Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

12/18/2025

Deaf Community,

Thank you for your incredible support and engagement throughout our Executive Director search process. Your participation in the finalist interviews, your thoughtful feedback, and your investment in D&HHS’ future have been deeply meaningful to us.

I am writing to share an important update regarding the search. As you know, we welcomed two finalists for interviews for the Executive Director position. Following those interviews, we were unable to reach agreement on employment terms with either finalist.

After careful deliberation, the Board of Directors made the difficult and intentional decision to pause the Executive Director search while we reassess our organizational capacity and strategic priorities. While this was not the outcome we initially hoped for, we remain confident in the discernment of this step and committed to the significant progress we have made in strengthening connections with our community and advancing services for Michigan’s Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing residents.

Throughout this process, we have made meaningful strides as an organization. Transparency and open communication remain priorities as we continue serving Michigan’s community, and we are committed to sharing updates on our path forward in 2026.

As a first update now, as we near the end of 2025, I am pleased to announce that the Board has appointed Erica Chapin as Interim Executive Director staring January 1, 2026. She will serve in this role through Fall 2026, or until further notice, as we work through this organizational transition.

Erica has served as the Community and Partnership Manager for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services for six years. Her commitment to the community, institutional knowledge, and leadership skills will provide stability and continuity as the agency moves forward.

We are deeply grateful for the community’s continued support, patience, and engagement. Your input and participation have been invaluable, and we look forward to continuing the conversation. Please stay tuned for future town hall meetings, where we will engage directly with you about D&HHS’s direction and your role in our shared future.

Thank you for your understanding and continued partnership.

Warm Regards,

Gail Mancewicz
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services
Board Chair

12/17/2025

Our 16th annual Signing Santa event is in the books! Almost 100 attendees gathered at Northview High School on a snowy and cold mid-December day where inside the mood was warm and cozy. For three hours a mix of young and old enjoyed crafts, games, refreshments, story time, and, of course, time with Santa and a gift to bring home.

Thanks to our sponsors, GRIT Technologies, Meijer and Gentex Corporation, and a special thanks to both the Grand Rapids Children's Museum, and our Signing Santa, Derrick Wakefield, who makes the trip each year from Mount Pleasant to GR to allow kids to converse with Santa in ASL.

As Wakefield told mLive: “I just want to make sure they are happy and having their needs met and just having the access that they need to be able to communicate with Santa."

Many attendees were Signing Santa repeat visitors. Cara Sutliffe was in attendance with her family for the 15th of the 16 years the event has existed.

“This has been a family tradition of ours since (my son) was 6 months old,” she told mLive. “He’s 14 now.”

Sutliffe had high praise for D&HHS and the ways in which the organization ensures that each year Signing Santa is fully inclusive.

"Because it’s been so welcoming and friendly, we continued to come and even the older kids who are hearing still love it and come every year,” she said. “They’re like our second family.”

View the full photo gallery in the link here:

Shared album · Tap to view!

12/16/2025

Last Saturday, December 13, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services hosted the 16th annual Signing Santa event and we had so much fun! Read about our event here in a post shared by MLive.com and stay tuned for a link to the photo gallery coming soon!

Thank you to everyone who came to visit, volunteer, or help. This event is only successful because of the support we get from the community!

For deaf and hard of hearing children, it's challenging to tell Santa what they want for Christmas. One special Santa who is deaf himself has been making it possible in West Michigan for years.

12/15/2025

The Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment, EIPA, is a tool to analyze interpreter’s skills for the K-12 classroom setting and registration for the 1st quarter opened on December 15 at classroominterpreting.org. Time slots are filling fast so don't miss your spot! We are now offering the performance AND WRITTEN EIPA in Grand Rapids, MI.

**This test is provided by Boys Town National Research Hospital at Classroominterpreting.org Our facility is a site for testing only, with no connection to their grading system. Proctors are not paid by BoysTown to offer this service. **

12/15/2025

Happy Hanukkah! We can learn some signs in American Sign Language with Savvy ASL and her sisters in the video they made a few years ago! Have a safe and happy holiday!

*video has no audio, and shows three young girls in matching blue shirts excitedly sharing the story of Hanukkah in ASL with written English subtitles.

I wish you all a happy Hanukkah! We are so excited for tonight, can’t you tell? Come and learn some Hanukkah words with me at the end! ...

12/14/2025

If you or someone you know in the Grand Rapids area is struggling to stay warm in these frigid temperatures, please see the posting here by the Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness to find a warm place to stay.

As temperatures continue to drop with snow in the forecast, help spread the word about Matthew's House, a recently added warming center amongst others that are available across our community!

The availability of warming centers may change based on weather conditions, power outages, or holidays. We recommend calling ahead to confirm their status or contacting 2-1-1 for the most up-to-date information.

12/10/2025

Our office is closed today, December 10, 2025. Staff will be working from home, but the office doors will not be open. Please stay safe if you must travel today!

[image description]
Icy background with text in the center taking up most of the screen. Black block lettering says, closed due to weather.

12/06/2025

Our annual Signing Santa event is happening soon! Can we count on you to help support our goal? Signing Santa is for Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing children and their families and we need your help to make it a success! Gift donations can be dropped off during business hours, or monetary donations will be accepted online at deafhhs.org/donate and by check before December 8, 2025! Hope to see you there!

[image description]
White background with large black lettering at the top of the flyer says: Signing Santa Gift Donations Needed. In the lower right and left corners are small illustrations of red and green gift boxes. Center bottom of flyer has the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services logo with blue, green, orange, and violet colors. The main message is printed in black font and states: Gifts needed for kids infant-13 years old! Price range of $10-$15. Gifts should be dropped off on weekdays between 9am-4pm or shipped to our office address below before December 8, 2025. To support through a monetary donation, mail a check or visit www.deafhhs.org/donate. Contact echapin@deafhhs.org for more information. Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services
160 68th St. SW Suite 140
Grand Rapids, MI 49548

12/03/2025

Giving Tuesday may be behind us, but the need—and the impact—continue every day.

Your support fuels our mission to provide equal communication access, education, and advocacy for the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing as they pursue every opportunity life offers.

If you didn’t have a chance to give yesterday on , there’s still time to make a difference.

Donate online at deafhhs.org/donate,

or mail a check to:
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
160 68th St SW, Suite 140
Grand Rapids, MI 49548

Thank you for continuing to support a more accessible and inclusive community.

If you’d like to support our work and catch a Grand Rapids Griffins game, check out our ticket fundraiser—where a portion of every ticket purchased through our website directly supports D&HHS programs and services. Purchase your tickets here: deafhhs.org/GRIFFINS