Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Program

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.