Advocacy Services:
DRC works as an advocate for D/deaf, hard of hearing, latened deaf, deaf-blind to request and ensure the provision of appropriate accommodations for effective communication. For those who believe they may have been denied access to effective communication under the ADA, Rehabilitation Act, or other federal or state laws. We can provide consultation and information regarding the complaint process and other avenues of recourse.
For more information on the ADA and Accommodations for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons in medical settings, download this booklet:
Education Pamphlet to Medical offices regarding ADA and interpreter services 2013
Community Education:
DRC provides education about deafness to the eight (8) counties we serve (Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, and Washington) through outreach presentations available upon request. We also have a Business Partnership Program to provide educational materials to businesses and other organizations about using the Florida Relay Service (711) to communicate with hard of hearing and deaf individuals on the phone. Our ongoing effort to create community awareness about persons who are hard of hearing or deaf is accomplished through presentations to civic clubs, neighborhood and professional associations, businesses, churches, and schools. We also participate in health fairs and community expos.
Interpreting Services:
Through the provision of DRC’s qualified and/or certified sign language interpreters, D/deaf consumers are provided effective communication during medical appointments, mental health counseling, government agency meetings and other public services. For this service, please print and fill out the DRC Interpreter Request Form. The form can then be mailed, emailed to outreach@drcpc.org or faxed to Elizabeth, our Deaf Services coordinator. In the future if there is sufficient area interest, we would like to offer workshops for local sign language interpreters so that they can improve their expressive and receptive interpreting skills. DRC maintains a DVD and book loan library for area interpreters. Topics include Idioms, signing to children, medical terminology, improving expressive and receptive skills, and finger spelling practice.
Interpreter Service Application
ADA Effective Communication – Title III in ASL:
Family Services:
DRC recognizes the need to provide a variety of support services to D/deaf individuals and families with D/deaf or hard of hearing family members, and to empower D/deaf or hard of hearing clients who need assistance in overcoming any communication barrier and accessing community resources. This is accomplished through information exchange and referral to appropriate service providers throughout the Central Panhandle of Florida. DRC is considered by many as a central source of information on deafness, sign language, communication systems, interpreting, and adaptive and accessibility equipment for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
Job Assistance:
In order to assist D/deaf and hard of hearing individuals who are unemployed or underemployed, our offices have partnered with and have a close working relationship with Vocational Rehabilitation, Goodwill, CareerSource, and other employment related businesses/agencies to provide assistance towards adequate employment to D/deaf and hard of hearing people. DRC office provides printed material related to finding and maintaining employment from our loan library. DRC offers sensitivity training to employers who have D/deaf and hard of hearing individuals on staff.
Local & Regional Deaf Groups on Social Media:
- NW Florida Deaf Events: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1808608929354556
- Wiregrass Association of the Deaf-Dothan, Ala https://www.facebook.com/groups/147156342128815
- Pensacola Deaf Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/1443041952414000
- Mobile Deaf Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/1443041952414000