General Services

 

 

Sign Language

American Sign Language classes are provided on an on-going basis to the general public, local schools, businesses and agencies that employ deaf people or who regularly conduct business with non-hearing consumers. Classes are taught at CCDHH and/or can be arranged at libraries, businesses or other locations.

 

FTRI - Specialized Equipment

Since 1991 CCDHH has served as a designated Regional Distribution Center for the Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc., (FTRI). FTRI offers specialized telecommunication equipment for deaf, hard of hearing, deaf/blind, and speech impaired Florida residents, age 3 and older. Amplified and Captioned Telephones are provided at no charge to hard of hearing and deaf Florida residents. Equipment is distributed from several different locations in Sarasota, South Sarasota and Manatee.

 

The Center has two offices: 1750 17th Street, Bldg. F, Sarasota, FL. 34234 Phone: (941) 366-0260 V/TTY 628 Cypress Ave, Venice, Fl. 34285 Phone: (941) 488-5709

 

Appointments are preferred due to completion of required paperwork and provision of training; however, we do accept walk-ins.

 

Advocacy

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed to ensure equality and accessibility for disabled citizens whom include the deaf and hard of hearing. CCDHH provides training and monitoring of ADA. CCDHH provides advocacy for persons with hearing loss and their family members to ensure their rights and appropriate accommodations are met. Consultation is available to service providers to meet the needs of their deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened or deaf-blind consumers. This program is continuously modified to reflect the services requested by our clients and service providers.

 

Document Translation 

Staff is available to interpret and clarify employment, insurance, legal and other documents to ensure that clients have a better understanding of the content. CCDHH also partners with Gulf Coast Legal Service to assure clients fully understand legal documents.

 

Peer Mentor Program

The complexity of hearing loss can greatly impact quality of life and an individual’s ability to advocate for his/her needs. A peer mentor is a deaf or hard of hearing person trained to support deaf and hard of hearing individuals who need information, teaching, and/or advocacy. This support can help the deaf and hard of hearing develop strategies for coping with their hearing loss and improve communication skills

 

Support Groups

CCDHH provides individuals the opportunity to communicate within social situations. The concept behind this mutual aid group is that there is power in sharing with and learning from others. This program not only facilitates communication and extends services to the deaf, hard of hearing and hearing communities, it assures that effective communication is readily available and accessible. It also makes a critical difference for deaf and hard of hearing people to communicate and fully participate in society. The Center continues to review and modify this program to ensure that up-to-date information and means of communication are available to our clients and the community.

 

Assistive Hearing Devices

CCDHH currently collaborates with a source that distributes assistive devices for deaf and hard of hearing people.