Open Hands Deaf Services

WHAT WE DO:
Open Hands Deaf Services focuses on providing Christ-centered services that will have a real-world, eternally changing, positive impact on the families we serve. Our mission is to fulfill the great commission through the impactful and meaningful marriage of meeting families' spiritual and physical needs.

Interpreting for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals and Their Families - We are more than an interpreting agency. Interpreting between English and American Sign Language is simply one of the many specialty services we provide. Access to effective communication is necessary and critical for the individuals we serve. The Americans with Disabilities Act guarantees, as a civil right, access to this effective communication. Open Hands Deaf Services provides community interpreting services, eliminating boundaries associated with language barriers and cultural misnomers.

Needs-Based Financial Support - As part of loving people in whatever life situation they are facing, OHDS helps by providing financial help based on needs and availability. It is no secret that times since COVID are tough. As the world changes, life's demands still exist, and physical needs still must be met. This aspect of our mission requires the most donor support for obvious reasons. Benevolence is an integral part of showing love for those that need short-term gap assistance. The more significant funding for this, the greater impact we can make in this area.

Needs-Based Transportation Support - Based on availability, we offer transportation services to qualified individuals. Often, public transportation options unnecessarily increase risks in specific cases. As part of the mission to serve in the most effective way possible, we provide transportation in particular situations.

Biblical Training - We believe the word of God is the most important and a light to our path. Understanding who God is and how we relate to Jesus is of the utmost importance. We offer specific and tailored Biblical training for the families we serve. Because of our understanding and background training, we have a unique opportunity to provide the best in training. Because the complete Bible in American Sign Language has been completed less than two years, we are working to provide Bible study resources for the Deaf that have traditionally only been accessible for the hearing community. We are currently working on the "Whole Bible in One Year" project. We provide a daily resource for the Deaf to "read" the whole Bible in one year.

Advocacy - Sometimes, you need someone in your corner to help with injustices or misunderstandings. We provide advocacy or help find an effective advocate when needed. We strive to make life as accessible as possible, from the simple to the complex. This often can be something as simple as education to those that may not realize they are creating an environment that may produce discrimination against the Deaf.

Life Skills Training - Often, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community are not given full access, at age-appropriate times, to effective communication, thus hindering vital basic and advanced life skills. We strive to provide services that fill the gap where cultures collide and separation occurs. From job training to home living to parenting and beyond, our passion is to create avenues for success and growth for those we serve. We serve to cultivate the best of both personal and professional development.

Education - Open Hands Deaf Services strives to educate in all aspects of Deaf communication from the communicator to those receiving communication. We offer American Sign Language classes to those who interact with Deaf individuals, from family members that want to learn how to better communicate with their loved ones to those that need communication skills in an educational or vocational setting. These classes are offered to the public and in-service classes to facilitate an environment that is welcoming and productive for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals.

CODA (Child of Deaf Adult) Assistance - As part of serving our community, we offer special assistance to Deaf and Hard of Hearing parents with young children. Often there is a cultural gap between the hearing culture and Deaf culture. This can become particularly difficult for hearing children born to Deaf parents. They are in Deaf culture at home, and when they start school, they are often expected to be 100% in hearing culture. Asking young children to "turn on and off" cultural norms and differences on-demand offers obvious and not so obvious challenges. In addition, the teaching methods that are used in the school systems can create a need for modified and specialized educational plans. It often takes years for some CODAs to adjust and even realize the difference in cultural norms at home and in the hearing world...