Post Type: Resources

Vocational Rehabilitation: Understanding Service Options

This image is of a small podium with steps and at the top of the podium, there is a thick rod standing vertically supporting a horizontal metal rod with the word " Understanding" soldered onto it.

At the nucleus of every successful vocational rehabilitation employment goal is a well-delineated individual plan for employment, often referred to as a roadmap of services that lead to employment. By better understanding the myriad services offered by vocational rehabilitation, a deaf individual is better positioned to make informed and self-determined choices about their employment future.

Vocational Rehabilitation: An Introduction

This image has an orange background with the word " INTRO" on it

Approximately 20% of the adult population has a disability. Most deaf people do not seek vocational rehabilitation services, but those who do most often want employment-related services or education and/or training to prepare for employment.

Telecommunications: VRS, VRI, and TRS

This image shows a lady wearing a black top with white polka dots sitting in front of a laptop and appears to be having sign language communication with someone on a video call.

With technology always seemingly one step ahead of us, it’s easy to confuse the various telecommunication services used to visually connect hearing and deaf people who wish to communicate with each other. Three primary telecommunication services are in use today: (a) video relay service (VRS), (b) telecommunications relay service (TRS), and (c) video remote interpreting (VRI).

Telecommunications: Devices and Software

This image shows a video call happening between a lady on the laptop screen sitting in front of the laptop. They are communicating through sign language.

Telecommunication technology has significantly changed the communication landscape for deaf people. For more than 40 years, text telephones (TTY) and amplified phones were the only options. Today, videophones, smartphones, and instant messaging most often replace TTY as preferred communication tools.

Self-Advocacy: Navigating Disclosure in the Workplace

This image is in the daytime, with a bright sunny day and clear sky showing a young girl looking at a map while sitting on the bonnet of a white color car. While she is holding the map in front of her, only her forehead is visible.

Deciding how, when, and why to disclose a disability to an employer is an important part of the job-seeking process. The decision can significantly affect one’s ability to obtain and maintain employment. The different stages of the employment process and the potential impacts of disclosure at each stage deserve thoughtful reflection.

Cochlear Implants: An Introduction

The image is a text document titled "Cochlear Implants: An Introduction Tip Sheet" describing cochlear implants, their function, and how they work. It provides an overview of cochlear implants, how they work, the parts of a cochlear implant, and how a cochlear implant produces sound. It also discusses the benefits and limitations of cochlear implants.

Cochlear implants are complex electronic devices surgically implanted under the skin behind the ear. These devices use electrodes placed in the inner ear (the cochlea) to stimulate the auditory nerve of people who have significant permanent hearing loss.

Assistive Listening Systems: Choosing the Right Technology for Your Campus

For those who are new to assistive listening technology, selecting the right systems for a college campus can be daunting. When selecting assistive listening technology for a college campus, institutions should consider a number of factors, including the legal requirements for providing access and the advantages and disadvantages of the various types of systems.

National Deaf Center