Hard of Hearing Support Group

The Rhode Island Assistive Technology Access Partnership (ATAP) is a statewide partnership of organizations, each with a targeted assistive technology focus, working together to improve access to and acquisition of assistive technology for individuals with disabilities. ATEL and OSCIL are two of the partner agencies, and we are starting a monthly peer support group for individuals with hearing loss that are not users of ASL but communicate through speech (Hard of Hearing/HOH); OSCIL has a separate program for Deaf ASL users.  

The hard of hearing (HOH) community is often described as “in the middle.” Many individuals do not hear well enough to easily follow spoken conversations yet may not use sign language fluently enough to fully engage in the Deaf community. While the Deaf community is often more cohesive—supported by a shared language, cultural identity, and strong social networks—the HOH community can lack similar gathering spaces. This can make it more difficult to build peer connections and stay informed about available technology, local organizations, and resources.

To help bridge this gap, our HOH support group was launched in November 2025 to connect Rhode Island residents who are hard of hearing. The group aims to share information about resources, technology, and organizations, while supporting individuals in communicating confidently and participating fully in everyday life.

Join other HOH individuals each month in a welcoming, supportive space. This group encourages connection, shared learning, and mutual support. Each session focuses on a new topic, offering practical tools, helpful resources, and strategies for daily living—so participants leave feeling more informed, empowered, and connected.

We are continuing to meet on the second Monday of the month (except for July and August) @ OSCIL 1944 Warwick Ave, Warwick, RI 02889; please RSVP since space is limited. Please contact Heather Schey at (401) 738-1013 x. 29 or email Heather.Schey@oscil.org.   Captioning will be provided.

Please feel free to reach out to me directly, if you have any questions at (401) 486-3325 or email denise.corson@ors.ri.gov.