D&HHS Uses CSD Unites Community Foundation Grant to Offer COVID Vaccine Clinic
A successful COVID-19 vaccine clinic for the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing involved a lot of work and planning, a great partnership with the Kent County Health Department, and a microgrant from the COVID-19 Resiliency Fund of the CSD Unites Community Foundation, an Austin, Texas-based organization that works on behalf of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
The grant was given to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, a Kentwood-based organization that has for 25 years now been working in almost 30 counties in West Michigan to provide equal communication access, education, and advocacy to the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing in pursuit of all life’s opportunities. It was one of just six organizations across the country to earn a grant.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services has found that COVID has made gaining access to good and reliable information about the pandemic pretty challenging, so it decided to do its part to help people who wanted the vaccine to get vaccinated, specifically people for whom some of the public vaccine clinics in the area might be problematic.
Its recent clinic included interpreters, Pocket Talkers (a device to assist the Hard of Hearing), and a multitude of friendly-face volunteers from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service staff.
The first clinic took place on May 10th at Kent County’s South Clinic on Kalamazoo Ave. SE in Kentwood. The clinic to receive the second dose of the vaccine will take place at the same location on June 3.
Those who attended and got their first shot were thrilled by the opportunity.
Kelly Glass, a Deaf community member, was one such person and afterwards she expressed her appreciation for both the clinic and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services.
“They are always there for us,” she said. “They make it so we don’t have to worry about anything.”
Glass, who was vaccinated with her DeafBlind roommate for whom she is the primary caregiver, added that they had been unsure about getting the vaccine, but when they were contacted by Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services it made their decision much easier.
“It made me feel comfortable,” she said. “It helped me decide to get it (the vaccine).”
As for their experience the day of the clinic, Glass said it could not have been better.
“Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services made us so calm,” she said. “We are very satisfied. They really cared for us. Thank you so much.”
This resource is supported by CSD Unites Community Foundation (UCF). The content is solely the responsibility of the author(s) and does not necessarily represent the official views of UCF. For more information, visit csd.org/foundation