Speech Pathology
Audiology
Community Center for the Deaf
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Community Center For The Deaf (CCD)
About CCD The Youngstown Community Center for the Deaf is an independent community program supported and funded by the Rehabilitation Services Commission of Ohio and administered by the Youngstown Hearing and Speech Center. The mission of the CCD is to serve as an independent provider of supportive services, and as an advocate for Deaf rights enabling the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to have full access to opportunities for self-filling lives The CCD provides interpreting, C-Print transcription, case management, vocational support, education and advocacy services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals, promotes the use of American Sign Language by offering sign language classes and sells Assistive Listening Devices for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Financial support from United Way and other funding sources is available to help low income deaf and hard of hearing individuals purchase assistive listening devices. The CCD promotes and attempts to develop the growth of Deaf leadership, employing deaf individuals for direct service delivery. Geographically, the Youngstown CCD provides services in eastern Ohio, serving the following counties; Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana, Jefferson, Belmont, Guernsey, Noble, Monroe and parts of Washington counties. The CCD is also a member of the Ohio Alliance of Community Centers for the Deaf (OACCD) www.oaccd.org, a 501 c 3 organization that provides administrative support, funding, deaf leadership training and coordination of statewide deaf initiatives and activities in the state of Ohio. ServicesInterpreting Interpreting Services are provided for hospitals, doctors, courts, police, employers, human service providers as well as for private family functions. Interpreters are provided at no charge for funeral services. The Youngstown/Steubenville CCD is the largest provider of interpreting services in Eastern Ohio. Emergency interpreting services are available 24 hours a day. The CCD always attempts to assign interpreters who are qualified and have appropriate credentials or professional experience. Our interpreters are required to follow a strict code of ethics, which demands, among other professional standards, confidentiality of all assignment information. To schedule an interpreter please fill out and email the Interpreter Request Form. Please read Scheduling an Interpreter if you have never requested an interpreter. Emergency Interpreting Services In Youngstown to request an interpreter for an emergency situation from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm call 330-726-8391 In Steubenville to request an interpreter for an emergency situation from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm call 740-282-5391 The Youngstown/Steubenville CCD supports and actively promotes consumer-informed choice in the assignment of interpreting services. When making a request for an interpreter, you may request a preferred interpreter. We make every reasonable effort to call and confirm each request. It is the Policy of the CCD that the requesting organization is responsible for payment of interpreting services. We do not charge a Deaf person for interpreting services. The federal government allows individuals and organizations to take a business related expense for interpreting services payments. Listed are the steps for scheduling an interpreter: The Deaf person first needs to request the services of an interpreter from the requesting organization and/or service provider. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), once a Deaf person requests an interpreter, it is the responsibility of the requesting organization and/or service provider to arrange and provide an interpreter. Deaf clients and/or patients are not to make the arrangements for interpreting services. An authorized representative from the requesting organization and/or service provider then calls or emails the CCD to arrange for the interpreting services. If a call is made, member of the CCD staff will ask for pertinent information such as date, time and location of the interpreting assignment, along with the name of the Deaf person needing the service. In order to guarantee interpreting services, all requests need to be made one week prior to the requested service date. If an interpreting request is made less than a week prior to the requested service date, a reasonable attempts will be made to arrange for an interpreter, but an interpreter may not be secured. If it is the first time an organization has requested an interpreter, a copy of the request form will be faxed to the organization for signing. Signing of the interpreter request acknowledges that the requesting organization is aware of the fee for the interpreting services. When the signed interpreter request form is faxed back to the CCD, interpreting services will be arranged. Once the request for interpreting services has been made, an interpreter will be assigned and sent to the location where the services needed. Unless requested and/ or a scheduling problem occurs, no call will be made back to the requesting organization and/or service provider. CaptioningC-Print is a computer-aided speech-to-print transcription system developed at the National Institute for the Deaf (NTID) by researchers eager to improve the classroom experience for students in mainstream educational environments. C-Print, or Captioning transfers the spoken word to a computer screen in realtime. A captionist types lecture and comments onto a laptop using C-Print software and a licensed shorthand captionist. The typed text instantly appears on a paired laptop or projection screen. Captionist must have strong written English skills, type at least 60wpm, are proficient with Microsoft or MAC OS, patience, friendly and are detailed oriented. The client can add their own notes and communicate with the captionist via a chat pane. C-Print is cost effective and more readily available than stenography, and meets ADA requirements for providing equal access to public services. Captioning serves visually impaired, Hard-of-Hearing and Deaf individuals with good English skills. Clients enjoy the benefits of instant access to the spoken word and a professional, permanent transcript of the session. Here’s some examples of where captioning can be used:
To Request a Captionist
General Conditions for Interpreting and Captioning Services
Case ManagementCase Management services provide assistance for achievement of independent living. Individual consumer advocacy, coordination with other agencies to assist Deaf clients with obtaining independent living needs, money management, interpreting, vocational support and personal support counseling. ASL ClassesThe Community Center for the Deaf teaches American Sign Language (ASL) classes to children and adults. Classes meet for two hours one day a week for ten weeks. Classes are taught by Deaf individuals and students learn both expressive and receptive ASL skills that will help them communicate with Deaf friends or family members. Cost of the class includes ASL textbook. Registration accepted by phone, fax, mail or email. Additionally, The Community Center for the Deaf provides American Sign Language Classes at no charge for parents and family members of Deaf children. For more information contact Becky Somnitz at bsomnitz@yohsc.com or 330-787-0128. Assistive Listening Devices Deaf related equipment can be purchased through the CCD. The CCD also provides in-services/training to agencies that accommodate employees with hearing and communication difficulties. The Community Center for the Deaf has available funding for those without the ability to pay. Assistive Listening Devices that can be purchased include:
If you would like more information on our Assistive Listening Devices, please contact Becky Somnitz at bsomnitz@yohsc.com, Josiah Murphy at jmurphy@yohsc.com, or Kim Riggs, Steubenville office at kimccd@yahoo.com. Community OutreachCommunity Resources are available on a variety of topics related to deafness. The CCD library is open to the public and includes magazines, books, videos and other items for the deaf and hard-of-hearing to review. Advocacy & Vocational SupportAdvocacy Services support the rights of deaf and hard-of-hearing consumers to have equal access to all community services and activities. The CCD is a resource center on laws pertaining to the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). Advocates are available upon request. Vocational Support services are provided in cooperation with the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation. The CCD provides job coaches to assist the deaf and their employers to assimilate into new employment opportunities. The job coach can work with the deaf employee/employer for up to six (6) months. The goal is to achieve a successful and long-term employment placement. The job placement specialist will assist the Deaf in finding suitable employment. The Community Center for the Deaf and the Rehabilitation Services Commission's Bureau of Vocational Counseling work together to find employment for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. The CCD refers deaf and hard of hearing consumers in need of vocational rehabilitation services to the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation and provides vocational job support assistance to assist the deaf consumer assimilate into new employment opportunities. The goal is to achieve a successful and long-term employment placement. |