Resources
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
3417 Volta Place, NW
Washington, DC 20007
202/337-5220
TTY: 202/337-5221
Fax: 202/337-8314
The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing helps families, health care providers and education professionals understand childhood hearing loss and the importance of early diagnosis and intervention.
American Academy of Audiology (Academy)
11730 Plaza America Drive, Suite 300
Reston, VA 20190
800-AAA-2336
Fax: 703-790-8631
The American Academy of Audiology is the world’s largest professional organization of, by, and for audiologists. The active membership of more than 11,000 is dedicated to providing quality hearing care services through professional development, education, research, and increased public awareness of hearing and balance disorders.
Licensing of audiologists in the states
American Board of Audiology (ABA)
11730 Plaza America Drive, Suite 300
Reston, VA 20190
800-881-5410
Fax: 703-790-8631
Mission Statement: The American Board of Audiology® (ABA), an autonomous organization, is 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 Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA)
2200 Research Boulevard
Rockville, MD 20850-3289
Non-Member: 800-638-8255
Fax: 301-296-8580
TTY (Text Telephone Communication Device): 301-296-5650
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association is the professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 145,000 members and affiliates who are speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists in the United States and internationally.
State laws covering the licensing of audiologists
Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board)
1111 18th Street, NW, Suite 501
Washington, DC 20036
800-USA-ABLE
800-USA-ABLE (TDD)
The Access Board is 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.
Association of Late Deafened Adults, ALDA Inc.
8038 Macintosh Lane, Suite 2,
Rockford Illinois, 61107
Phone: 815-332-1515
The Association of Late Deafened Adults’ mission is to “support the empowerment of deafened people.” ALDA’s vision is “to establish a universal presence for ALDA that connects people who embrace all forms of communication: visual, oral, and aural, and supports people who face the unique challenges of living as a late-deafened adult.”
Better Hearing Institute
This is a very comprehensive, highly resourceful website. The information can be used by consumers and providers alike and contains a wide variety of topics with extensive, interactive resources. From the hearing loss simulator to the articles on ALDS and aural education and counseling, the information provided is precise, effective and state-of-the-art. Also, links to other resources are provided.
Beyond Hearing Aids
The Beyond Hearing Aids website, owned by Rebecca Morris, targets consumers and professionals, including VR counselors, to provide products and information concerning technology used by persons with hearing loss. Particularly useful is the communication assessment form and service that is available via the website as well as the ALD newsletter highlighting and describing new technology and solutions.
This website also links to www.onthejobwithhearingloss.com to the book by that name which describes how to identify barriers and lay out a plan to successfully accommodate employees with hearing loss in all occupational areas. Examples, previous occupational reports and case studies are effective in teaching this 10 step process.
Another link mentioned is www.aldtraining.com which provides online, in-depth, interactive training to VR counselors and other professionals about technology and devices for persons with hearing loss. There are several modules with continuously updated information as well as tools and other resources to effectively work with ALDs and consumers.
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Disability Rights Office
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
(888) 225-5322 (Voice)
(888) 835-5322 (TTY)
The Disability Rights Office (DRO) addresses disability-related telecommunications matters, including telecommunications relay service (TRS) (Section 225), access to telecommunications equipment and services by persons with disabilities (Section 255), access to emergency information, and closed captioning. DRO also provides expert advice and assistance, as required, to other bureaus and offices, consumers, industry, and others on issues relevant to persons with disabilities. DRO initiates rulemakings, where appropriate, for the development of disability policy; reviews relevant agenda items and other documents and coordinates with bureaus and offices to develop recommendations and propose policies to ensure that communications are accessible to persons with disabilities, in conformance with existing disability laws and policies, and that they support the commission’s goal of increasing accessibility of communications services and technologies for persons with disabilities.
Disabled Persons’ Telecommunications Access – Section 255
FCC Guide, Emergency Video Programming Accessibility to Persons with Hearing and Visual Disabilities
FCC Section 504 Programs and Activities Accessibility Handbook
FCC FAQ Regarding Hearing Aid Compatibility and Volume Control (HAC/VC)
A list of all equipment manufacturers and service providers
FCC Guide, Hearing Aid Compatibility for Wireless Telephones
Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act
To file a complaint with the FCC’s Consumer Center:
- Call 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice, or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY
- Fax 1-866-418-0232
- Write to:
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554
Hands & Voices
P.O. Box 3093
Boulder CO 80307
(303) 492-6283
Hands & Voices is a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to supporting families and their children who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as the professionals who serve them. It is a parent-driven, parent/professional collaborative group that is unbiased towards communication modes and methods. Its diverse membership includes those who are deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing impaired and their families who communicate orally, with signs, cue, and/or combined methods. It exists to help children reach their highest potential.
Hearing Loss Association of America
7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1200
Bethesda, MD 20850
301-657-2248
TTY: 301-657-2249
Fax: 301-913-9413
The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) is the nation’s leading organization representing people with hearing loss. HLAA provides assistance and resources for people with hearing loss and their families to learn how to adjust to living with hearing loss. HLAA is working to eradicate the stigma associated with hearing loss and raise public awareness about the need for prevention, treatment, and regular hearing screenings throughout life.This website provides excellent information to consumers and providers about hearing loss and what can be done to manage its’ effects. The site is very interactive with links to a variety of resource documents, videos, brochures, etc. The “Hearing Help” section is particularly applicable to VR Counselors with materials in the categories of Understanding Hearing Loss, Technology and Employment. All of these are user-friendly and should be used with educating/counseling consumers. This section would also be good basic information for the VR Counselor new to serving hard of hearing consumers. The Employment content is very detailed, useful, and applicable to Job Search/Placement activities. The training section mentions upcoming courses describing pertinent content.
Regulation of the sale of hearing aids
Advocacy for people with hearing loss
Ida Institute
The Ida Institute is an independent, non-profit organization that works to foster a better understanding of the human dynamics associated with hearing loss. The Ida Institute creates and shares innovative, actionable knowledge to help hearing care professionals address the psychological and social challenges of hearing loss and implement patient-centered care practices. It is an independent, non-profit organization located in Denmark and funded by a grant from the Oticon Foundation.
International Hearing Society (HIS)
16880 Middlebelt Road, Suite 4
Livonia, MI 48154
Phone: (734) 52-7200
Fax: (734) 522-0200
The International Hearing Society (IHS) is a membership association that represents hearing healthcare professionals worldwide. IHS members are engaged in the practice of testing human hearing and selecting, fitting and dispensing hearing instruments and counseling patients.
National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS)
Institute on Rehabilitation Issues
George Washington University’s Institute on Rehabilitation Issues (IRI)
2011 Eye Street NW
Suite 300 Washington, DC 20052
Phone: (202) 973-1550
TTY: (202) 973-1544
Fax: (202) 775-0053
Purposes for the IRI:
- Identify and discuss field-initiated topics of importance to the public rehabilitation program.
- Develop materials which can be used by state VR agencies and others concerned about staff development in rehabilitation.
- Publish and disseminate the materials widely to persons who provide rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities.
Job Accommodations Network
(800)526-7234 (Voice)
(877)781-9403 (TTY)
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a service provided by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). JAN is 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.
Model State Plan for Vocational Rehabilitation of Persons who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Hard of Hearing or Late Deafened
Model State Plan for Vocational Rehabilitation of Persons who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Hard of Hearing or Late Deafen includes recommended guidelines for improving the delivery of federal/state vocational rehabilitation services leading to successful employment outcomes for persons who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or late deafened.
National Association of the Deaf
8630 Fenton Street, Suite 820
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Voice/VP: 301.587.1788
TTY: 301.587.1789
Fax: 301.587.1791
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is the nation’s premier civil rights organization of, by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America. Established in 1880, the NAD was shaped by deaf leaders who believed in the right of the American deaf community to use sign language, to congregate on issues important to them, and to have its interests represented at the national level. These beliefs remain true to this day, with American Sign Language as a core value.
National Council on Disability
1331 F Street, NW, Suite 850
Washington, DC 20004
202-272-2004 (Voice)
202-272-2074 (TTY)
202-272-2022 (Fax)
NCD is a small, independent federal agency charged with advising the President, Congress, and other federal agencies regarding policies, programs, practices, and procedures that affect people with disabilities. NCD is comprised of a team of fifteen Senate-confirmed presidential appointees, an executive director appointed by the chairman, and eleven, full-time professional staff.
“Equality of Opportunity: The Making of the Americans with Disabilities Act”
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) is 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.
Postsecondary Education Network
Postsecondary Education Network’s website contains extensive resources related to a variety of topics concerning persons with hearing loss. A lot of the materials can are available directly from the website or can be ordered inexpensively.
CSAVR Standing Committee on Services to Individuals who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Hard of Hearing, & Late Deafened
1 Research Court, Suite 450,
Rockville, MD 20850
Telephone: 301-519-8023
The Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation is composed of the chief administrators of the public rehabilitation agencies serving individuals with physical and mental disabilities in the States, District of Columbia, and the territories. These agencies constitute the state partners in the State-Federal program of rehabilitation services provided under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. The Council’s members supervise the rehabilitation of some 1.2 million persons with disabilities.
Telecommunications for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
8630 Fenton Street, Suite 604,
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3822
Phone: 301-589-3786
Video: 301-563-9112 or 71.166.174.51;
TTY: 301-589-3006
FAX: 301-589-3797
TDI (formally known as Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc.) was established in 1968 originally to promote further distribution of TTYs in the deaf community and to publish an annual national directory of TTY numbers. Today, it is an active national advocacy organization focusing its energies and resources to address equal access issues in telecommunications and media for four constituencies in deafness and hearing loss, specifically people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, late-deafened, or deaf-blind.
Author Samuel Trychin, Ph.D.
Sam Trychin’s website contains a variety of books and training packages useful for professionals and consumers in adjusting and dealing with hearing loss.
- Trychin, S. (2002). Assessing and resolving hearing loss-related problems in the workplace. Hearing Loss, SHHH, Bethesda, MD.
- Trychin, S. (2003). Information to have with you, when applying for vocational rehabilitation services. Hearing Loss, SHHH, Bethesda, MD
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) Headquarters
451 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20410
The Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) administers and enforces federal laws and establishes policies that make sure all Americans have equal access to the housing of their choice.
Hair housing / equal opportunity
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Office of the Assistant Attorney General, Main
Washington, D.C. 20530
(202) 514-4609
(202) 514-0716 TTY
The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, created in 1957 by the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, works to uphold the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans, particularly some of the most vulnerable members of our society. The Division enforces federal statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, disability, religion, familial status and national origin.
U.S. Department of Justice, Americans with Disabilities Act
U.S. Department of Justice, “Americans with Disabilities Act: A Guide to Disability Rights Laws,” September 2005, updated September, 2006.
U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Social Security Administration, “A Guide for People with Disabilities Seeking Employment,” October, 2000, updated October, 2008.
U.S. Department of Justice, “Gathering Input from Customers with Disabilities: The Importance of Customer Feedback,” March, 2007.
Maintaining Accessible Features in Retail Establishments HTML | PDF
Maintaining Accessibility in Museums HTML | PDF
ADA Publications for Businesses
Expanding Your Market:
Accessible Information Exchange: Meeting on a Level Playing Field HTML | PDF
Customers with Disabilities Mean Business HTML | PDF
Accessibility Benefits Older Adult Customers HTML | PDF
Accessible Customer Service Practices for Hotel and Lodging Guests with Disabilities HTML | PDF
Building a Diverse Customer Base HTML | PDF
Tax Incentives for Business HTML | PDF
Gathering Input from Customers with Disabilities HTML | PDF
ADA Business Briefs:
Communicating with Guests who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in Hotels, Motels, and Other Places of Transient Lodging PDF screen version (88k) | PDF print version (672k) | HTML version
Service Animals (PDF) screen version | (PDF) print version | HTML version
ADA Questions and Answers HTML version
ADA Regulations for Businesses HTML version
(title III) – Department of Justice requirements for businesses and non-profit service providers
Information about ADA and Employment
Learn More about the ADA and Department of Justice ADA Publications
U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Room C-3325
Washington, D.C. 20210
(202) 693-0106 (voice/relay)
U. S. Department of Labor, The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 503
U.S. Department of Transportation
Office of Civil Rights
Federal Transit Administration
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Room 9102
Washington, D.C. 20590
(888) 446-4511 (voice/relay)
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity and access for persons with disabilities.
The Federal Transit Administration works to ensure nondiscriminatory transportation in support of our mission to enhance the social and economic quality of life for all Americans. The FTA Office of Civil Rights is responsible for civil rights compliance and monitoring to ensure nondiscriminatory provision of transit services.
Toll-Free Hotline for Air Travelers with Disabilities
U.S. Department of Education
Annette Reichman – Annette.Reichman@ed.gov
U.S. Department of Education, OSERS
Rehabilitation Services Administration
400 Maryland Avenue, S. W., Room 5124, PCP
Washington, DC 20202-2800
Telephone: (202) 245-7489
Fax: (202) 245-7636
TDD: (202) 205-7407
U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
P.O. Box 7033
Lawrence, Kansas 66044
(800) 669-4000 (Voice), (800) 669-6820 (TDD)
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. It is also illegal to discriminate against a person because the person complained about discrimination, filed a charge of discrimination, or participated in an employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit.
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, “The ADA: Your Employment Rights as an Individual with a Disability,” March, 2005.
Age Discrimination in Employment Act
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights
Washington, D.C. 20201
(202) 619-0403
1-800-368-1019
1-800-537-7697 (TDD)
Your Rights Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (PDF)
U.S. General Services Administration
Center for IT Accommodation (CITA)
1800 F Street, N.W.
Room 1234, MC:MKC
Washington, DC 20405-0001
(202) 501-4906 (voice)
(202) 501-2010 (TTY)
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Section 508 complaint procedure
Vocational Rehabilitation In–Service Training Grant from RSA
This grant includes training to keep counselors current in services, strategies and technological advances in services and technology for consumers who are hard of hearing and late deafened.
Regional Technical Assistance and Continuing Education Programs (TACE)
All ten TACEs will, as a result of this short–term training initiative, be informed of the availability of the project’s training materials and associated media. They should be encouraged to assist states:
- As staff turnover occurs, regional workshops to train new staff might be a more efficient use of resources than each state training one or two counselors themselves.
- TACEs should be encouraged to develop regional training programs, supplementary to individual state efforts, to keep staff “state-of-the art” in serving consumers who are hard of hearing and late deafened.
- As services to this population are implemented, service providers will likely be targeted for training. TACEs should be encouraged to assist in tailoring training to the specific needs of the targeted professional(s).
State Technology Assistance Grants
Recipients of these grants should be considered for assistance associated with technology and training in its availability and use as applied to individuals who are hard of hearing and late deafened.
Other Resources:
Sample audiologic exam form (PDF)
Sample audiology adult case history form (PDF)
Sample hearing aid post-use verification form (PDF)
Example hearing aid evaluation form (PDF)