Our Services

Interpreter Referral Service

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services assists West Michigan's businesses and individuals in making reasonable accommodations for their deaf and hard of hearing clients and customers by serving as a 24 hour, 7 day a week, source for Sign Language interpreters. Anyone can call Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services when the need for an interpreter arises. Our staff acts as an intermediary, carefully matching the consumer's unique language needs with the most appropriate certified/qualified interpreter available. We adhere to the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf's Code of Ethics and Michigan's Interpreter Law when coordinating placement of an interpreter for the designated request..

Job Development/Job Placement Services

We assist deaf and hard of hearing people in getting the proper training and landing successful employment with a company, regardless of education, income status, or hearing loss. If you are deaf and hard of hearing and looking for training, hearing aids or assistive equipment, or employment services, you need to contact Michigan Rehabilitation Services at 242-6491 (v) or 242-6488 (tty). This is how you will get referred to the Job Development / Job Placement Specialist at DeafHHS to assist you with the services you need.

Hard of Hearing Services

The Hard of Hearing Specialist assists hard of hearing people in learning how to deal with their hearing loss.  He will assess what assistive technologies you may need and order them for you. We have library books about hearing loss as well as adaptive devices to assist the hard of hearing to function with their daily life and interaction wtih people.

Support Coodination (Social Work)

The Support Coordinator under Network 180 connects people with resources that can be difficult to access.  The Support Coordinator assists clients with needs ranging from medication to housing to assistance understanding forms. Clients served by DeafHHS must be deaf or hard of hearing.  The best way to find out if a person qualifies for these services is to contact DeafHHS at 732-7358.  An appointment will be made.

Information and Referral

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services maintains an ever growing library of resources and general information regarding deafness and hearing loss. We have trained personnel to answer questions related to those topics. If we cannot directly answer the question, we will refer the individual to someone who can.

Through the past ten years, the voice of Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services has been heard in our community in a variety of ways. We have been active in speaking out for the rights of Deaf people as provided under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA law). We have been teaching the Deaf community about their rights under the law and advocated for Deaf people in cases where their rights were being ignored.

We are the gap inbetween the Deaf community and the hearing community, educating both communities about how to co-exist in a way that is respectful of each community. It is our hope that by working with both communities, we will bring an increased sensitivity to issues surrounding deafness to the hearing community and an increased empowerment to obtain rights to the Deaf community. Workshops and training are offered to both the deaf and hard of hearing communities as well as to the general hearing community on related advocacy issues.

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services offers several levels of American Sign Language classes. All classes are taught by individuals whose first language is American Sign Language. Go to the Events page to see what we are offering during the season. Call or e-mail us to register! The fee is $100 without the book and $140 with the book.

Lip-Reading Classes

Lip Reading Classes are offered in 12-week sessions.  These sessions help people who have a hearing loss develop skills in utilizing lip reading.  Please call us if you would like to enroll in this class. The fee is $75.