ABOUT DEAF SERVICES

Scientific research shows that 12 out of every 1,000 children in the United States are deaf (NCHA), and another 30 will experience some degree of hearing loss (HLAA). Unfortunately, many people and institutions (medical, educational, and more) blindly focus on the physical condition of hearing loss and its limitations, but fail to recognize individuals as capable beings with inalienable human and linguistic rights. These failures to provide adequate access and accommodations have had harrowing impacts on deaf individuals who are often excluded from opportunities that a hearing person would consider basic.

At Partnership Deaf Services we celebrate the rich heritage and culture of the Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and hard of hearing community, and we respect each deaf person’s pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. Our mission is to promote and support this journey.

Creating opportunities, breaking down barriers, building bright futures

At Services for the Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing in Chattanooga, we provide community services that can help people with hearing loss:We teach deaf and hard of hearing individuals to live more independently with life skills training, support workshops, financial counseling and social events.

• We assist deaf and hard of hearing individuals find meaningful work at a full-time or part-time job that instills a greater sense of pride, fulfillment, and joy as well as financial stability.
• We provide deaf and hard of hearing individuals access to home/office devices with hearing assistive technology, such as computers, printers, scanners, video relay services, and more.
• We provide support and guidance for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in advocating for their communication rights, employment rights, and right to be treated equally in all walks of life. We also work with businesses, government entities, and other community organizations to understand that deaf individuals are a protected class of people and educate them about navigating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• For those that need it, our trained client service coordinators can assist with daily living activities such as personal errands, doctor visits, legal appointments, church events and more.
• We provide a community space for our Deaf friends to use including a computer room, exercise room, game room, and a conference/multi-purpose room. Access to our space and resources is free.

Access support in a Deaf friendly environment with direct communication.

Often programs designed to support underserved populations remain difficult for deaf and hard of hearing individuals to access largely because of communication barriers. At Partnership, we are fluent in American Sign Language and can offer immediate and direct access to services and our program is specially designed for the unique needs of deaf people. And due to our many community partnerships, we can provide helpful services of many kinds at no charge to the deaf community.

Whether you are seeking specific services or just want to connect to our community, getting started is easy! Get in touch with our Client Service Coordinator and begin a conversation here.