Deaf YES: Center for Deaf Empowerment and Recovery

Deaf YES: Center for Deaf Empowerment and Recovery Our mission is to partner with Deaf people to develop innovative addiction & mental health resources. Our mission at the Deaf YES!

Center for Deaf Empowerment and Recovery is to partner with the Deaf community to develop innovative addiction and mental health resources that are accessible, useful, and freely available to Deaf sign language users. We value key principles of servant leadership to support this mission – choosing ethics over profit, prioritizing people over tasks, empowering others before seeking personal gain, b

alancing focus with flexibility, and leading with gratitude. Our work within the Deaf community has only been successful because of our community engagement approaches. Our Center’s clinical services and research studies are co-led by Deaf professionals, hearing professionals, and Deaf laypersons, ensuring that the work we do is relevant and accessible to our population of focus. In addition to this community co-leadership model, we continuously infuse the voice of Deaf community members into our work via ongoing qualitative interviews, focus groups, and community forums. At Deaf YES!, we strive to create an inclusive and empowering environment. We embrace diversity in all forms, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, disability, age, and socioeconomic background. Honoring and celebrating the rich tapestry of identities, experiences, and perspectives of Deaf people allows us to build stronger connections and work together to overcome barriers. We firmly believe that diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are essential cornerstones for fostering innovation, creativity, and collaboration, and promoting positive change. Our commitment to self-reflection is unwavering, and we continuously seek to learn, grow, and improve as an organization. We invite individuals, organizations, and communities to join us on this journey toward empowerment, recovery, and a more inclusive world for Deaf people.

04/23/2026

🎥 Workshop Spotlight – ADARA 2026

Alex Wilkins and Melissa Anderson from DeafYES! Center for Deaf Empowerment and Recovery will present on meaningful, authentic community engagement in Deaf mental health research.

This session explores:

• Strategies to engage diverse Deaf community members
• Involving community voices at every stage of research
• Building genuine partnerships, not token participation
• A panel discussion featuring DeafYES team members sharing real experiences

If you want to make your research more inclusive, community-driven, and impactful, this session is for you.

📍 ADARA 2026 Conference
Salt Lake City, Utah
📅 May 26–30, 2026

CEUs will be provided. All workshops include ASL and spoken English interpreters to ensure full access.

Learn more and register:
https://www.adara.org/2026_conference.html

Please share this with your networks.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Recruiting Massachusetts Deaf Community Members with Lived Mental Health Experience!WHO CAN JOIN? (All Are Required)-Dea...
04/21/2026

Recruiting Massachusetts Deaf Community Members with Lived Mental Health Experience!
WHO CAN JOIN? 
(All Are Required)
-Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, or Hard of Hearing 
-18 years or older 
-Lived mental health experience
-Need for MA mental health crisis services in past 5 years 
WHAT TO EXPECT 
-Interview on Zoom
-60-90 minutes long
-$100 Amazon gift card 
-Opportunity to share your experiences and stories!
INTERESTED?
Email felicia.mcginnia@umassmed.edu

Visual description in the comments.

04/17/2026

Recharge Your Brain: Sleep, Memory, and Brain Health for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, & DeafBlind Individuals

Date/TIme: Thursday, April 30, 2026 | 2:00 - 3:30PM Eastern

Presenter: Dr. Jaime Wilson

Accessibility: Presented in ASL, voiced in English, and fully captioned

Presented in Partnership With: CSD Access & AARP

Registration: https://csdvirtual.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_05HQDAl1Q9iS7o3zfj6n6w

04/17/2026

FAQ Friday 🎉
Research word you might hear: Fidelity Rating

Sounds fancy, but it’s actually pretty simple!
It just means we’re checking that therapy is being done the way it’s supposed to be in the Signs of Safety model.

Someone reviews sessions and asks things like:
-Did the therapist stick to the model?
-Was it helpful?
-What could be better next time?
This is important because...

when things stay consistent → we get real, trustworthy results → and that leads to better support for the Deaf community 💛

VD: a reel with a cover photo that is light blue. Text that says 'what is a fidelity rating?' Underneath, there's navy blue text that says '(not just what we do, how we do it!' There's a DeafYES logo at the bottom. It then transitions into a video of Naima, wearing a DeafYES hoodie, sitting in front of a white wall.

Transcript in comments.

DeafYES has been out here making moves popping up and tabling at events in the community! 👀👀Kayla (our amazing Clinical ...
04/14/2026

DeafYES has been out here making moves popping up and tabling at events in the community! 👀👀

Kayla (our amazing Clinical Research Coordinator ) just went to Deaf Expo in Pasadena, California and proudly represented DeafYES. Did any of you get a chance to chat with her?!

We love getting to connect with you all in person 🫶 and this is just the beginning… stay tuned because DeafYES will be showing up at even more Deaf community events this year!

ID 1: Kayla, a brown haired woman, smiling with her hands under her chin, is sitting at the DeafYES booth. There's recruitment materials on the table.
ID 2: a faraway shot of various people standing around learning about various items and resources at the Deaf Expo.

04/06/2026

My Why: Jamie 💛
Jamie is a therapist with National Deaf Therapy and part of our DeafYES research partnership for Signs of Safety.

Jamie is a part of the Signs of Safety study because....

🫂' we hold onto a lot of pain with nowhere to share...We often don't have safe spaces where we can express what we are going through.

✨'...your stories, your experiences, can lead to positive change and create a lasting impact for future efforts to support healing from trauma and addiction. I continue to be a part of
Signs of Safety because I wish something like this had existed sooner.'

VD: Jamie is wearing a black top with a denim jacket. Jamie is sitting in front of a wall with accessories behind her. Her hair is down.

Transcript in comments.

04/02/2026

Workplace wellness is important! National Deaf Therapy shares many tips that we all could use. Check out the video!

03/26/2026

How do we break barriers in Deaf recovery? RESEARCH.📈

Right now, there’s a lack of research and no nationwide Deaf recovery centers in the U.S., leaving too many without accessible support. The good news is that research is growing, and the Deaf community's involvement is key. 🔑

We deeply value Rosina, a Deaf member of the community, and her insight. Getting involved today helps build a more accessible future for Deaf recovery. 💛

VD: Rosina is wearing a pink top with black blazer. Her hair is blonde and down, and she is standing in front of a white wall with plants and graphics behind her.

Transcript in comments.

IT'S TOMORROW! HAVE YOU REGISTERED FOR THIS WEBINAR YET?Registration link: bit.ly/3LMROUG Webinar details: How does trau...
03/24/2026

IT'S TOMORROW! HAVE YOU REGISTERED FOR THIS WEBINAR YET?
Registration link: bit.ly/3LMROUG

Webinar details: How does trauma impact alcohol use in the older Deaf community? Join us with DeafHealth for a free, accessible webinar exploring alcohol use, trauma, and culturally responsive paths to support including the Signs of Safety approach.
March 25 | 3:30-4:30 SST
ASL, English voice, and captions provided by CSD Access Register: bit.ly/3LMROUG
TRAUMA WEBINAR
Stay Informed in ASL: We've got you covered! Sign up with your email at deafhealthaccess.org/sign-up or follow us on social media for new and current health updates. the connection between trauma and alcohol use among older Deaf adults.

ID IN COMMENTS.

03/20/2026

FAQ Friday!

Life happens, we get it! Timing isn’t always perfect, and that’s okay! 💛

If now isn’t the right time, you can always come back later. Just complete the screening survey when you’re ready to see if you’re eligible. If you still qualify and feel good about it, you can join then!

VD and Transcript in comments.

03/16/2026

📣 Research Participants Needed!
We’re looking for Deaf and Hard of Hearing adults (18+) in Massachusetts who may be struggling with alcohol use or questioning their drinking.
Participants will complete six virtual therapy sessions over three months, questionnaires, and a final exit interview. Compensation is provided once all has been completed!

📧Email our research team at Alexander.wilkins@umassmed.edu or call 508-556-6261 (VP)

Transcript in comments.

Meet DeafYES’s Honorary Team Members!Behind every hardworking team is a group of very important helpers… and in our case...
03/12/2026

Meet DeafYES’s Honorary Team Members!
Behind every hardworking team is a group of very important helpers… and in our case, they have paws. 🐶🐱

They may not always attend staff meetings, but they definitely keep us company while we work! 💛

Image descriptions in comments!

Address

100 Century Drive
Worcester, MA
01606

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+17746704486

Website

https://www.linkedin.com/company/deafyes

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