Deaf Navigator Program

08/19/2025

08/18/2025

FLASH NEWS! Come and visit us at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer from 11 am to 4:30 pm today! We are located near the Purple Gate area in a new event hall building. Correction: parking is NOT free 😊. Hope to see you guys!

08/15/2025

In Alaska, it starts at 4 pm to 5:30 pm. A great opportunity to learn sign language for hard of hearing individuals and families/friends and it’s free! Come and sign up to get a Google Meet link!

Free Class
Hosted by Division of Services of Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Beginning Sign Class

Learning to use American Sign Language (ASL) signs in English word order

For Hard of Hearing Individuals

Wednesday evenings via Google Meet
September 10 - October 15, 2025
6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Taught by Sue Ordonez

A sign class designed for the hard of hearing, late-deafened and their families and friends.
Learn new signs every week and review signs
Use signs learning in coversation in an easy and supportive atmosphere

Please note: these classes are focused on teaching sign language using English structure.

For American Sign Language (ASL) largely used by Deaf, please register for DSDHH's ASL classes instead. More information can be found on our website below.

Registration Info: Register by September 4, 2025.

Register at this link: https://jobs.utah.gov/usor/dhh/events/registration.html

For more information, contact the Hard of Hearing program at DSDHH.hoh@utah.gov

Flyer visual description:
Image of caucasian woman with brown shoulder length hair in orange shirt signing to a person.

08/13/2025

We’re excited to welcome Hillarie as our newest Program Coordinator! 🎉

Hillarie joins us from the Mat-Su area, bringing a wealth of experience in educational interpreting for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, from preschool through transition age. She has an EIPA score of 4.0 or higher re: EIPA 4.0+ and has a strong background in supporting students across a variety of educational settings.

Beyond her interpreting expertise, Hillarie’s extensive event planning experience will help make AKSD events even more vibrant, engaging, and memorable for our community.

She officially begins her role with us this Monday, and we’re looking forward to an incredible year ahead! 🦦 💟

Note: We revised this post when we originally used “EIPA certified” which is not factual and is misleading, we replaced that with EIPA 4.0+ indicating a score of 4.0 or higher. Thank you Ernest Willman

08/08/2025

08/06/2025

To the hearing parents of deaf kids out there….
I see you. I am you ✊🏼

This was me interpreting at my deaf son’s gymnastics class this morning.
Because if I don’t, he misses out.
Because if I wait for access, I’ll be waiting forever.

I see you crying in the shower after another draining advocacy meeting.
I see the stares. The whispers. The parents pulling their kids away, telling them not to look (when all they’re doing is being curious and open).
I see the emails that go unanswered the moment you mention your child is deaf - too hard, too much.
I see you looking at other parents sitting back, having a break, while you’re up there signing at birthday parties and sports events, interpreting medical appointments and kids performances - desperately trying to fill in the gaps of their world in real time…

I see you sitting in yet another damn meeting trying to explain why your child deserves what every other kid already has. As if it’s not obvious.
I see the pity. The judgment. The dismissals from people who should be in your corner.
I see you carrying it all, and doing it with love - but also feeling as if you’re in constant fight or flight with no way out ❌

So here’s a reminder from someone in it with you:

I know right now it feels impossible.
I know you’re tired and I know it feels like the mountains to climb keep coming, with no end in sight. But remember this 👉 Each mountain you climb now - is one less mountain your child has to climb later.
Everything you’re doing right now matters.
More than you could possibly imagine.

Keep going. You’re doing great ❤️

08/04/2025

Hosted by Division of Services of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Navigating Hearing Loss Together

Weekly Fridays 10:30 am - 11:30 AM (MST)

Online via Google Meet
Meeting invite will be the same each week and emailed out to you as a reminder

*engage with others who face challenges related to hearing loss
*discussions about hearing loss and related experiences
*supportive and educational atmosphere for those with hearing loss or their loved ones

Register today, so you don't miss our next session
http://jobs.utah.gov/usor/dhh/events/registration.html

For more information, email DSDHH.hoh@utah.gov.

07/31/2025

07/31/2025