“The Deaf community is by no means a monolith and has a wide variety of individuals and cultural backgrounds,” explained Millicent Hough, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist at the Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB). RCEB is a community-based nonprofit that serves children and adults who have intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Some of those individuals are also Deaf or Hard of Hearing and RCEB has services in place to support them in their primary language, American Sign Language (ASL). In addition, RCEB not only provides services and supports for individuals and families, but also connects and partners with community organizations to help coordinate services and resources for them. The organization is partnered with Felton Institute’s Deaf Community Counseling Services (DCCS) that provides a space and community where clients can communicate their mental health needs through therapy, classes, and workshops led by staff who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. DCCS and RCEB’s partnership reflects the community they serve, uplifting the diversity and lived experiences of Deaf and Hard of Hearing clients.
The Importance of Connection
“Communication is the biggest barrier in accessing mental health care both for Deaf individuals and Deaf+ community members,” Hough explained. Working with a hearing counselor who employs an ASL interpreter often leads to misunderstanding and not feeling connected. “Deaf and Deaf+ people are part of a unique community and a very specific culture,” Hough said. “This can be a challenge because a counselor who is not a part of that community may not have that cultural knowledge.” Partnering with DCCS, however, “allows for direct communication between the client and the counselor who signs.” Hough elucidated that DCCS provides “a unique service that is not found anywhere else in the Bay Area. That’s why this collaboration is so important and so valuable to our community.”
Elevating Deaf Awareness Month
“I think a lot of people generally know about the Deaf community now (which is wonderful) through social media, TV shows, and media,” Hough said. However, she explained, while there is more awareness now, there’s still a lot of misinformation. “Deaf Awareness Month is a wonderful opportunity to bring relevant, current and accurate information to people about our community and help people understand who we are, where we come from, our history, what’s important to us. It’s very important to elevate that and bring in accurate information,” Hough explained.
RCEB’s continued partnership with DCCS empowers clients, the community, and beyond. “I’m very grateful for DCCS,” Hough enthused. “It’s been a wonderful experience, and I look forward to what the future brings.”
For more information about Felton’s Deaf Community Counseling Services (DCCS) Program, please visit the DCCS program page or email dccs@felton.org.
Felton Institute responds to the needs of our community by providing innovative, evidence-informed social services to transform lives. Our organization offers 50+ programs that address mental health, the unhoused, early care and education, those impacted by the justice system, transitional age youth, as well as aging adults. Our award-winning programs, which have been recognized as national models, combine the latest scientific research with cultural sensitivity and a deep commitment to supporting and reflecting the communities we serve.
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