Celebrating History With The Hard-Of-Hearing and Deaf Community

Losing your hearing can be isolating if you don’t have the right resources. To help prevent the isolation associated with hearing loss, the Hearing Associates of Las Vegas are proud to participate in Deaf History Month and highlight resources for the deaf and hard-of-hearing in our community.

Deaf History Highlights

American deaf history is still fairly young, considering that our country is not all that old either. But certain deaf history highlights stand out as turning points for those who are hard-of-hearing and deaf.

• First public school for the deaf – On April 15, 1817, the American School for the Deaf was established in Hartford, Connecticut. Prior to this, deaf students had to rely on spotty home education and tutors if they came from a more privileged background.
• First university for the deaf – Nearly 50 years after the establishment of the American School for the Deaf, President Abraham Lincoln signed the charter to create Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. on April 8, 1864. With this act, the first university for the deaf and hard-of-hearing was created.
• First deaf university president – While Gallaudet was a university for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, it did not have its first deaf university president until March 13, 1988. Dr. I. King Jordan became the first deaf president of Gallaudet University.

To honor these key events in deaf history, it was decided that Deaf History Month would actually straddle two different months, ranging from March 13th to April 15th.

Resources For Deaf And Hard-Of-Hearing Las Vegas Residents

For those living in Las Vegas and the surrounding communities, there are a number of resources which will connect the hard-of-hearing and deaf with services they may need.

• Deaf Centers Of Nevada (DCN) – The DCN work to advocate the rights of the hard-of-hearing and deaf to employers, educators, and others who may attempt to discriminate. They also have a robust events calendar so those who are deaf and hard-of-hearing can connect.
• Nevada Hands & Voices (NHV) – This organization focuses primarily on helping parents who have deaf or hard-of-hearing children. They have several programs which focus on helping deaf and hard-of-hearing children success.
• Hearing Associates Of Las Vegas – We offer a wide variety of hearing services, from comprehensive hearing exams to personalized hearing aid recommendations and fittings.
• Clark County School District: Deaf and Hard Of Hearing Department (CCSD) – To ensure that your deaf or hard-of-hearing student is receiving the proper help at school, contact the CCSD Student Services Division.
• Southern Nevada Centers of Independent Living (SNCIL) – To ensure that you have what you need to maintain your independence as a hard-of-hearing or deaf individual, you can work with the SNCIL. Their services are all focused on helping you live as independently as possible and promoting public awareness of disabilities.

Our office locations:

Henderson

Summerlin

Don’t let your hearing loss isolate you from resources which can help you live your life to the fullest.