West Hartford, CT (September 18, 2024) — The American School for the Deaf (ASD), in partnership with the Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA), is proud to announce the release of a training video to raise awareness and improve communication access for deaf, hard of hearing, and DeafBlind patients across the State. Academy Award-winning actor Marlee Matlin provided the introduction for the video, which is available here. The video is being shared with hospitals as a tool to expand on ongoing efforts related to training and awareness.
“When we can’t connect, we are lost in translation” explains Matlin. “When you’re deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind, it can be frustrating, isolating, even devastating. It’s time to come together to stand up for access to meaningful, effective communication for all.” This initiative is part of a larger project aiming to bring awareness to the disparity in communication access for deaf, hard of hearing and DeafBlind communities in Connecticut, particularly in education and healthcare. Through a $1 million American Rescue Plan Act grant from the Department of Aging and Disability Services, ASD is working to address communication gaps for individuals with hearing loss across the State. In 2022, ASD engaged an independent Deaf-owned consulting firm to develop a statewide needs assessment highlighting these accessibility gaps. Through this work, the need for improved education among healthcare professionals was identified.
In addition to an overview of available accommodations to meet the communication needs and preferences of patients who are deaf, hard of hearing, and DeafBlind, the training video also addresses the importance of communicating directly with deaf patients and taking time to learn the accommodation and approach that works best for them. “This training will be an incredible resource to raise the level of care for deaf, hard of hearing, and DeafBlind patients across Connecticut,” said ASD Executive Director Jeffrey S. Bravin. “We are excited to witness the improvement in healthcare outcomes that will inevitably result from this work.”
“For several years, CHA has been working closely with the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing community, as well as other stakeholders, to gain more insight into the challenges these individuals face not only in accessing healthcare but also in accessing other services throughout the state,” said Marielle Daniels, Director, Regulatory Advocacy, CHA. “We are excited to share this video as part of ongoing efforts across Connecticut to raise awareness for healthcare staff on how to improve communication access for these individuals when seeking care. We also look forward to the state’s efforts to advance this work, such as through the establishment of a Bureau Coordinating Services For Deaf, Hard Of Hearing Or Deafblind Persons, as passed by the General Assembly this year and signed into law by Governor Ned Lamont. The work continues in many ways across the state to ensure equity and remove barriers.”
Founded in 1817 as the nation’s first permanent school for the deaf and special education school, the American School for the Deaf is a comprehensive learning community that welcomes all deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing children with unique communication needs. We develop the whole child – intellectually, emotionally, physically, and socially. ASD is a leader in providing innovative programs and services for deaf and hard of hearing students, empowering them to become educated and self-directed lifelong learners. For more information, please visit www.asd-1817.org
Founded in 1919, the Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) represents hospitals and health-related organizations. With more than 90 members, CHA’s mission is to advance the health of individuals and communities by leading, representing, and serving hospitals and healthcare providers across the continuum of care that are accountable to the community and committed to health improvement. For more information, please visit cthosp.org.
Media Contacts:
Elizabeth DeRosa, Director of Institutional Advancement, American School for the Deaf, Email: elizabeth.derosa@asd-1817.org
Nicole Rall, Director of Communications, the Connecticut Hospital Association
