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Deaf / Hard Of Hearing

Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services (ADWAS)

Serves Deaf and DeafBlind survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and harassment. They provide services in Washington state and staff the 24/7 National Deaf Hotline, which provides confidential education, safety planning, and referrals. The Deaf Hotline website has great information and training modules in ASL on topics like deaf culture and domestic violence, healthy relationships, consent, how to support loved ones, and more.

ADWAS Office: 8623 Roosevelt Way Northeast, Seattle, Washington 98115
(206) 922-7088
adwas.org
24/7 Deaf Domestic Violence Hotline: (855) 812-1001 VP
thedeafhotline.org

Alexander Graham Bell (AG Bell) Association for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing

Promotes the use of listening and spoken language for infants, young children and adults who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (rather than signed or visual languages). Their website provides a lot of resources for parents, including financial aid and scholarship opportunities.
3417 Volta Place Northwest, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 337-5220
agbell.org

Assistive Technology of Ohio (AT Ohio)

A device-lending library housed at the Ohio State University College of Engineering. Ohio residents of all ages with any disability can borrow devices such as AAC devices, switches, phones, magnifiers, and more. Some items may only be borrowed for professional use. The Computer Refurbishing program provides desktop computers for individuals with a disability at low cost. Programs require application and documentation, visit the website for details. They also offer virtual consultations for disability professionals in Ohio. Click on the list of Adaptive Toy Libraries to check out adaptive toys at a library in your county.
1314 Kinnear Road, Columbus, Ohio 43212
(614) 292-2390
Computer Refurbishing Program: (614) 688-3222
Virtual Appointments: (614) 292-7721
atohio.engineering.osu.edu

BabySignLanguage.com

Baby sign language is a way for all parents to improve early infant communication and communicate with children before they can speak. This website has free resources including videos, downloadable flash cards, and tutorials to help you start signing at home.
babysignlanguage.com

Cellphone Accessibility

Below are accessibility plans for some major cellphone providers. Most providers offer TTY-compatible phones and 7-1-1 relay services. Additional accessibility features are available depending on the device. Call or go online for additional details.

AT&T
Offers a discounted Accessibility Plan for people with a hearing or speech disability.
Voice: (866) 241-6568
TTY: (866) 241-6567
att.com/support/article/wireless/KM1207491

T-Mobile
Services include ASL Video Customer Service, large print and braille billing statements, and a Directory Assistance Program.
Voice Call: (800) 676-3777
Español: (800) 676-4290
Speech-to-Speech: (877) 787-1989
TTY: (800) 676-3777
tmobileaccess.com

Verizon
Offers account materials/bills in Braille, large print, or audio file. Visit the website to compare accessibility features between devices.
Voice & TTY: (800) 974-6006
ASL & Video: (508) 251-5301
verizon.com/accessibility

Central Ohio Youth for Christ (COYFC) (Includes Gracehaven and Wellspring Counseling)

A faith-based organization that offers free programs for youth through partnerships with local churches. Programs include:

City Life: Offers free group meetings, mentoring relationships, free childcare and other support for teen moms, job and life skills training and financial literacy for teens in Reynoldsburg and Franklinton.
Equip Skills Center: Teaches teens how to perform automobile maintenance and repairs. Donated cars are repaired under the supervision of a certified mechanic.
(614) 237-7300
Point Break: A day-long anti-bullying seminars for area high schools. This evidence-based program helps teens develop compassion for each other.
Juvenile Justice Ministries: Offers spiritual counseling sessions and small interactive chapel services for incarcerated youth at multiple juvenile detention centers. Connects teens who have been released with mentors and peer groups.
Deaf Teen Quest: Fellowship groups for teens who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Gracehaven: Services for trafficked and exploited youth include a therapeutic group home, case management, and mentoring.
(614) 665-0665
Parent Life: Connects expectant and parenting teens with adult volunteers and community partners for help with parenting skills, childcare, transportation, mentoring, and more.
Wellspring Counseling: Provides low-cost counseling at several Columbus locations. Their licensed counselors provide clinical individual and family counseling, psychological assessments, and referrals to community services for ages 5 and older. No psychiatry or medication management services. They accept private insurance or self-pay with sliding scale fees.
1335 Dublin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 538-0353

PO Box 14804, Columbus, Ohio 43214
(614) 848-4870
coyfc.org

Columbus Hearing Impaired Program (CHIP)

Free program through Columbus City Schools to support Deaf or Hard of Hearing students PreK-12. Works with central Ohio school districts to provide services such as access to extracurriculars and transportation to suit individual needs. Find enrollment details online.
(614) 365-5977
ccsoh.us

Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML)

CML is an award-winning library and amazing resource in the community. With 23 locations throughout Franklin County, they provide a lot more than just books, including lots of free online resources, story times for kids, and community events. Programs include:

Adaptive Services: Request accommodations, adaptive audio and visual equipment, and large print reading materials.
Adult Education: ESOL and GED referrals; free technology business, and coding classes; history and genealogy experts, Digital Navigator staff can help you access hardware and software, and Excel Adult High School allows adults to get their high-school degree in an online, self-paced program.
Business & Nonprofit Resource Center: Visit Main Library for access to co-working space, specialized professional help, access to community partners, tools, and resources.
Culture Pass: Use your library card to check out a Culture Pass for free admission to a variety of Columbus organizations and events; including Columbus Museum of Art, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus Clippers, Columbus Symphony, and more.
Kindergarten Readiness: Find Storytimes, Play to Learn, and Kindergarten readiness classes for ages 0-5. They also have Skill Builder videos with activities you can do together at home.
Notary Service: Free basic notary service with an Ohio Notary Public at most library locations. Schedule an appointment online.
School Help: K-12 students can get after-school homework help, K-3 students can get extra reading practice with Reading Buddies in person or online, HelpNow offers 24/7 online homework help and test prep, and some locations host After School Snack times.
Teen Programs: YouMedia Discord for ages 13-17 to work on music, podcasts, videos, and more with skilled mentors; homework and test prep help, and monthly Teen Spotlight videos.

Locations:

Barnett (Temporary Location): 3227 East Livingston Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43227
Canal Winchester: 115 Franklin Street, Canal Winchester, Ohio 43110
Driving Park: 1422 Esat Livingston Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43205
Dublin: 75 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43017
Franklinton: 1061 West Town Street, Columbus, Ohio 43222
Gahanna: 310 Granville Street, Gahanna, Ohio 43230
Hilliard: 4500 Hickory Chase Way, Hilliard, Ohio 43026
Hilltop: 511 South Hague Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43204
Karl Road: 5590 Karl Road, Columbus, Ohio 43229
Linden (Temporary Location): 1990 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43211
Main Library: 96 South Grant Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Marion-Franklin: 2800 Lockbourne Road, Columbus, Ohio 43207
Martin Luther King: 1467 East Long Street, Columbus, Ohio 43203
New Albany: 200 Market Street, New Albany, Ohio 43054
Northern Lights: 4093 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43224
Northside: 1423 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43201
Parsons: 1113 Parsons Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43206
Reynoldsburg: 1402 Brice Road, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068
Shepard: 850 North Nelson Road, Columbus, Ohio 43219
South High: 3540 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43207
Southeast: 3980 South Hamilton Road, Groveport, Ohio 43125
Whetstone: 3909 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43214
Whitehall: 4445 Esat Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43213

(614) 645-2275
Upcoming Events: events.columbuslibrary.org/events?
Website: columbuslibrary.org

Columbus Speech & Hearing Center

Program: Provides occupational individual and group therapy, speech and hearing evaluations, audiology and hearing aid services, speech-language therapy sessions, community outreach programs, American Sign Language (ASL) classes for adults and youth ages 16 and older, and a Support Service Provider program.
Eligibility: Varies by program. Serves young children (under the age of 6 years old) up to seniors (65 years old and older).
Cost: Varies by program. Accepts self-pay and accept many insurances, including Caresource, Molina and Medicaid.
Referral: Individuals may refer themselves or be referred by a physician or organization.

Dublin: 5155 Bradenton Avenue, Dublin, Ohio 43017
Clintonville: 510 East North Broadway, Columbus, Ohio 43214
Westerville: 470 Olde Worthington Road, Westerville, Ohio 43082

(614) 263-5151
columbusspeech.org

Deaf Services Center (DSC)

Empowers the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community through accessibility services. Services include ASL interpretation, peer support, case management, employment services, adaptive equipment programs, youth mentoring programs and summer camps, and early intervention services for ages 0-3 years old with a diagnosis of hearing loss.
dsc.org

Central: 215 North Front Street, Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 841-1991 or (614) 515-6065 VP
Northwest: 1002 Garden Lake Parkway, Toledo, Ohio 43614
(419) 720-3935 or (419) 386-2627 VP

Described & Captioned Media Program (DCMP)

Provides services to support the academic achievement of students who are blind, visually impaired, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. Families and school personnel who have at least one student with a disability can sign up for free membership to access the media center, which has tons of great described and captioned videos with ASL pop-up tools for an accessible media experience. Topics include Deaf life, literature, art classes, science documentaries, and more. Their website also has great educational tools for parents and educators.
(864) 585-1778 or (800) 237-6213
dcmp.org

Disability Rights Ohio

Advocates for people with disabilities in Ohio. Their website has helpful resources on abuse, neglect and exploitation, employment, benefits counseling, education, voting, and more. Rise Up is an interactive youth advocacy guide with resources for transitioning into adulthood. Most of their resources are available in multiple languages, including Spanish and Somali. Complete the online intake form for legal help.
200 Civic Center Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 466-7264 or (800) 282-9181
Rise Up guides: disabilityrightsohio.org/riseup
Intake Form: disabilityrightsohio.org/intake-form
disabilityrightsohio.org

DWAVE (Deaf World Against Violence Everywhere)

Serves Ohio’s Deaf, Deaf Blind, Deaf Disabled, and Hard of Hearing communities by offering culturally affirmative services in response to relationship and sexual violence. Call to speak to a trained advocate for individualized safety planning and case management. Referrals can be placed for material help, legal help, social services, and mental health counseling. They offer 24-hour advocacy for survivors of sexual assault at local hospital emergency rooms. They also hold trainings for volunteer advocates, professionals/providers working with Deaf clients, and Deaf Culture 101.
PO Box 1286, Worthington, Ohio 43085
Videophone: (614) 678-5476
Voice/Text: (614) 887-7233
National Deaf Hotline VP: (855) 812-1001
National 24/7 Domestic Violence Hotline Voice: (800) 799-7233
facebook.com/DWAVEOhio

Easterseals Central & Southeast Ohio

Serves: Children and adults with developmental disabilities.
Provides comprehensive health services for children and adults living with disabilities. Services include early childhood education, adult day services, in-home care, referral services, and outpatient therapies. They also offer afterschool programs and summer day camps for children.
3830 Trueman Court, Hilliard, Ohio 43026
(614) 228-5523
easterseals.com/centralohio

Family Services

Provides counseling and community based social services in Southwestern Ohio. Services include:

Counseling: Individuals, couples, and families; psychiatry and medication management.
The August Project: Intervention program for perpetrators of domestic violence.
Community Services for the Deaf: ASL classes, interpreting, case management, and youth programs.
Womanline: Counseling for adults, youth, and children who have experienced sexual abuse, domestic violence, related trauma, or eating disorders; Support groups.
Trauma Recovery Center: Individual counseling, groups, and case management for individuals and families for crime-related trauma.
Anger management classes, ILC supervision prevention program, and Parenting Classes

2211 Arbor Boulevard, Dayton, Ohio 45439
(937) 222-9481
Video Phone: (937) 641-8187
24/7 Interpreting Services: (937) 640-8032
fsadayton.org

Health Information Websites

The websites below offer helpful health information from reputable sources on topics such as healthy lifestyle, diseases, prevention, and treatment.

CDC: Find an A-Z library on health conditions, vaccines, current disease outbreaks, and prevention.
Healthy Children: Information on kids health and development, parenting, and more from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
KidsHealth and TeensHealth: Tons of important health information throughout the lifespan from Nemours.
Mayo Clinic: Find symptoms, treatments, and when to see a doctor for various health conditions. They also have information on clinical trials and resources for professionals.
MedlinePlus: Look up drugs, supplements, medical tests, and health conditions from the National Library of Medicine.
MyHealthfinder: Offers information on nutrition, vaccines, and health conditions from the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
MyPlate: Healthy eating and nutrition throughout the lifespan.
Oncolink: Information about various types of cancer, treatments, and support from cancer experts.
Safe Kids Worldwide: Find safety information and toolkits on a wide range of topics including water safety, car seats, safe infant sleep, medication safety, and more. They also publish a list of recent product recalls, parent guides to safety, and safety laws for professionals.

Healthy Hearing

Offers information about hearing and hearing loss. Use the Find a Clinic tool to find hearing checks and hearing care providers across the country. They also have a free, online hearing test. The website has information on topics including hearing loss in children, hearing conditions, consumer safety, assistive listening devices, and navigating insurance and financial help.
(800) 567-1692
healthyhearing.com

Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University

Federally-funded program through Gallaudet University advocating for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. Their website has lots of helpful guides and training videos for parents and professionals on topics like language development, reading to Deaf children, and early intervention. Call the Gallaudet University East Regional Center for help finding professional development and educational opportunities for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students.
East Regional Center: (978) 556-3701 or Video Phone (978) 241-7417
clerccenter.gallaudet.edu

National Association for Rare Disorders (NORD)

Helps individuals and families impacted by rare diseases and provides information in English and Spanish. Use the State Resource Center to find programs by state. They have several financial assistance programs to help cover costs of life-saving medication, caregiver aid or respite care, and educational support. The NORD Support Helpline offers help accessing programs from an Information and Resource Services team member. They also have information on joining a clinical trial or study.
NORD Support Helpline: (800) 999-6673
Español: (844) 259-7178
rarediseases.org

National Association of the Deaf (NAD)

Civil rights organization by and for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. Their website has resources including a national ASL directory, advocacy letter tips and templates, filing a complaint, employment and fair housing information, and regular webinars. The website is available in English and Spanish. Youth programs include Youth Leadership Camp for high school sophomores and juniors, Pitch Competition with monetary prize for ages 18-30, College Bowl competition, and Jr. NAD for grades 7-12 to develop leadership skills.
8630 Fenton Street, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
(301) 587-1788 Voice/VP or (301) 587-1789 TTY
Youth Programs: youth.nad.org
Main Website: nad.org

National Center on DeafBlindness (NCDB)

A national organization serving children and youth under 21 who are deaf-blind. Families and professionals can visit the website for Learning Resources, including information on assessment, education and learning, life skills, transition planning, and more. The website is available in English and Spanish.
(516) 366-0047
nationaldb.org/for-families/learning-resources

National Deaf Therapy (NDT)

Program: Provides telemedicine mental health care in ASL from deaf-licensed therapists. Programs include individual therapy, family therapy, and couples therapy. They also have an ASL support line.
Eligibility: Deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals, families, or groups in the United States.
Cost: Accepts Private insurance, Medicare, and Self-pay. Sliding scale fees and payment plans are available for self-pay.
Referral: Visit the website to request an appointment.
Schedule an appointment: nationaldeaftherapy.janeapp.com/#/in-ohio-book-here
Main Website: nationaldeaftherapy.com

National Family Association for DeafBlind (NFADB)

Non-profit and advocacy organization serving families of individuals who are DeafBlind. Find information on legislation, resources for families, and events online.
(800) 255-0411
nfadb.org

Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) Health Information & Helping Hands

Offers educational materials for parents and caregivers from pediatric experts. Helping Hands are easy-to-read articles on topics including health conditions, caring for medical equipment at home, behavior support, medical tests, and caring for newborns. Visit the Conditions We Treat page for even more information on health conditions A-Z and how to get treatment.
Helping Hands: nationwidechildrens.org/helping-hands
Conditions We Treat: nationwidechildrens.org/conditions

Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) Hearing Clinic

Provides comprehensive services for children with hearing loss, including diagnostic assessment, early intervention, audiology, and specialized speech services. A multidisciplinary team of pediatric professionals works with families to assess the child’s needs and determine appropriate treatment. Additional Support Services are available for children under 3 years old with sensorineural hearing loss. They also offer regular Hearing Team Education, a series of educational presentations, and Hearing Loss Support Groups for parents, caregivers, and teens.
555 South Eighteenth Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205
Main Office and Referral: (614) 722-6200
Support Services: (614) 722-2441
Support Groups: (614) 722-3049
nationwidechildrens.org/hearing

Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) Occupational, Speech & Physical Therapy Programs

Provides developmental occupational therapy (OT), speech and language therapy, and physical therapy (PT) services. Services are provided at the main hospital and at many clinic locations throughout the community, for children from birth to age 21.
700 Children’s Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43205
(614) 722-2200
Occupational Therapy: nationwidechildrens.org/specialties/occupational-therapy
Speech Pathology: nationwidechildrens.org/specialties/speech-pathology
Physical Therapy: nationwidechildrens.org/specialties/physical-therapy

OCALI Outreach Center for Deafness and Blindness

This resource through OCALI works to increase access and equity for students, families, and communities impacted by deafness or blindness. Families can find helpful information on medical conditions, adaptive sports and recreation, parent mentoring programs, and more. Professionals can find educational resources, learn from those with lived experience, and find CEU trainings.
470 Glenmont Avenue, Columbus Ohio 43214
(614) 410-0380
deafandblindoutreach.org

Ohio Center for Autism & Low Incidence (OCALI)

Connects individuals with disabilities to community resources, advocates for inclusive public policy, and provides training opportunities for professionals. They publish an Autism parent guide that includes topics such as screening and diagnosis, accessing educational services, and future planning. Their website has many helpful resources, including the Autism Center, Outreach Center for Deafness and Blindness, Lifespan Transitions, Assistive Technology, Teaching Diverse Learners, Family and Community Outreach, and Young Child Center.
470 Glenmont Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43214
(614) 410-0321
OCALI Contact Directory: ocali.org/project/learn_about_OCALI/page/contact_OCALI
ocali.org

Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD)

Statewide nonprofit organization serving educators, agencies, and families of infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities in Ohio. Programs include 1:1 reading mentoring, It’s My Turn free online self-advocacy course for middle and high schoolers, Family-to-Family meetings for parents of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children, and parent mentoring. Families and professionals can find helpful trainings, videos, and tipsheets on their website. Call your county’s Information Specialist for help getting connected to resources in your area.
125 Executive Drive, Marion, Ohio 43302
(844) 382-5452
Information Specialist Directory (Click on your County): filecabinet5.eschoolview.com/7132D93C-113A-42DB-AD9B-3D42946C44E5/effd8e8a-ebbd-4eb0-8dea-6fee64aba5a4.pdf
Main Website: ocecd.org

Ohio Relay

Provides free services for those who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind or those with a Speech Disability to place and receive phone calls. Calls can be made to anyone, anywhere in the world, 24/7. Communication assistants are specially trained to facilitate the calls, and all calls are completely confidential. Find Voice/telephone numbers below, and specific instructions depending on the assistive device at the link.
Voice Call: 711
TTY: (800) 750-0750
Customer Service Voice/TTY: 800-941-6446
Español: (888) 269-0678
ohiorelay.com/contact-us

Ohio School for the Deaf (OSD)

Provides support and education to Ohio’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing students PreK-12. Students with an IEP are eligible at no cost. Students are educated at OSD as the district of service, but remain a student of their home district. The home district must request placement for a student to attend. OSD offers year-round after school programs, summer programs, 4Plus transition/career readiness program, family events, and more.
500 Morse Road, Columbus, Ohio 43214
(614) 728-4030
osd.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/osd

Oracle Health Foundation

Provides financial grants to help cover costs related to children’s healthcare needs. Grants are provided for clinical costs, equipment costs, displacement, or vehicle modification. Examples of expenses covered include lodging and transportation related to a child’s care, clinical procedures, medicine, care devices/medical equipment, and assistive equipment. The grant recipient must be 21 years of age or younger, be under the care of a physician, and have no existing insurance coverage for the requested expenses. Families may request funds once per 12 months, with a maximum of three times in a child’s lifetime. Visit the website to complete an application.
(816) 573-6050
oraclehealthfoundation.org/pediatric-grants

Southeastern Ohio Center for Independent Living (SOCIL)

Assists people of all ages with disabilities to live more independently. The majority of their board and staff are people with disabilities assisting others. They provide information and referrals for housing, education, transportation, benefits, and other community resources. The Assistive Technology program loans eating utensils, screen readers, magnifiers, autism sensory items, and more. They also offer free group living skills classes and support for youth with IEPs. Call to report ADA violations in Fairfield and Hocking counties.
Fairfield County: 418 South Broad Street, Lancaster, Ohio 43130
Hocking County: 96 West Hunter Street, Logan, Ohio 43138
(740) 689-1494
socil.org

UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF)

Provides medical grants for families to pay for healthcare services related to a major medical condition that are not covered by their family’s insurance plan. Children must be 16 years old or younger, be a U.S. citizen, and have coverage through a commercial health plan to qualify for a grant. Families must meet income eligibility requirements. Applications must be submitted on a computer, not phone or tablet. Visit the website for a full list of requirements and for application instructions.
(855) 698-4223
uhccf.org

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Deaf / Hard Of Hearing