Resources for Hearing Impaired

Shown below, is a comprehensive listing of websites that contain resources and materials for the deaf, and hearing impaired.

  • Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing assists families, health care providers and educational professionals in understanding and coping with childhood hearing loss, as well as the importance of early diagnosis and intervention. Their International Affiliate Program offers worldwide support and encouragement to organizations that promote their mission and standards of assistance.
  • American Sign Language Browser was created by Michigan State University. The website provides an alphabetical listing of words and phrases, in combination with a video demonstrating the words being signed in American Sign Language (ASL) for comprehension.
  • American Sign Language University offers information and resources that teach sign language and includes lessons, a dictionary, finger spelling, numbers, jokes, quizzes, charts, workbooks, advice, ASL terminology and a self-study schedule.
  • American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC) is a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring deaf and hard of hearing children receive access to full communication resources in their homes, schools and communities. They also provide resources to aid the support of parents, as well as language development skills that make it possible for children to achieve academic and social success.
  • ASLPRO.COM supplies ASL educators with learning tools and references that improve the instruction of sign language students. The website includes videos in combination with an alphabetical listing of common words, in addition to conversational phrases, religious signs and ASL for babies.
  • Better Hearing Institute (BHI) is a not for profit corporation committed to educating the public about hearing loss through the media, printed materials, research, the ability to connect with health care professionals and a call center for individuals with questions about hearing problems or deafness. It also promotes the treatment of hearing loss and assists patients with finding solutions.
  • Careers for Deaf People is a PowerPoint presentation, which describes the types of occupations available for individuals with hearing impairments and deafness, such as lawyers, doctors, nurses, dentists, veterinarians, scientists, pilots, astronauts, priests and ministers, firefighters, EMTs, FBI agents, actors and actresses, comedians, athletes, lifeguards and musicians.
  • Children of Deaf Adults, Inc. (CODA) is a worldwide organization for adult hearing daughters and sons of deaf parents committed to the development of resources, such as education, self-help strategies and support groups. The organization also promotes individual growth and family awareness by organizing advocacy efforts.
  • DeafHope is a non-profit organization with a mission to end domestic violence and sexual abuse of deaf children and women by educating and empowering them. They also provide statewide technical assistance and training to affect the establishment of services for the deaf and deaf survivors.
  • DEAF inc. works toward encouraging and empowering the deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind within diverse cultural and ethnic populations. It gives them the capability to lead productive and self-sufficient lives by providing a full spectrum of supportive programs and services in community environments.
  • Deaf Linx gives information on companies that provide various captioning services for the deaf and hearing impaired, such as closed captioning media and films, Communication Access Realtime Translation and C-Print.
  • DeafNation, Inc. is an international provider of current news topics, popular video content, social networking, and special events for deaf and hard of hearing communities. They offer coverage of international events, such as the World Deaf Basketball Championships and Deaflympics.
  • Dogs for the Deaf, Inc. rescues and professionally trains dogs to assist the deaf and hard of hearing in order to improve their lives. They maintain lifelong relationships with the dogs and people they aid.
  • Gallaudet University is the world’s leading education and career development source for deaf and hard of hearing students, which offers undergraduate and graduate programs and addition, conducts research on the history, culture and language of deaf communities.
  • Global Deaf Connection is a non-governmental, international organization that strives to increase educational, economic and social opportunities for deaf people among the world’s poorest nations. Its mission is to raise the number of deaf students, teachers and professionals in the world by providing vocational and academic instruction.
  • Handspeak.com provides an ASL dictionary, sign language articles, finger spelling manual, ASL literature, art and poetry, news, and words and phrases of the day.
  • Hearing Health Foundation is dedicated to hearing research, the prevention of and cure for deafness. The foundation’s purpose is to help individuals achieve healthy hearing for a lifetime through advocacy, education and research. It’s the foremost national source of private information for hearing sciences and research.
  • Hearing Loss Risk Factors is an article by staff member of the Mayo Clinic, which describes factors that can damage the ear and lead to hearing loss. 
  • Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Persons Who Are Deaf is a publication by A. Barry Critchfield, PhD, prepared for the National Technical Assistance Center (NTAC), which explains issues associated with the deaf culture and community, social issues, mental health and deaf education.
  • Mental Health and Deafness Resources, Inc., also known as The Patricia A. Scherer Center, offers educational and mental health services to those suffering from communication disorders, are deaf or hard of hearing. Their assistance includes diagnostic services, educational resources, group homes and a psychiatric hospital program.
  • National Endowment for the Arts provides a listing of organizations that assist artists with disabilities and specialize in hearing impaired individuals, which includes the International Center on Deafness and the Arts and SignStage.
  • National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) is part of the National Institute of Health (NIH), which is the Federal government’s central support for biomedical research dedicated to discovering new information that will help in detecting, diagnosing, preventing and treating individuals suffering from deafness.
  • National Association of the Deaf is a non-profit organization and the nation’s leading civil rights organization for the deaf and hard of hearing. It advocates on behalf of their communities, the right to use sign language, having their interests fairly represented and the ability to congregate on important issues.
  • National Deaf Academy provides nationwide educational and psychiatric services to the deaf, hard of hearing, autistic and other communication disorders. It offers a 132-bed residential facility dedicated to the treatment of a wide range of behavioral illnesses.
  • National Education for Assistance Dog Services (NEADS), also known as Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans, is a non-profit organization that provides canine assistance. The dogs offer their handlers physical autonomy and freedom from the social isolation the deaf typically experience.

  • Raising Deaf Kids, also known as the Deafness and Family Communication Center (DFCC) at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, provides information that enable parents of children from birth to teens understand deafness and make positive decisions. Their website offers helpful parenting resources, such as screening, early intervention, communication, school choices and technology options.
  • Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) is a national membership organization that represents professional interpreters, and brings them together with the deaf or hard of hearing, so they can serve as communicators in places such as, schools, courtrooms, churches, hospitals, theaters, television locations and political venues.
  • Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc.  (TDI) encourages the distribution of TTYs or Text Telephones for the deaf community and provides a national directory of TTY numbers. TDI removes telecommunication barriers for the hearing impaired, enabling them to participate in society and live independently.
  • The Deaf Resource Library is a collection of references and network resource materials for the deaf community, such as publications, social sites, schools and universities, higher education programs, scholarships, clubs, organizations, churches, mailing lists, newsgroups and linguistics.
  • USA Deaf Sports Federation oversees the administration and coordination of all professional-level international sporting events and competitions for the deaf and hard of hearing with a hearing loss of 55dB or greater.
  • World Federation of the Deaf is an international organization comprised of national deaf associations in 130 countries. It advocates for human rights issues for the deaf and their family members on matters such as equality and respect regardless of age, gender, race, nationality, religion or sexual preference.