Deaf Truck Drivers Now Allowed To Obtain CDL; FMCSA Loosens Regulations

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Deaf Drivers Can Now Get CDLDeaf Truck Drivers Get Long Awaited Rule Change

Deaf truck drivers have been non-existent due to FMCSA regulations for decades. That rule making changed in September. Before, deaf truck drivers were not able to obtain a commercial drivers license due to their disabilities.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced it will loosen longstanding English language requirements for truck drivers who are deaf as long as they can still understand traffic signs and signals. For decades, this disability has forced deaf men and women to choose other careers. Why we don’t think the truck driver shortage is to blame for the new rulemaking, it’s certain that it will help dwindling truck driver numbers.

FMCSA Had This To Say On Hearing-Impaired Drivers

The English-language rule should not be construed to prohibit operation of a commercial motor vehicle by hearing-impaired drivers who can read and write in the English language but do not speak, for whatever reason,” the FMCSA wrote in the Federal Register.

The requirements are intended to make sure truck drivers understand the rules of the road, but FMSCA said some state agencies have misconstrued the rule by denying commercial drivers licenses to people with hearing impairments. FMCSA wanted to make sure this rule is clear. Now, any man or woman that is deaf will be able to obtain a CDL and attend CDL training schools.

Because some hearing-impaired drivers granted exemptions do not speak English, it has been asserted that they may not meet the requirements and may not be qualified to operate commercial motor vehicles,” the agency noted.

After the National Association of the Deaf complained, the FMCSA said it will grant exemptions to hearing-impaired truck drivers who demonstrate that their disability will not affect road safety and does not put other drivers in danger. While deaf truck drivers will be at a disadvantage, they’ll be more then capable of operating a heavy duty truck. It has been a long time coming with this rule and we’re glad to see that it has been passed. The rule went into affect on September 30th.

Hearing Loss Resources For Drivers

Hearing Loss Association of America
http://www.hearingloss.org/

Types of Hearing Loss
http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Types-of-Hearing-Loss/

What’s Hearing Loss? (Guide for explaining to kids)
http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/sight/hearing_impairment.html

Rights For Those With Hearing Loss
http://www.ovationhearing.com/resources/rights-for-those-with-hearing-loss

Civil Rights and Disability Related-Resources
http://www.neh.gov/about/human-resources/civil-rights-and-disability-related-resources

Brain Trauma and Equal Opportunity: What You Need to Know

Brain Trauma and Equal Opportunity: What You Need to Know

Information and Technical Assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act
http://www.ada.gov/

Career Assistance for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired

Career Assistance for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired

Students with Disabilities: Preparing for Postsecondary Education
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition.html

Personal Finance Guide for People with Disabilities
http://www.calculators.org/savings/people-with-disabilities.php

The Personal Costs of Caring for a Child with a Disability
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1802121/

Captioning/CART

National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) — provides a list of theaters equipped with captioning technology. Rear Window® Captioning and DVS Theatrical®, developed by The Media Access Group at Boston public broadcaster WGBH, make theaters accessible to audiences with disabilities the day and date films debut, and during regular showtimes. Rear Window Captioning enables movie fans with hearing loss to enjoy a film via reflected captions that appear on a plexiglass panel at the seat. Patrons sitting in the surrounding seats cannot see the captions. DVS Theatrical presents concise narration of visual cues, including scenery, facial expressions and silent movement of characters, through an FM or infrared system delivered to headsets. There is no additional charge to use the systems. These unique access technologies are installed in theaters nationwide and in Canada.

National Center on Accessible Media — dedicated to providing television programs for people with hearing loss as well as people who are blind.

National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) — an online directory of certified CART providers, how to get certified, etc. NCRA promotes excellence among those who capture and convert the spoken word to text and is committed to supporting every member in achieving the highest level of professional expertise.

Careers/Employment

Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Loss (AMPHL) — provides information, promotes advocacy and mentorship, and creates a network for individuals with hearing loss interested in or working in health care fields.

AudiologyOnLine — provides job listings for professionals, classes for Continuing Education Units for those interested in studying audiology; some classes are free.

ExceptionalNurse.com — this is the place to visit if you are a student with a disability considering a nursing career, a nursing student with a disability, a nurse with a disability, or a nursing educator or a guidance counselor working with a student with a disability.

JobAccess.org — the first and largest employment website for job seekers with disabilities.

Job Accommodation Network (JAN) — the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. Working toward practical solutions that benefit both employer and employee, JAN helps people with disabilities enhance their employability, and shows employers how to capitalize on the value and talent that people with disabilities add to the workplace. Assistance is available both over the phone and online.

Nursing Explorer — is an education and career resource website created to provide comprehensive and up-to-date information for nursing students and professional nurses.

RERC-HE Peer Mentoring Training Certificate Program — a peer mentor is an individual who is deaf or hard-of-hearing and trained to work with other individuals with hearing loss who are in need of support, information, teaching, and/or advocacy, in order to live their lives with hearing loss as seamlessly as possible.

Education /Schools

ASL Access — the world’s only organization specifically created to promote public access to sign language.

Captioned Media Program (CMP) — promotes and provides equal access to communication and learning for students who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind.

Captions for Literacy — provides information about how captioning can be used as a tool for children learning to read; guidance for parents and teachers.

College Resources for Disabled Students — Prospective college students with disabilities will find that many campuses are equipped with offices and services that address accessibility, accommodation, and assistive technology for a diverse range of needs.

Gallaudet University —the world’s only university with programs and services specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students, was established in 1864 by an Act of Congress, and its charter was signed by President Abraham Lincoln.

Gallaudet University Technology Access Program (TAP) — conducts research related to communication technologies and services, with the goal of producing knowledge useful to industry, government, and deaf and hard of hearing consumers in the quest for equality in communications. The program provides education to Gallaudet students through coursework and mentored research projects related to TAP’s research mission.

National Education Association — dedicated to advocating for education professionals and uniting members and the nation to fulfill the promise of public education to prepare every student to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world.

OPTION Schools — has a mission to advance excellence in listening and spoken language (auditory-oral) education by providing services that assist schools and programs to increase their effectiveness, efficiency and ability to teach children who are deaf to listen and talk.

PepNet — provides resources and expertise that enhance educational opportunities for people who are deaf or hard of hearing — including those with co-occurring disabilities. PEPNet regional centers work collaboratively to provide a broad variety of best practices and resources where and when you need them to enhance educational opportunities.

Signing Online — mission is to make it easier for you to learn American Sign Language. Using advanced Internet technology and effective teaching theories, SigningOnline.com is designed to teach you American Sign Language from home, school, work, a library, an airport terminal, an Internet café, or anywhere you might be with an Internet connection, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Trace Center The Trace Research & Development Center is a part of the College of Engineering,University of Wisconsin-Madison. Founded in 1971, Trace has been a pioneer in the field of technology and disability.

Hearing Dogs

Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) — a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships.

Dogs for the Deaf — Dogs for the Deaf, Inc.’s mission is to rescue and professionally train dogs to help people and enhance lives, maintaining a lifelong commitment to all dogs they rescue and all people they serve.

Sam Simon Foundation Hearing Dog Program — based in southern California, rescues animals from animal shelters and humane societies and trains them to become hearing dogs.

Hearing Loss Information

Better Hearing Institute (BHI) —a not-for-profit corporation that educates the public about the neglected problem of hearing loss and what can be done about it. Founded in 1973, they work to:

  • Erase the stigma and end the embarrassment that prevents millions of people from seeking help for hearing loss.
  • Show the negative consequences of untreated hearing loss for millions of Americans.
  • Promote treatment and demonstrate that this is a national problem that can be solved.

Healthfinder.gov — a government web site is where you will find information and tools to help you and those you care about stay healthy. Healthfinder.gov has resources on a wide range of health topics selected from over 1,400 government and non-profit organizations to bring you the best, most reliable health information on the Internet.

Healthy Hearing — an online resource for hearing health information. Its goal is to provide high quality content that is understandable and inspirational.

National Council on Aging (NCOA) — a nonprofit service and advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC. A national voice for older Americans and the community organizations that serve them. They bring together nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government to develop creative solutions that improve the lives of all older adults. Hearing loss information. Hearing Loss: It’s a Family Affair (Brochure).

Scholarships

American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) Scholarship Program —dedicated to the advancement of theory, knowledge and practice in the prevention of secondary disabling conditions and promotion of health and wellness for people with disabilities. In 2009, AAHD created the AAHD Scholarship Program, which supports students with disabilities pursuing higher education. Preference is given to students who plan to pursue undergraduate/graduate studies in the field of public health, health promotion, disability studies, to include disability policy and disability research. Royalties from the Disability and Health Journal (DHJO) and private donations fund the AAHD Scholarship Program.

Support/Services

ABILITY Magazine(AM) is the leading magazine covering health, disability and human potential.

Case Management Resource Guide — contains more than 100,000 listings, the most extensive referral service for case and care managers nationwide.

Children’s Medical Services (CMS) — a collection of programs for eligible children with special needs; programs and services are family-centered and designed to help children with a variety of conditions and needs.

Cochlear Implant Help — cochlearimplantHELP is here to help you wherever you are in your cochlear implant journey. Whether you are just starting to research about a cochlear implant online, or a seasoned user looking for ways to connect to your favorite piece of electronic equipment, cochlearimplantHELP has what you need.

Emergency Email & Wireless Network — provides notification to citizens of local, regional, national and international critical news information utilizing the Internet, electronic mail (email) and wireless in a secure and expedient manner.

Families and Advocates Partnership for Education (FAPE) — a partnership that aims to improve the educational outcomes for children with disabilities. It links families, advocates, and self-advocates to information about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The project is designed to address the information needs of the 6 million families throughout the country whose children with disabilities receive special education services.

Foundation for Sight & Sound — turns dreams into possibilities by helping those without sight and sound live better, learn better and work better. Dedicated to creating a world where people with vision and/or hearing challenges can realize their full potential, allowing them to lead lives of inclusion and not isolation.

Gate Communications — is a national not-for-profit organization which provides four main areas of service to the Deaf Community and to those who serve the Deaf, via interpreting, education, community events, and outreach.

HearingTracker.com — publishes an online directory of over 17,000 hearing providers throughout the United States – the largest directory of its kind – and provides intuitive tools for locating providers with positive customer feedback. HearingTracker.com also boasts the largest collection of online hearing aid reviews in the world, giving undecided consumers a place to investigate their options.

Help Advocate for Children — this site has numerous resources available in all areas of disability ranging from hearing loss, to vision, to scholastic needs, fitness and more. Also provides links to applicable facilities for support.

International Fellowship of Rotarians Affected by Hearing Loss — unites Rotarians around the world to create more awareness of the problems associated with the loss of hearing. The project will also promote interest in research and funding of the Hearing Regeneration Initiative at the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center at the University of Washington.

International Hearing Society — a membership association that represents hearing health care professionals worldwide. IHS members are engaged in the practice of testing human hearing and selecting, fitting and dispensing hearing instruments and counseling patients. Founded in 1951, the Society continues to recognize the need for promoting and maintaining the highest possible standards for its members in the best interests of the hearing impaired it serves.

John Tracy Clinic —provides worldwide, parent-centered services to young children (ages 0-5) with a hearing loss offering families hope, guidance and encouragement.

Let Them Hear Foundation — an Internet-based resource center for parents and professionals working with children with disabilities to provide a fundamental understanding of the key concepts of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004 (IDEA 2004). While the information on this website will be useful for parents and professionals dealing with a child with any of the thirteen disability categories defined by IDEA 2004, the primary focus of the website is to provide information to parents and professionals on issues related to the specific category of hearing impairment (including deafness). The information provided on this website is also available in Spanish.

LISTEN Foundation — provides for and assists children who are deaf and hard of hearing and their families, with access to a proven speech, language, and listening therapy method to help them achieve a life of independence.

National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management — serves as the National Resource Center for the implementation and improvement of comprehensive and effective Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) systems. As a multidisciplinary Center, our goal is to ensure that all infants and toddlers with hearing loss are identified as early as possible and provided

New Heights — source for special education news, information, articles, research and support. We aim to be your one-stop resource for all things related to the field of special education. Our goal is to provide expert experience and first-hand knowledge for helping you whether you are teachers, students or parents.

PACER (Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights) Center — a parent training and information center for families of children and youth with all disabilities from birth through 21 years old. Located in Minneapolis, it serves families across the nation, as well as those in Minnesota. Parents can find publications, workshops, and other resources to help make decisions about education, vocational training, employment, and other services for their children with disabilities.

Raising Deaf Kids — located at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, gives clinical services for deaf and hard of hearing children and teenagers.

RESNA Technical Assistance Project — the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, is the premier professional organization dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of people with disabilities through increasing access to technology solutions.

Social Security Disability Help — This site is not affiliated in any way with the Social Security Administration, but provides information about hearing loss and how you might be eligible to receive disability benefits.

Statewide Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People –a site that identifies two different types of statewide services; (1) commissions or state offices mandated to serve people who are deaf and hard of hearing, and (2) state coordinators of rehabilitation services for people who are deaf. See the website for a complete list; several are listed below.

  • Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing — established in 1977 to improve the quality of life for Deaf and hard of hearing residents. ACDHH serves as a statewide information referral center for issues related to people with hearing loss. ACDHH aspires to be a national leader in communication access, support services and community empowerment throughout the state. Free relay services for Arizona Residents.
  • Florida Coordinating Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing – is mandated by the state to serve as an advisory and coordinating body which recommends policies that address the needs of Florida’s deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened and deaf-blind (hereafter referred to collectively as “hearing loss”) community. The Coordinating Council serves as a resource for deaf and hard-of-hearing Floridians who need some assistance with everyday needs including employment, education, and access to services.
  • Idaho Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing — a valuable resource for issues pertaining to deafness, hearing loss, advocacy, accessibility, education, and technology.
  • Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission — goal is to advance the interests of all Illinois citizens with a hearing loss by advocating for systemic improvements, promoting cooperation and coordination among entities serving people who are deaf and hard of hearing, and disseminating information to eliminate negative stereotypes surrounding hearing loss.
  • Michigan Division on Deaf and Hard of Hearing — provide statewide leadership to empower and integrate people with disabilities into all aspects of society. This is done through information and technical assistance, disability rights training, working with the Michigan Business Leaders Network on employment for people with disabilities, coordinating the Michigan Youth Leadership Forum and conducting disability awareness and sensitivity training.
  • Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing — mission is to provide accessible communication, education and advocacy to consumers and private and public entities so that programs, services and opportunities throughout Massachusetts are fully accessible to persons who are Deaf and hard of hearing.
  • Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing — mission is to provide effective and efficient leadership, education, advocacy and direct services to eliminate barriers and to meet the social, economic, educational, cultural and intellectual needs of deaf and hard of hearing Kentuckians.
  • North Carolina Division of Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing — provides not only direct services to individuals with hearing loss and the agencies and businesses that serve them but also the resources and linkages to programs and services all across North Carolina. DSDHH’s specially-trained staff, many of whom are Deaf, hard of hearing or deaf-blind, are housed at its seven Regional Centers located throughout the state.
  • Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing — works in partnership with people who are deaf or hard of hearing to eliminate societal and communication barriers to improve equal access for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. DHHS advocates for people of all ages who are deaf or hard of hearing to enable them to express their freedoms, participate in society to their individual potential, and reduce their isolation regardless of location, socioeconomic status, or degree of disability.

National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) — a nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and Client Assistance Programs (CAP). Collectively, the P&A/CAP network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States.

Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program Association (TEDPA) — mission is to convene for the purpose of information exchange and to assist one another with the administration of specialized telecommunications equipment distribution programs for persons with disabilities.

WGBH — Media Access Group at WGBH has been pioneering and delivering accessible media to disabled adults, students, and their families, teachers, and friends for over 30 years.

Technology

American Cochlear Implant Alliance — a not-for-profit membership organization created with the purpose of eliminating barriers to cochlear implantation by sponsoring research, driving heightened awareness and advocating for improved access to cochlear implants for patients of all ages across the US. ACI Alliance members are clinicians, scientists, educators, and others on cochlear implant teams as well as parent and consumer advocates. An annual meeting for professional members is convened.

Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology — COAT advocates for accessibility and usability of technology for people with disabilities. Enacting the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (21st CVAA) was a huge step forward and we are working to implement this new law. COAT’s overall aim is to ensure accessibility, usability, and affordability of all broadband, wireless, and Internet technologies for people with disabilities.

Cochlear Implant Center of New Jersey — a program of University Hospital and New Jersey Medical School, is proud to offer this innovative treatment for adults and children with severe-to-profound hearing loss.

HearingAids 101.comTM — an independent website designed to help consumers learn about the wide variety of hearing aids and related products on the market today. This site also provides an abundance of information about the latest innovations in hearing aids technology, as well as tips for shopping for hearing and assistive listening devices.

House Research Institute — engaged in the scientific exploration of the auditory system from the ear canal to the cortex of the brain for more than 60 years.

National Assistive Technology Technical Assistance Partnership (NATTAP) — State Assistive Technology Act programs work to improve the provision of assistive technology to individuals with disabilities of all ages through comprehensive statewide programs of technology-related assistance. Additionally, the programs support activities designed to maximize the ability of individuals with disabilities and their family members, guardians, and advocates to access and obtain assistive technology devices and services.

Rehabtool.com — seeks to help children and adults with disabilities enhance their lives, increase their independence and productivity, and gain greater social inclusion through the use of leading-edgeassistive technology.

Cochlear Implant Manufacturers

Advanced Bionics — founded in 1993 and partnered with Phonak under the Sonova Group in 2009, AB is the only American company developing cutting-edge cochlear implant technology that restores hearing to the deaf and allows recipients to hear their best.

Cochlear Americas — committed to delivering revolutionary cochlear implant and bone anchored hearing technologies to help you enjoy, connect to, and interact with a world of sound.

MED-EL — products are the result of 30 years of focused research and a commitment by its founders to fostering a company culture of excellence.

Phones

Depending on which state you live in you may be eligible for free or reduced-cost telecommunications equipment such as phones with volume control and phones to use with captioned telephone service. To find out if your state has a telecommunications equipment distribution program go to TEDPA site

Did you know there is a captioned telephone, just like captioned TV, so you can read along as you listen to the other party on the phone? Check out to see if this service is available in your state.

http://www.captionedtelephone.com/availability.phtml

Would you prefer to use captioned telephone on your computer and with the phones you already have at home? Then go to the following websites and follow the easy directions.

http://www.hamiltoncaptel.com
http://www.sprintcaptel.com

Other Non-Profit Organizations

Acoustic Neuroma Association —a non-profit organization established to provide information and support to patients who have been diagnosed with or treated for an acoustic neuroma, a benign brain tumor that arises on the eighth cranial nerve. The mission of Acoustic Neuroma Association (ANA) is to inform, educate and provide national and local support networks for those affected by acoustic neuromas, and to be an essential resource for health care professionals who treat acoustic neuroma patients.

American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery — the world’s largest organization representing specialists who treat the ear, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. The Academy represents more than 12,000 otolaryngologist—head and neck surgeons who diagnose and treat disorders of those areas. The medical disorders treated by our physicians are among the most common that afflict all Americans, young and old. They include chronic ear infection, sinusitis, snoring and sleep apnea, hearing loss, allergies and hay fever, swallowing disorders, nosebleeds, hoarseness, dizziness, and head and neck cancer.

American Association of People with Disabilities — the nation’s largest cross-disability membership organization, organizes the disability community to be a powerful voice for change – politically, economically, and socially. AAPD was founded in 1995 to help unite the diverse community of people with disabilities, including their family, friends and supporters, and to be a national voice for change in implementing the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

American Board of Audiology — an autonomous organization dedicated to enhancing audiologic services to the public by promulgating universally recognized standards in professional practice. The ABA encourages audiologists to exceed these prescribed standards, thereby promoting a high level of professional development and ethical practice.

American Psychological Association — the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA is the world’s largest association of psychologists, with more than 137,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students as its members. Our mission is to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people’s lives.

American Public Health Association — the oldest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world and has been working to improve public health since 1872. The Association aims to protect all Americans, their families and their communities from preventable, serious health threats and strives to assure community-based health promotion and disease prevention activities and preventive health services are universally accessible in the United States. APHA represents a broad array of health professionals and others who care about their own health and the health of their communities.

American Speech-Language and Hearing Association — the professional, scientific, and credentialing association of more than members and affiliates who are audiologists, speech-language pathologists and speech, language, and hearing scientists.

American Tinnitus Association — exists to cure tinnitus through the development of resources that advance tinnitus research.

Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA) — supports the empowerment of late-deafened people who have lost or are losing the ability to understand speech with or without hearing aids, after acquiring spoken language.

Boys Town National Research Hospital — Changing the way America cares for children, families and communities by providing and promoting an Integrated Continuum of Care that instills Boys Town values to strengthen body, mind and spirit.

California Ear Institute Founded in 1968 as one of the first practices to be dedicated solely to Hearing Health Care in the United States. The California Ear Institute has provided more than a half of a million visits for patients with Surgical, Medical, Hearing Aid, Cochlear Implant, Facial Nerve Disorder and Cranial Base Disorder needs. CEI is Northern California’s premier site for treatment of ear related disorders and is highly ranked among the world’s Centers of Excellence specializing in hearing and balance related disorders. The Institute is famous as a site of referral for patients from whom treatment has not turned out as expected — particularly those who require second opinions and/or revision surgical procedures.

Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA) — (English and French) CHHA’s goal is to increase public awareness of hearing loss and to help Canadians with hearing loss fully integrate into Canadian society.

Canadian Hearing Society — offers a complete roster of essential services, including sign language interpreting; one-on-one language development for deaf and hard of hearing children using play as the medium of learning; employment consulting; sign language instruction; speechreading training; hearing testing; hearing aids; counseling; and the most complete range of communication devices.

Cochlear Community — The Cochlear Community is a social networking site designed for interaction and connection between people who have a cochlear device, their friends and family, or anyone interested in sharing experiences and learning about hearing loss and treatment options.

Cueing Community Newsinformation and links relating to CUED speech

Disabilityworld — UK-based, working to setup a comprehensive directory of information and web sites for the disabled both within the UK and internationally.

Employee Assistance Professionals Association — the world’s most relied upon source of information and support for and about the employee assistance profession. EAPA publishes theJournal of Employee Assistance, hosts professional conferences and offers training and other resources to fulfill its mission. EAPA’s mission is to promote the highest standards of EA practice and the continuing development of employee assistance professionals, programs and services.

Hearing Health Foundation — mission is to attain a lifetime of healthy hearing and balance through quality research, education, and advocacy. HHF is the leading national source of private funding for basic and clinical research in hearing and balance science.

I Can Travel — information about all aspects of traveling with disabilities

Indeed — In a single search, Indeed provides free access to thousands of jobs and internships from hundreds of job boards, newspaper classifieds and company websites.

International Federation of Hard of Hearing People (IFHOH) — an international, non-governmental organization, representing the interests of more than 300 million hard of hearing people worldwide.

Kennedy Krieger Institute — an internationally recognized institution located in Baltimore, Maryland dedicated to improving the lives of children and adolescents with pediatric developmental disabilities through patient care, special education, research, and professional training.

Kenneth W. Berger Hearing Aid Museum and Archives — Kent State University’s eight-campus system, among the largest regional systems in the country, serves both the development of a true living/learning approach at the Kent Campus and the regional needs on seven other campuses throughout Northeast Ohio.

National Association of Social Workers — the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with 145, 000 members. NASW works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social policies.

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities — NICHCY is very pleased to offer you a wealth of information on disabilities! We serve the nation as a central source of information on disabilities in infants, toddlers, children, and youth. Here, you’ll also find easy-to-read information on IDEA, the law authorizing early intervention services and special education. Our State Resource Sheets will help you connect with the disability agencies and organizations in your state.

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) — 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.

National Organization on Disability (NOD) — its mission is to expand the participation and contribution of America’s 56 million men, women, and children with disabilities in all aspects of life. Our current focus is on improving employment prospects for America’s 33 million working-aged Americans with disabilities

H.E.A.R. — mission is the prevention of hearing loss and tinnitus among musicians and music fans (especially teens) through education awareness and grassroots outreach advocacy.

Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation — provides programs that positively impact quality of life in our communities, with an emphasis on sight and hearing.

Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA) — serves people with vestibular disorders by providing information, offering a support network, and elevating awareness of the challenges associated with these disorders.

Relevant Government Websites

United States Access Board — an independent federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities. Created in 1973 to ensure access to federally funded facilities, the Board is now a leading source of information on accessible design. The Board develops and maintains design criteria for the built environment, transit vehicles, telecommunications equipment, and for electronic and information technology. It also provides technical assistance and training on these requirements and on accessible design and continues to enforce accessibility standards that cover federally funded facilities.

Cited Source: HearingLoss.Org

The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) provides support for the hearing-impaired. The Hearing Loss Association of America reaches people with hearing loss through its network of state organizations and local chapters. All HLAA state and chapter organization volunteer leaders have direct experience with hearing loss. Joining your state and/or local HLAA organizations helps augment your experience with HLAA and learn more about coping with hearing loss.

HLAA State organizations and Chapters provide strategies and support that are modeled after HLAA Founder Howard “Rocky” Stone’s self-help philosophy. They also offer excellent personal growth and leadership skills-building opportunities.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics 48 million [20 percent] Americans have some degree of hearing loss making it a public health issue third in line after heart disease and arthritis.

Updated: December 2017