Related Links

Services, Organizations, Agencies, and Miscellaneous Sites

Agency for Hearing
http://www.agencyforhearing.org
The agency's programs include a comprehensive audiology clinic, the Hearing Aid Loan program, school and industrial hearing screenings, outreach to senior centers and preschools, recreation camp, coping skills classes and a support group. Sacramento County has recently provided a Mobile Hearing Clinic. This allows us to take full audiology and hearing aid diagnosing services to people in need who are unable to come to our office.

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American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
http://www.afb.org
The American Foundation for the Blind promotes wide-ranging, systemic change by addressing the most critical issues facing the growing blind and visually impaired population—employment, independent living, literacy, and technology. In addition to its New York City headquarters, the American Foundation for the Blind maintains four National Centers in cities across the United States, and a Governmental Relations office in Washington, DC.

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Americans with Disabilities Act Information
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm
The U.S. Department of Justice provides information about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) through a toll-free ADA Information Line. This service permits businesses, State and local governments, or others to call and ask questions about general or specific ADA requirements including questions about the ADA Standards for Accessible Design.

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Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA)
http://www.alda.org
ALDA was formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1987. Most of those that gathered there were total strangers who had never met or talked to another deafened person, yet they found themselves wonderfully comfortable with one another. There was an unspoken feeling of understanding and patience with each other's communication difficulties. The marvelous sense of fellowship lasted and led to more social gatherings and self help support groups, which swiftly evolved into the Association of Late Deafened Adults (ALDA). Today, ALDA's membership is international in scope. ALDA works collaboratively with other organizations around the world serving the needs of late-deafened people and extends a welcome to everyone, late-deafened or not, who supports our goals.

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Deaf Community Services of San Diego, Inc.
http://www.dcsofsd.org
The mission of Deaf Community Services is to enrich the lives of people by providing services, education and advocacy that promote independence, opportunity, accessibility, and diversity.

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Deaf Counseling, Advocacy and Referral Agency (DCARA)
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 people of the San Francisco Bay Area of California.  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.

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Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Center, Inc.
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 the deaf or individuals who are hard of hearing.

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Federal Relay Service
http://www.fts.gsa.gov/frs/frs_main.htm
The Federal Relay Service (FRS) was established under Public Law 100-542, of the Telecommunications Accessibility Act of 1988. FRS provides Communication Assistants (CAs) who act as intermediaries for telecommunications between hearing individuals and individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, and/or have speech disabilities.

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Greater Los Angeles Council on Deafness, Inc.
http://www.gladinc.org
The mission of the Greater Los Angeles Council on Deafness, Inc. (GLAD) is to ensure equal access of the deaf and hard of hearing community to the same opportunities afforded their hearing counterparts. The organization’s general purposes and powers are directed around the promotion of the social, recreational, cultural, educational, and vocational welfare of its deaf and hard of hearing constituents. GLAD’s specific and primary purpose is to act as a coordinating agency that addresses the broad social service needs of deaf and hard of hearing people through direct service provision, advocacy, research and dissemination of information regarding deafness to parents, professionals and consumers.

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Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA)
http://www.hearingloss.org
The Hearing Loss Association of America is the nation’s largest organization for people with hearing loss. The Hearing Loss Association of America exists to open the world of communication for people with hearing loss through information, education, advocacy and support.

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Hearing Loss Association of California (HLA-CA)
http://www.hearinglossca.org
The Hearing Loss Association of California is affiliated with the national organization, HLAA. There are about 30 local chapters of the organization throughout California.

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IMPACT – Independently Merging Parent Associations of California
http://www.deafkids.org
IMPACT is a California statewide all-volunteer, non-profit organization of parents, teachers and professionals serving deaf and hard of hearing children. Established in 1986 by 12 parents, IMPACT has a current membership of over 400 and is supported and encouraged by a host of organizations that serve the deaf community.

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LACountyHelps
www.LACountyHelps.org
Thank you for visiting the LACountyHelps website. This website has been designed to assist residents of Los Angeles County who want to privately and confidentially check their potential eligibility for 26 different health and human services and programs via the Internet. LACountyHelps is a free and easy way to find out if you and/or your family have access to these services based on your circumstances.

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League for the Hard of Hearing
http://www.lhh.org
The League for the Hard of Hearing was founded in New York in 1910 and is the oldest and foremost hearing rehabilitation and human services agency in the world for infants, children, adults and seniors who are hard of hearing, deaf, or deaf-blind, and their families. Over the years we have seen to the needs of over 1,250,000 people with hearing loss.

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Living Independently in Los Angeles (LILA)
http://www.lila.ucla.edu/
LILA is a consumer-directed and regionally focused online project to benefit people with disabilities living in Los Angeles County. LILA uses a GIS-based (Geographic Information Systems - a map formatting tool), interactive information resource database, created by local residents with disabilities using their personal "expert knowledge" to identify and map local independent living resources. Through collaborations with local governments and private non-profit community service agencies, the LILA information system incorporates a variety of databases relevant to the Los Angeles disability and senior community. These may include the locations of services and programs benefiting people with disabilities, local businesses serving the community, accessibility features of publicly subsidized housing, inclusive recreation programs, independent living resource information, etc.

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National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
http://www.nad.org
The mission of the National Association of the Deaf is to promote, protect, and preserve the rights and quality of life of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America.

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National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) is one of the Institutes that comprise the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH is the Federal government's focal point for the support of biomedical research. NIH's mission is to uncover new knowledge that will lead to better health for everyone. Simply described, the goal of NIH research is to acquire new knowledge to help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease and disability. NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Established in 1988, NIDCD is mandated to conduct and support biomedical and behavioral research and research training in the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language. The Institute also conducts and supports research and research training related to disease prevention and health promotion; addresses special biomedical and behavioral problems associated with people who have communication impairments or disorders; and supports efforts to create devices which substitute for lost and impaired sensory and communication function.

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National Association for Visually Handicapped
http://www.navh.org
Our mission is to provide services, visual aids and training to anyone regardless of his/her ability to make a donation. NAVH offers people who are visually impaired the chance to continue to live as productively in the sighted world as they did before their vision changed.

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National Council on Disability (NCD)
http://www.ncd.gov/
The National Council on Disability (NCD) is an independent federal agency making recommendations to the President and Congress on issues affecting Americans with disabilities. NCD is composed of 15 members appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. In its 1986 report Toward Independence, NCD first proposed that Congress should enact a civil rights law for people with disabilities. In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law.

NCD's overall purpose is to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability; and to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society.

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National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLSBPH)
http://www.loc.gov/nls/
The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, administers the free program that loans recorded and braille books and magazines, music scores in braille and large print, and specially designed playback equipment to residents of the United States who are unable to read or use standard print materials because of visual or physical impairment.

NLS administers the program nationally while direct service to eligible individuals and institutions is the responsibility of cooperating libraries in the various states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. Service is also extended to eligible American citizens residing abroad.

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NorCal Center on Deafness, Inc.
http://www.norcalcenter.org
NorCal, the Greater Los Angeles Association of the Deaf [GLAD) and Deaf Counseling, Advocacy and Referral Agency [DCARA) all share the same overwhelming need to provide services in their respective regions and have educated the Legislature together on the need to make traditional social services accessible to the deaf population. This collaborative effort has resulted in incorporating an "of, by and for the deaf" philosophy with direct, one-one services provided by people skilled in the communication mode used by this population.

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Protection & Advocacy, Inc. (PAI)
http://www.pai-ca.org
PAI provides information about the legal and service rights of people with disabilities, as well as information about procedures and sources of assistance in obtaining and enforcing these rights. This information is intended to assist people in addressing and resolving their problems independently. PAI’s information services are not intended to and do not contain specific legal advice for individual problems. As part of this service, PAI maintains a statewide toll-free number.

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Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D)
http://www.rfbd.org
Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic now has more than 4,900 volunteers who added 4,167 titles to our library in the year 2003. RFB&D has also undertaken an innovative Educational Outreach initiative —- bringing services directly into the schools to train teachers and students how to most effectively use our recorded textbooks.

RFB&D recording technologies have changed with the times. SoundScriber discs were long ago replaced with the high-fidelity, four-track cassettes still in use today. In September 2002, a collection of over 6,000 RFB&D's AudioPlus® digitally recorded textbooks on CD was released. Eventually, members will have access to digitally recorded versions of many of more than 98,000 titles in our CV Starr Learning Through Listening® Library.

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Rose Resnick LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
http://www.lighthouse-sf.org
The LightHouse promotes the independence, equality and self-reliance of people who are blind or visually impaired through rehabilitation training and relevant services, such as access to employment, education, government, information, recreation, transportation and the environment.

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Stroke Association of Southern California
http://www.strokesocal.org
Serving the needs of stroke survivors and caregivers in Los Angeles., Ventura, San Bernardino, Orange and Riverside counties for over 30 years, the Stroke Association of Southern California remains the only Southland agency devoted entirely to prevention, education and support programs for stroke — the leading cause of adult disability and third leading cause of death in the U.S.

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TDI, Inc.
http://www.tdi-online.org
TDI, Inc. is a national organization that promotes telecommunications and media accessibility for people who are deaf, late-deafened, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. TDI also publishes “The Blue Book: TDI National Directory and Resource Guide” with more than 500 pages of residential, organizational, and business TTY phone numbers.

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State, Federal or Government Agencies

California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
http://www.cpuc.ca.gov
In compliance with Public Utilities Code § 2881, the Commission implemented three telecommunications programs for California residents who are deaf, hard of hearing and/or disabled.  These three programs are collectively known as the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program (DDTP). The numbers of the enabling legislation that commonly identify these three programs are:

Senate Bill 597 (1979) Assembly Bill 3369 (1984) Senate Bill 227 (1984) Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf

This program provides for the distribution on a loan basis of telecommunications devices for the deaf (TDDs) to people who are certified deaf or hard of hearing, to any school or organization representing people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and to state agencies having significant contact with the public.

Senate Bill 244 (1983) California Relay Service
This program was implemented to improve communications potential for people who are deaf or hard of hearing by providing them direct access to California's public switched telephone network. The California Relay Service (CRS) uses third-party intervention to provide 24-hour relay with any other telephone subscriber.

Senate Bill 60 (1985) Supplemental Telecommunications Devices for the Disabled
This program provides specialized telecommunications equipment to consumers with hearing, vision, mobility, speech and/or cognitive disabilities. Examples of this equipment are amplifying devices, telephone ringer signals, speakerphones and cordless phones.

DDTP is administered by the CPUC with the advice of the Telecommunications Access for the Deaf and Disabled Administrative Committee (TADDAC).

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
http://www.fcc.gov
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent United States government agency, directly responsible to Congress. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. The FCC's jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions.

The FCC is directed by five Commissioners appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for 5-year terms, except when filling an unexpired term. The President designates one of the Commissioners to serve as Chairperson. Only three Commissioners may be members of the same political party. None of them can have a financial interest in any Commission-related business.

As the chief executive officer of the Commission, the Chairman delegates management and administrative responsibility to the Managing Director.

The Commissioners supervise all FCC activities, delegating responsibilities to staff units and Bureaus.

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American Sign Language Directories, Videos

ASL Access
http://www.aslaccess.org
ASL Access provides access for public use to more than 200 American Sign Language (ASL) videos which are available for free loan in your local library.

HandSpeak
http://www.handspeak.com
HandSpeak, formerly known as Sign Language Dictionary Online, became an independent "offspring" web site from the Deaf World Web in April 2000. HandSpeak has a unique content material due to its human connection and interactivity with users. The creator, Jolanta, is an i8media™ artist and inspirational teacher. She has visionaries, passionate ideas, and future plans for this site. In addition to sign languages and other features, she is currently expanding it with imagery language in connection with sign languages, sign stories, visual-gestural poetry and storytelling with more to come in the near future.

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News, Newsletters, Chat Sessions and Directories

Deaf Zone
http://www.deafzone.com
This website provides information to the deaf community from around the world utilizing various formats. The website is separated into three parts with each providing a sense of community to those who enter its site. Deaf Zone is a daily online national and international news section sharing stories about the Deaf, Deaf Today is a deaf directory, and Deaf Zone is an online chat for those wishing to connect electronically.

SayWhatClub (SWC)
http://www.saywhatclub.com
The SayWhatClub is an on-line group of approximately 400  late-deafened, hard of hearing and deaf/Deaf adults and other interested folks who provide support and encouragement to each other through e-mail. Our goal is to provide a friendly, good-humored place to exchange conversation, information, advice, deep thoughts, humor, tall tales, and chit chat. It is our hope that members will get to know each other and develop an on-line "community feeling."  We are scattered worldwide and depend on electronic mail and the Internet to communicate with one another.  The SayWhatClub is international, with members living in Switzerland, Sweden, South Africa, Israel, Denmark, England, New Zealand, Finland, the Czech Republic, Canada, Italy, Japan, United States and other countries. 

STSnews.com
http://www.stsnews.com
STSnews.com is a publication for people with speech disabilities, their families, the academic and professional community who serves them, as well as the general public. This site is not limited to news about Speech to Speech (STS) Relay, although it is my intention to make STSnews.com a focal point and clearinghouse for news and issues about STS Relay. STSnews.com is a lifestyles publication, not limited to disability topics and themes, but covering general as well as disability-specific topics.

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Technical Training

Alliance for Technology Access (ATA)
http://www.ataccess.org
The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) is a network of community-based Resource Centers, Developers, Vendors and Associates dedicated to providing information and support services to children and adults with disabilities, and increasing their use of standard, assistive, and information technologies.

Equal Access to Software and Information
http://www.rit.edu/~easi/
EASI is the Premiere Provider of Online Training on Accessible Information Technology for Persons with Disabilities reaching more than 4,000 people in over 3 dozen countries since 1993.

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Assistive Devices, Videos, Books and Equipment

Harris Communications
http://www.harriscomm.com
Since 1982, Harris Communications has been the one-stop source for sign language books, TTYs, amplified telephones, signalers and vibrating clocks and more! From wireless pagers and assistive listening devices to sign language CDs, DVDs, books, videos and novelties, shop Harris Communications for a great selection of over 1,000 products for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people, as well as for children, parents, teachers, students, interpreters and others interested in American Sign Language and the Deaf Culture.

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