Names and numbers. Both are important to us at Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, but as we reflect on an amazing 2023, it’s the names—of the people that we serve—that stand out the most.
That’s because ultimately our day-to-day work is relational. We come alongside people, often folks who have run into roadblock after roadblock in different systems, and we walk with them, we advocate for them, and we work to get results.
We are approaching three decades of doing this work, going back to our founding in 1995 when a medical emergency for a Deaf community leader named Marty Jansen convinced area interpreters, hearing service providers and Deaf and Hard of Hearing consumers, including the Jansens, to say “Enough is enough. We need a comprehensive, full-service agency addressing the needs of our Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities.”
In 2023 we again leaned into those humble beginnings to work with a variety of people from young to old and from all walks of life.
Our new home at the SOMI Unified Sports & Inclusion Center was a major asset to what we were able to accomplish in 2023.
For example, in mid-April we hosted an amazing workshop on “DeafBlind 101 & Haptics” intended to give participants the essentials of Interpreting for DeafBlind Individuals through hands-on activities, lectures and group work. Most of the participants were either working interpreters or interpreters in training students but some were interested in working with DeafBlind people as what were previously called sighted guides and are now called human guides.
Our 14th annual Signing Santa, Kids Kamp (always a highlight) and a Deaf Awareness Month event attended by 150 people were further highlights of 2023 that we were able to host at SOMI. Our senior workshops are meeting in the building every month, as is our Tuesday Group. And we have weekly ASL classes on site and online.
We also sponsored a number of off campus events in 2023, including a screening of the movie CODA for 100-plus people, followed by a panel discussion, at the Wealthy Theatre as part of Deaf History Month celebrations, and our always-popular Silent Weekend. See our News page for other terrific stories from 2023.
Allow us to leave you with a few numbers that might illustrate the breadth and depth of our work this past year:
• 225 participants at youth events
• More than 200 learners in our ASL classes
• 9 workshops held for interpreters, with nearly 200 attendees
• 43 people served with Direct Advocacy Services
• 51 seniors who received hearing aids (through Kent or Kalamazoo Millage)
• Over 3,800 interpreter jobs filled
• 8 DEI&A trainings provided to local entities
•68 EIPA tests proctored
• Over 1,770 volunteer hours given
• And so much more!
As we look ahead to 2024, we are filled with excitement and with thankfulness. What we do is a community effort, a community you are an important part of, and we offer our deep-felt gratitude.
Deb Atwood, Executive Director, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
-on behalf of the staff, the board and all those we serve
