Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Program Teresa O'Brien - Supervisor of Deaf and Hard of Hearing unit The Office of Rehabilitation Services helps individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing obtain services to meet their needs, provides counseling and guidance to help plan vocational goals and services, assists the individuals to obtain employment. They serve as a resource to professionals, state agencies, community organizations, and the public providing information related to employment, training and accommodations for persons who have a hearing loss. Clear communication between the vocational rehabilitation counselors and the individual with the hearing loss is the key to successful vocational rehabilitation services. These counselors use the deaf or hard of hearing person's preferred communication method and have a good understanding of the abilities and problems of deaf or hard of hearing individuals. Services available may include: vocational counseling and guidance; vocational evaluation to determine skills, abilities, and potential to work; vocational training; purchase of hearing aids and appropriate communications devices; interpreter services for the purpose of obtaining and maintaining employment; job placement assistance; and rehabilitation technology services. Resource Links Deaf & Hard of Hearing Brochure (Espanol) Deaf Life Magazine http://www.deaflife.com/ Deaf Linx http://www.deaflinx.com Deaf Nation http://deafnation.com Hearing Loss Association of America http://www.hearingloss.org Helen Keller National Center https://www.helen.keller.org/hknc/ National Association of the Deaf http://www.nad.org Questions and Answers About Deafness and Hearing Impairments in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/publications/qa_deafness.cfm Relay RI http://www.hamiltonrelay.com/state_711_relay/index.html Rhode Island Association of the Deaf http://riadeaf.blogspot.com RI Adaptive Telephone Equipment Loan (ATEL) Program https://ors.ri.gov/programs/adaptive-telephone-equipment-loan-program-atel Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing http://www.cdhh.ri.gov/ Rhode Island Registry of Interpreters http://www.ririd.org Rhode Island School for the Deaf http://www.rideaf.net Tips for Applicants with Disabilities on Getting Federal Jobs https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/publications/abc_applicants_with_disabilities.cfm For more information on this program, please contact Teresa O'Brien, Supervisor, at 401.787.2984 or by email at teresa.obrien@ors.ri.gov.