Deaf Awareness and Family Health

The Deaf Awareness and Family Health (DAFH) Committee recognizes that actions individuals take to sustain their wellness have a direct bearing on their quality of life.

Since wellness is such a broad topic, the committee has focused on resources, Dogs for the Deaf, and Cochlear Implants.

Resources

The committee works to gather relevant information and make it available to Granges and Grangers:

Please contact your State DAFH Director to obtain any of these resources, which are available in print or PDF format.

Dogs for the Deaf

Your contributions to the Dogs for the Deaf (which is funded solely by contributions) enable hardly hearing and deaf people to live more independently in their homes and communities. Dogs for the Deaf (DFD) has enriched the lives of people who live with daily hearing challenges for 30 years. Unwanted dogs are rescued from shelters and receive extensive training. When the time is right, they are placed in homes, where the human-animal relationship provides security, safety and companionship to the deaf person. DFD is accredited by Assistance Dogs International.

You can also assist DFD by presenting the “Dogs for the Deaf Story” video to your community. The video is available in DVD or VHS format. Each has two versions: 16- and 26-minutes in length.

To borrow the video, send DFD a note or email with the date you would like to show it and the format you require. DFD will loan you a copy for a two-week period. You are responsible for the return postage.

Mail         10175 Wheeler Rd, Central Point, OR  97502
Phone      503-826-9220 Voice or TDD
Website   www.dogsforthedeaf.org
E-mail

Cochlear Implants

The State DAFH Director had a severe-to-profound hearing loss. At the urging of her audiologist, she explored the possibility of becoming a cochlear implant candidate. She was accepted, and in October of 2008 received the gift of hearing with a device implanted in her left ear.

A video is being created to share the director’s story and the discoveries she has made. Contact the OSG to borrow a copy of the video for your Grange.

To your good health!

Deaf Awareness and Family Health Department

Director