DEAF SERVICES COMMISSION OF IOWA
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
CRITICAL ISSUES FACING IOWA'S DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING COMMUNITIES
NOVEMBER 2007
Introduction
The historical
isolation of people who are deaf or hard of hearing has impeded their full
inclusion in our workplaces and our communities. Approximately 65 percent of
people who are deaf or hard of hearing live in poverty. Effective access to
services and civic involvement is virtually impossible without the means to
communicate. The result is that people
who are deaf or hard of hearing live in a world of frequent misunderstanding
and miscommunication. The lack of accurate communication puts them at serious
risk of harm in many situations.
·
No culturally
affirmative mental health services
·
No culturally
affirmative substance abuse education and aftercare services
·
Difficulty finding
legal representation that is accessible
·
Limited access to
information and services through the use of technology
·
Minimal number of
licensed sign language interpreters meeting competency standards
·
Lack of
opportunities for youth to prepare for employment and adult life
·
Limited services
that specifically address issues for those who lose their hearing later in life
Culturally Affirmative Mental Health
Services
When deaf and hard of hearing people need mental
health support, they are often confronted with services that are not accessible
or even non-existent. Issues such as
language differences and cultural and communication barriers prevent these
individuals from accessing services.
Nationally, experts urge the establishment of culturally affirmative
mental health services for people with a hearing loss. The Division of
“With the national prevalence of hearing loss at 8.6%, there is no
mental health system, rural or urban, that is immune from serving deaf and hard
of hearing people. The low numbers of
deaf clients actually seeking services, however, may lead administrators to
believe that the needs of this population are being met, or that there is not a
major problem to address. Although the
mental health needs of deaf persons are similar to the general population, it
is estimated that only between two percent and ten percent of deaf persons who
have mental health needs actually receive services.” (Bush, Dreyzehner, Smith, and Taylor,
2002) The majority of deaf and hard of
hearing individuals site mistrust in providers, concerns with communication in
therapy, and lack of knowledge on services available as reasons for not seeking
mental health services. Most tend to
seek services only in crisis and share experiences of not being able to access
services when needed due to communication barriers.
Culturally Affirmative Substance Abuse
Education and Aftercare Services
Initially there is a lack
of awareness about substance abuse in the deaf and hard of hearing
community. Many individuals have not had
access to the widespread, public efforts to educate about the dangers of drug
and alcohol use. Like other
linguistic/cultural minority groups, the deaf and hard of hearing community
lack information in their native language, include alcohol as a part of social
activities, and those with abuse issues are reluctant to admit to problems in a
small community. We have been fortunate
in
Accessible Legal Representation
It is virtually impossible to get through life
without needing legal representation.
Yet hundreds of Iowans who are deaf and hard of hearing find it nearly
impossible to find lawyers who are willing to take their cases or provide
accessibility. Agencies serving this
population attempt to make referrals but are often faced with attorneys who are
hesitant or not prepared to work with people who have a communication
disability.
Access to Information and Services Through
the Use of Technology
Today, one thing that deaf and hard of hearing people
agree on is that technology has the power to provide greater accessibility, to
level the playing field, and to maximize the quality of their lives. For almost one hundred years after its
invention, the telephone separated deaf and hard of hearing people from the
rest of society. In recent years
videophones have become the true equalizer for people who are deaf. This new video technology offers the
opportunity to communicate in their native language of American Sign Language
with anyone, anywhere. Many Iowans have
indicated that they no longer contact the Division of
Studies show that 80% of what we learn was not taught
but acquired incidentally from listening to television, radio, and others’
conversations. For someone with a
hearing loss, an inability to access incidental information can be a major
deficit. In addition, people who can
hear process information most readily using an auditory process. For those who are deaf, information
acquisition is a visual process.
Providing information in American Sign Language via video and web video
will bridge the gap in incidental learning to those who are deaf and hard of
hearing. Critical information about
healthcare, employment services, safety, community opportunities, etc. can be
shared with a large audience in an expedient and inexpensive manner via web and
video technology.
Consumers are faced daily with decisions about what the best product to
purchase is. For those who experience a
hearing loss, this can be even more daunting.
Most assistive technology is purchased by catalog or website. Consumers are faced with the difficult decision
of reading a description of equipment and guessing if it will meet their
needs. For many of these people, their
hearing loss is new or progressively changes.
These factors severely limit their ability to make judicious purchases.
Licensed Sign Language Interpreters Meeting
Competency Standards
The Bureau of
Professional Licensure in the Department of Public Health licenses individuals
to provide sign language interpreting services in
Opportunities for Youth to Prepare for
Employment and Adult Life
The
The Division of
Services that Specifically Address Issues
for Those Who Lose Their Hearing Later in Life
The Hearing Loss Association of America reports, “One in every ten (28
million) Americans has hearing loss. As baby boomers reach retirement age
starting in 2010, this number is expected to rapidly climb and nearly double by
the year 2030. The prevalence of hearing
loss increases with age, up to 1 in 3 over age 65. Among seniors, hearing loss is the third most
prevalent, but treatable disabling condition, behind arthritis and
hypertension.“ In
For More Information Contact:
Iowa Department of
Human Rights
515-281-3164
tty/voice
Toll Free
1-888-221-3724 tty/voice
Email: dhr.dsci@iowa.gov