American Society for Deaf Children

“ASDC is committed to empowering diverse families with deaf/hard of hearing children and youth by embracing full access to language-rich environments through mentoring, advocacy, resources, and collaborative networks.”

The CHARGE Syndrome Foundation

“The CHARGE Syndrome Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit, charitable organization that was established in 1993 by professionals who had worked with individuals with CHARGE syndrome and by parents of children with CHARGE syndrome.  The Foundation is governed by a Board composed of up to 12 members.  The Board is unique because the majority of the Board must be comprised of individuals who have a family member with CHARGE syndrome. Special advisors to the Board provide assistance in program development. The day to day management of the Foundation is carried out by the officers.”

The Center for Independent Living supporting Marion, Alachua, Citrus County, & Surrounding Areas

 “Independent Living empowers people with disabilities to exert their individual rights to live as independently as possible, make life choices, and achieve full community inclusion”.

Dogs for the Deaf

“Rescuing and professionally training dogs to assist people, enhance lives, and provide greater independence is what Dogs for the Deaf is all about.  Dogs for the Deaf rescue dogs for our programs from animal shelters throughout the western United States.  After a professional training the dogs are placed with people with a variety of disabilities and challenges including hearing loss/deafness.  They are also placed with full-time professionals (teachers, physicians, counselors, and the other healthcare professionals) in the treatment of and work with their clients.”

Easter Seals

“Easter Seals provides exceptional services, education, outreach, and advocacy so that people living with disabilities can live, learn, work and play in our communities”.

FAD

The Florida Association of the Deaf, Inc. (FAD) is affiliated with the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and seeks among other important things:

• To promote and safeguard the educational system for self-preservation.
• To promote awareness of communication difficulties, and methods.
• To promote in the use of communication devices.
• To promote in the use of protective signaling devices (smoke detectors, alarms and others).
• To serve as a watchdog of legislation or practices that may affect Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened individuals.
• To support, with reason, all phases of various organizations and associations working with and for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened individuals.
• To support fully the affiliated clubs and Associations of the Deaf in Florida in their efforts to bring about greater civic and social interaction of the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened community.

Florida Coordinating Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

The Coordinating Council is a resource for deaf and hard of hearing Floridians who need assistance with everyday needs including employment, education and access to services. The Coordinating Council is dedicated to assisting the nearly 3 million Floridians affected by hearing loss through providing technical assistance and resources to individuals, governmental agencies, private and public organizations.

Florida’s Early Steps Program

State Assistance for Children Ages 0-3

Florida Hands & Voices

”Florida Families for Hands and Voices is dedicated to supporting families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing without bias based on communication modes or methodology.  We’re a parent-driven, non-profit organization providing families with resources, networks, and information they need to improve communication access and educational resources, networks, and information they need to improve communication access and educational outcomes for their children. Our outreach activities, parent/professional collaboration, and advocacy efforts are focused on enabling deaf and hard of hearing children to their highest potential.

Florida School for the Deaf and Blind

Established in 1885, FSDB is a fully accredited state public school and outreach center available tuition-free to eligible Pre-K and K-12 deaf/hard of hearing or blind/visually impaired students, including meals, boarding, transportation and other services.

Gallaudet University

Gallaudet University, the world's only university with programs and services specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students.  Deaf and hard of hearing undergraduate students can choose from a wide variety of majors leading to a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. Gallaudet also offers scholarships of their own to attending students.

iCanConnect

If you have significant combined vision and hearing loss and meet federal income guidelines, iCanConnect can provide you with free communication technology and training to stay connected with family and friends.

Marion County’s American Sign Language Lending Library

We want to work closely with our families in Marion County so that each child has full access to communication at home!  We have created a lending library system to help families learn sign language and engage in language building play.  Please feel free to email Sheri.Arthur@marion.k12.fl.us to learn more information about how this program can help you! 

NAD Educational Advocates

“NAD has an Education Advocate program which was established in May 2012 to address current concerns regarding quality education and appropriate language acqusition for deaf and hard of hearing children. The Education Advocate program is a network of representatives that the NAD has developed with its affiliates including dedicated advocates from state associations and national organizations as well as parents from the American Society for Deaf Children. This program involves comprehensive training on federal and state education laws and regulations, as well as various advocacy strategies and techniques. “

National Theater for the Deaf

Through its art, the National Theatre of the Deaf has created profound social change.   Through its art form, doors began to open for the deaf population at large.  The magic of it all has been the National Theatre of the Deaf’s remarkable ability to entertain and inform at the same time. 

 Resource Materials and Technology Center

(Outreach Services for the Blind/Visually Impaired and Deaf/Hard of Hearing)

“The Resource Materials and Technology Center for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing (RMTC:D/HH) and the Outreach Services for the Blind/Visually Impaired and Deaf/Hard of Hearing (OSBD) are statewide discretionary projects housed on the campus of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) with the mission to support the education of students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Blind/Visually Impaired in the State of Florida.”

800-356-6731
hollingswoc@fsdb.k12.fl.us 
http://rmtcosbd.org
207 N. San Marco Avenue
Saint Augustine, FL 32084

Sign Language Interpreting Agencies in the Marion County Area

Your deaf or hard of hearing child is entitled to have a sign language interpreter in both one-on-one situations as well as group settings.  This service is needed in a variety of settings, such as performing arts, K-12 schools, post-secondary education, technical trainings, mental health, hospitals, doctor offices, court rooms, law offices, and the government…. Just to name a few!  Below are agencies that your doctors’ offices, law offices, hospitals, etc. can contact.  Please note it is not the deaf person’s (or parent’s) responsibility to pay for an interpreter. 

•  Center for Independent Living
• Kathy Elkins at (877) 629-8840 

• C.H.I.P.S.
• Mary Jo Lawson at (352) 795-5000 

• T.L.C. Interpreting
• Specializes in providing Nationally Certified Interpreters for optimal understanding and accuracy
• Denise Nurdin at (813) 445-9715
• TLCinterpretinginc@gmail.com

Special Needs Shelters

The Special Needs Program is for residents with specific health and medical conditions and those requiring transportation assistance. The program helps to provide assistance in sheltering, evacuation, and transportation for registered residents during times of disasters with the resources available within Marion County.  The registry is a confidential listing of those needing assistance and is updated on an annual basis through contact with the registered residents. Residents with medical needs such as nebulizers, oxygen, feeding tubes, or Alzheimer’s disease are examples of medical criteria that are eligible for the registry.

Transition Life Center

The TLC THRIVE Program is the first step to providing excellent regular educational, developmental and social activities for young adults with special needs. 

Vocational Rehabilitation

“Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is a federal-state program that helps people who have physical or mental disabilities get or keep a job. VR is committed to helping people with disabilities find meaningful careers. Our mission is ‘to help people with disabilities find and maintain employment and enhance their independence’. 

Vocational Rehabilitation also has counselors who are specially trained to understand the needs and abilities of people who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or Deaf-Blind including counselors who use American Sign Language.