Resources
Here, you’ll discover a wealth of specialized resources and organizations dedicated to enhancing the lives of the d/Deaf and hard of hearing community:
General Resources
- COVID-19 Updates and Resources: Find information about COVID-19 and resources for d/Deaf and hard of hearing people.
- Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs: Provides a list of national and local resources for people with disabilities, their families, and the agencies that serve them.
- Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths & Adults (HKNC) Regional Center: Tools and resources for people who are DeafBlind to help them live, work and thrive in the communities of their choice.
- College Online Accommodation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students: A guide that helps deaf and hard of hearing students to learn about online accommodations colleges offer to comply with the American Disabilities Act, popular listening devices and applications, and scholarships. We also provide a list of the 5 best colleges for students with hearing disabilities as well as additional helpful resources.
- DeafLEAD: Provides 24-hour crisis intervention, advocacy, case management, interpreting, and mental health services to d/Deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind, and late-deafened individuals and their families. DeafLEAD is designed to help individuals who are victims of crimes and their families, but it also provides support to individuals, agencies, and organizations providing victim services to individuals with a hearing loss.
24 Hour Crisis Line: (321) 800-3323 - Gallaudet University Regional Center: The premier institution of learning, teaching and research for d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
- Louisiana Association of the Deaf (LAD): The oldest and largest consumer organization of the d/Deaf and hard of hearing in the state of Louisiana. LAD advocates for the educational, economic, and social well-being of d/Deaf and hard of hearing people.
- Louisiana Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf: Professional organization designed to further the profession of interpretation of American Sign Language and English and the transliteration of English. The website provides information, resources, and education and training opportunities for interpreters.
- Louisiana Rehabilitation Services: Helps people with disabilities obtain or maintain employment and achieve independence in their communities by providing rehabilitation services and working in collaboration with businesses and other community organizations.
Resources for Children
- Parent Pupil Education Program: Provides specialized early intervention services for families with children who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing.
- Louisiana Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program: Works to ensure all children who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing can effectively communicate and develop the language skills they need to learn, grow and thrive.
- Louisiana Hands and Voices: Provides family-to-family support from a trained parent guide to parents of children recently identified as d/Deaf or hard of hearing.
- Louisiana Believes | Louisiana Department of Education: Provides guidance and resources for families, educators, and administrators to help students with disabilities reach their full academic potential.
- Louisiana School for the Deaf: Serves approximately 400 d/Deaf or hard of hearing children and their families, making them one of the major schools for the d/Deaf in the nation. Visit the website to view teacher and class web pages, read information about various Outreach and Support Services, and find employment opportunities.
- Louisiana DeafBlind Project for Children and Youth | LSU Human Development Center: Provides information on DeafBlindness, including effective strategies to support children and youth with who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing or have low vision/vision loss. The program also provides family support, webinars, training, and technical assistance.
Additional Services
- National Voter Registration Act (NVRA): In accordance with the National Voter Registration Act, the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf (LCD) will help people who are d/Deaf, DeafBlind, hard of hearing, and those with speech disorders register to vote. Contact your local Regional Service Center to get help registering to vote.
- Telephone Relay Services: Available for anyone who has a Text Telephone/Teletypewriter (TTY) or similar text device. The user can call the number below to connect to a communication assistant through a Relay Service. The Relay Service assistant receives the message, and sends it to the intended recipient using either text or voice to “relay” the conversation. The call can start with text and be relayed via voice, or vice versa.
- TTY (Text) Relay Service: (800) 846-5277
- Voice Relay Services: (800) 947-5277
- Video Relay Services (VRS): Allows people who are d/Deaf to communicate using American Sign Language by connecting via camera to a certified American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter. The interpreter joins the conversation and translates between ASL and spoken language for both participants. The call can be started by a hearing person or someone who is d/Deaf. If you are a hearing person calling a d/Deaf person, just dial the number of the person you are calling and you will automatically be connected to a video interpreter if the d/Deaf person has video phone capabilities. If you are a d/Deaf person in need of a video phone, please contact one of the call centers listed below:
- Convo VP: (510) 629-5622
- Purple VP: (877) 467-4877
- Sorenson VP: (801) 287-9403
- ZVRS VP: English (866) 932-7891