Advocacy for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing

DHILS programs are publicly and privately funded to provide a range of independent living services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. Advocacy assistance and self-advocacy training are available as well as skills training and peer mentoring. DHILS programs also have some limited funding available for AT devices and services and may have equipment available for loan. There are 10 community-based sites located statewide:

Boston Metro Region:

Allston
D.E.A.F., Inc.
215 Brighton Ave.
Allston, MA 02134
www.deafinconline.org
(617) 254-4041 TTY/Voice
(617) 254-7091 Fax
Contact: Carol Hilbinger
Email: info@deafinconline.org

Metro West Region:

Center for Living & Working
24 Union Avenue, Suite 4
Framingham, MA 01702
www.centerlw.org
(508) 755-1003 TTY/Voice
(888) 773-4281 FAX
Contact: Joan Philip

Southeast Region:

D.E.A.F., Inc.
c/o United Way
105 Williams Street
2nd Floor, Room 25
New Bedford, MA 02740
www.deafinconline.org
(508) 990-1382 TTY/Voice
(508) 996-2170 FAX

DHILS Services Contact: Carol Hilbinger
Email: info@deafinconline.org
Regional Contact: Pauline Raiche
Email: praiche@deafinconline.org

Cape Organized for the Rights of the Disabled (CORD)
1019 Lyanough Rd. #4
Rt. 132
Hyannis, MA 02601
www.cordonline.org
(508) 775-8300 TTY/Voice
(508) 775-7022 Fax
Contact: Theresa Quin
Email: tmurphy@cape.com

Northeast Region:

Northeast Independent Living Program
20 Ballard Road
Lawrence, MA 01843
www.nilp.org
(978) 687-4288 TTY/Voice
(978) 689-4488 Fax
Contact: Madaline Olio
Email: info@nilp.org

D.E.A.F., Inc.
Greater North Shore
35 Congress Street, Suite204
Salem, MA 01970
www.deafinconline.org
978-740-0394 TTY
978-740-0329 Voice
978-740-0389 Fax

DHILS Services and Regional Contact: Carol Hilbinger
Email: info@deafinconline.org

Southeast Region:

D.E.A.F., Inc.
Southeast Region
66 Main Street
Taunton, MA 02789
www.deafinconline.org

DHILS Services Contact: Carol Hilbinger
Email: info@deafinconline.org

Central and Western Region:

Center for Living & Working
484 Main Street, Suite 340
Worcester, MA 01608
www.centerlw.org
508-755-1003 TTY/Voice
508-755-1072 Fax
Contact: Joan Philip

Stavros Center for Independent Living
262 Cottage Street
Springfield, MA 01104
www.stavros.org
413-781-5555 TTY/Voice
413-733-5473 Fax
Contact: Paul Batch
Email: pbatch@stavros.org

AdLib Center for Independent Living
215 North Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
www.adlibcil.org
413-442-7047 V/TTY
413-443-4338 Fax
Contact: Kris Glennie
Email: Knie@adlibcil.org

The MCDHH is a relatively small and unique state agency within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. It was created to provide advocacy and communication access services to individuals who do not hear or who have limited hearing, as well as to advise the Governor and the Legislature about issues affecting Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals and possible ways to resolve them. MCDHH programs advocate for ADA communication access compliance across the public and private sectors. In addition, the Commission provides case management services for adults and children to help them best access services at other state and public agencies (i.e. the health and welfare, independent living, employment, and education programs for which they are eligible).

For AT advocacy, consider the following MCDHH Departments for help obtaining the AT services you need:

• The Department of Interpreter/CART Services provides advocacy assistance for anyone needing interpreter services (sign language or another communication method) or CART (Communication Access Real Time Translation) services. Advocacy is available if you are having trouble obtaining reasonable accommodation from an organization, business, or other legally responsible entity.

• The Communication Access Training and Technology (CATTS) Department advocates for ADA communication access compliance by providing trainings and technical assistance to organizations, police/law enforcement agencies, hospitals, medical centers, and state agencies. CATTS can also intervene in workplace environments to help employees with hearing loss who need a more appropriate accommodation from their employer in order to work effectively. In addition to site compliance evaluations, equipment review, technical recommendations, and trouble-shooting are provided as needed. CATTS provides individuals as well as organizations with information and referral for assistive technology appropriate to their needs.

• The Case Management and Social Services Department can provide individual case advocacy, assistance, and guidance through the available funding systems (such as local school departments) for assistive technology. The Department also administers the MCDHH Assistive Technology Fund, which is last resort funding for AT for individuals denied services by other sources.

Contact:

MCDHH
150 Mount Vernon Street
Suite 550
Dorchester, MA 02125
www.mass.gov/mcdhh
(617) 740-1600 Voice
(617) 740-1700 TTY
(617) 740-1880 Fax
(800) 530-7570 TTY
(800) 882-1155 Voice

Videophone:
Dial (617) 265-8447
or use the following IP
address: 70.22.152.162

Emergency requests for interpreter or CART service (medical, mental health, and legal) are received 24 hours 7 days/week at:
(800) 249-9949 TTY/VOICE.