who are Deaf by fostering a collaborative network of resources, professional development, advocacy, and sharing of information on relevant topics for professionals, families and stakeholders in the field of Deaf Education.
- Deaf Latinos y Familias is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2010 by Irma Sanchez. They work with Latinx families with children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Deaf Adults, and non-verbal, as they integrate family history, traditions, and values into the lives of the families to bridge the gap between two different cultures/language/worlds. They are a family oriented organization ran for parents by parents.
- Five Acres provides therapeutic services in American Sign Language to Deaf and hard of hearing children in Los Angeles. They have expanded their mental health services to include deaf adults, offering individual and family therapy for deaf person in their home, school or community. By promoting appropriate and linguistically sensitive treatment for Deaf children and adults, their mission is to help families stay together and thrive.
- GLAD (Greater Los Angeles on Deafness, Inc.) – their mission is to ensure equal access of the deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind and deaf disabled community to the same opportunities afforded their counterparts. This organization’s general purposes is to support the individuals social, recreational, cultural, educational, and vocational well-being of its deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind and deaf disabled constituents.
- Helen Keller National Center for Deafblind youths and adults – advocate for individuals with combined hearing and vision loss, life-long point of contact to services and resources to individuals, families and agencies.
- LEAD-K Family Services – Language Equality & Acquisition for Deaf Kids. A Program of Norcal Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing and supporting families with Deaf and Hard of hearing babies for a referral to Early Start Program.
- Peace Over Violence – Deaf, Disabled & Elder (DDE) services program is committed to extending accessible services for victims of sexual and domestic violence who are deaf, hard of hearing, have a disability and/or elder individuals. They have expanded their Deaf Services program to include victims of crimes such as robbery, false imprisonment, vehicular assault, caregiver and/or hospital abuse, aggravated assault and stalking.
Resources for Children
Learning Videos
- MyGo! Sign Language for Kids – ASL is a YouTube channel that believes all kids should have access to good quality entertainment, regardless of geography, culture, background or abilities.
- Hands Land are videos on Amazon Prime that create educational content and resources for young children through ASL rhymes and rhythms.
Books
You can access free books at:
- "Some Kids are Deaf” by Lola Schaefer
- "Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion” by Shannon Stocker
- Song for a Whale” by Lynne Kelly