- American Society for Deaf Children – Provides resources to empowering diverse families with Deaf/Hard of Hearing children and youth by embracing full access to language-rich environments through mentoring, advocacy, and collaborative networks.
- California Hands & Voices is a parent-driven organization for families with children who D/HH by providing resources, networks, and information to improve communication access and educational outcomes.
- Deaf Latinos y Families provides resources and ASL classes to Latino/a/x families and guides them through adapting the Deaf Culture and ASL into their lives.
- LEAD-K Family Services focuses on connecting families with their local school district, Early Start home visit teachers, parent mentors, Deaf coaches, and other supports as outlined in an Individualized Family Support Plan.
- Center on Early Intervention on Deafness maximizes communication potential through education, family support, and community audiology services for children and adults who are deaf and hard of hearing.
- California Department of Education: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Division, provides technical assistance to and monitoring of local educational agency (LEA) operated programs serving Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Hard of Hearing students, including information on Senate Bill 210 and language milestones
- NorCal Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing: A non-profit organization that provides advocacy, employment services, and specialized services, including a day program for Alta Regional Center consumers who are deaf or hard of hearing based in Sacramento. Also provide support for survivors of sexual violence, independent living skills to community education, and interpreting services. Manages the statewide LEAD-K Family services in providing services to deaf and hard-of-hearing newborn babies.
- CSDF Outreach Resource Center: California School for the Deaf, Fremont provides outreach services and resources.
- Thrive! – CSD Riverside (ca.gov) California School for the Deaf, Riverside Outreach Resource Center
- Supporting Success for Children with hearing loss aims to make resources and practical information readily available to the public.
- John Tracy Center provides education programs for children (age birth to 5) residing in Southern California.
- Dayle McIntosh Center Independent Living Skills training available for deaf individuals.
- National Association of the Deaf is the nation’s premier civil rights organization of, by and for the deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States.
- Sign Language Use for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Hearing Babies: The Evidence Supports It – English| Spanish
- Sign Language Center provides virtual ASL classes and one-on-one tutoring sessions for all levels of learning.
- Deaf Access Service Program Providers:https://www.cdss.ca.gov/deaf-access/deaf-access-program-dap-service-providers
- California DeafBlind Services: https://cadeafblind.org/
- Serves individuals from birth through age 21 who have combined hearing and vision problems, with or without additional disabilities.
- San Francisco State University & California Deaf Blind Services Intervener Training: https://cpage.sfsu.edu/intervener
Family Support Providers: https://cadeafblind.org/family-support-providers-fsps/
Family Support Groups:
There are many ways families can find helpful support in online spaces. Since October 2022 our Family Engagement Specialist, Myrna Medina, has led a monthly Support Group for Spanish speaking Families with children who are deafblind. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of the month at 5:30 PM PT and will continue through June 2023 and resume again in September 2023. If you’d like to join one of these meetings, please contact Myrna (myrnam@sfsu.edu) to register and receive the meeting room link. The Western Region CHARGE Syndrome Family Liaisons host a monthly online Support Group for parents and caregivers of children with CHARGE syndrome who live in Western US States and Alaska and Hawaii. These meetings are held the final Tuesday of the month from 7-8 PM PT. Register here to receive the meeting room link. Many Family Resource Centers (FRCs) around our state also facilitate successful, effective family-to-family support networks and we would be glad to assist you in finding a support network to fit your needs. Please contact Myrna Medina (myrnam@sfsu.edu) or Julie Maier, Program Coordinator, (jmaier@sfsu.edu) for assistance.
Pro-Tactile ASL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zCzsmg7kdY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GrK3P15TYU
National Resources:
https://www.parentcenterhub.org/deafblindness/
- DHHS – CA Department of Rehabilitation: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services offers support for people with disabilities, included Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind obtain jobs, develop or promote in their current jobs, live on their own, and enjoy a life equal to others.
- California Telephone Access Programoffers free, specialized phones and equipment for Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
- Hearing Aid and Cochlear Implant Assistance ProgramsA list of organizations that may offer financial assistance toward the purchase of hearing aids.
- Provider Director for Neurodivergent Deaf Individualsis a directory of providers in the United States.
- Ear Communityprovides a supportive community for individuals born with Microtia and Atresia, Treacher Collins Syndrome, and Goldenhar Syndrome.
- Helen Keller National Centerfor Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults.
- U.S. Department of Justice, ADA Requirements: Effective Communication
- U.S. Department of Justice, Communicating Effectively with People with disabilities
- Americans with Disabilities Act, Communication:
- Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, Communication Services
- February 7, 2025 – Part 2 of Building Awareness of the Unique Needs of Deaf Plus Individuals by Corey Axelrod, Dr. Sheila Maynard & Melissa Healy
- November 15, 2024 – Part 1 of Building Awareness of the Unique Needs of Deaf Plus Individuals by Corey Axelrod and Dr. Heather Hunt
- April 3, 2024 – Navigating Neurological Presentations in People who are Deaf by Dr. Jamie Wilson
- March 20, 2024 – What’s New in the Hearing Loss and Dementia Connection by Dr. Jamie Wilson
- October 23, 2023 – Deaf Community Cultural Wealth by Dr. Julie Rems Smario
Requirements Under The Americans with Disabilities Act To Provide Effective Communication to Deaf Consumers
Events
Understanding Autism Sponsored by Inland Regional Center
April 2, 2025
Celebrate National ASL Day Sponsored by Inland Regional Center
April 12, 2025
Deaf History Month Sponsored by Central Valley Regional Center
April 16, 2025
2nd Annual Spring Palooza Resource Fair Sponsored by East Los Angeles Regional Center
April 26, 2025
Deaf+ Community in Action Sponsored by North Bay Regional Center
April 30, 2025
Deaf Plus Events, Save The Date – Sponsored by Inland Regional Center
February-June 2025
ASL Classes Sponsored by Valley Mountain Regional Center
May 1st – July 10th
Deaf Plus Conference Sponsored by Golden Gate Regional Center and Regional Center of the East Bay
September 13, 2025
What early intervention services are available for infants identified as deaf or hard-of-hearing?
The IFSP team will include your family, a service coordinator, and may include an Early Start teacher. A Deaf coach and family mentor may also be part of your IFSP team. This team will help you develop goals for your child and identify services and tools, like Language Milestones, to help you achieve them. Services may include:
- Assistive technology
- Audiology
- Deaf Coach through our partnership with Lead-K Family services
- Family training, counseling, and home visits
- Health services
- Infant/Toddler Developmental services
- Medical services for diagnostic/evaluation purposes only
- Nursing services
- Nutrition services
- Occupational therapy
- Parent Education and Support
- Physical therapy
- Psychological services
- Service coordination (case management)
- Sign language services
- Social work services
- Special instruction
- Speech and language services
- Transportation and related costs
- Vision services
For more resources, Click on Deaf & Hard of Hearing (DHH) (Resources for Families Navigating Services for their Child who is Hard of Hearing or Deaf) on the Early Start Family/Caregivers tab on DDS webpage: Early Start : CA Department of Developmental Services.
For more information on Early Start services or if you have additional questions, call (800) 515-BABY (2229) or email earlystart@dds.ca.gov.
For information on Early Start Program eligibility, families can learn more here: Information Packet for Consumers & Families : CA Department of Developmental Services.
When my Individual Program Plan meeting is scheduled, how do I request an interpreter?
Regarding emergency Preparedness, are there any support materials available for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals to use?
Can regional center consumers who are deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind participate in the Self-Determination Program (SDP) to access services and supports that meet their specific needs?
Can participants who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind in the SDP choose who provides their specialized services and support?
Does the SDP offer specific services that may be beneficial to those who are deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind, such as ASL interpreters and deaf interpreters?
With the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Final Rule, are training videos available in American Sign Language (ASL) for Direct Support Professionals? If so, how do you access them?
Last modified: April 25, 2025
