The Deaf Action Center is located in Dallas, Texas. Through various services, the Center provides deaf or hard of hearing individuals with the extra help they need to live their best lives possible. Their mission statement reads, “Providing those who are deaf and hard of hearing the means to ensure advancement through education, economic security, and good health.” The current executive director of The Deaf Action Center is a woman named Heather Hughes. Hughes was born deaf and said that she wouldn’t have it any other way. As a result of her disability, she has a passion for the deaf and hard of hearing community, saying that she loves the work she does. Hughes’ main goal within the organization is to bring people with hearing disabilities the same quality of life and opportunities that hearing people receive.
The Deaf Action Center provides six different service branches. They are Housing, Seniors, Advocacy, Interpreting, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened Support, STAP, or Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Program.
First, the Housing division places residents at an apartment complex called Martha’s Vineyard Place. It has a variety of layouts, including one, two, or three bedrooms. The main feature of the apartments is their unique amenities for their hard of hearing or Deaf residents.
Their Senior branch includes an in-person center that provides senior citizens and their families with resources and access to agencies that they may want to explore. Along with these supports, the visitors receive hot lunches, activities and field trips, transportation, and a site council. The hot lunches provide a healthy meal and a chance to get together with fellow members of their community. While the lunch is free, donations are always welcomed. Activities and field trips include a wide variety of fun options that are always up to date with the common interest. They have options like board and card games, movie nights, arts and crafts, picnics, computer games, and many more.
Center clients also go on exciting field trips as a group, as well as receiving transportation for the hot lunches, grocery trips, and pharmacy trips once a week. The site council gives the seniors an outlet to voice their wants and needs within the community.
Advocacy is essential for the deaf and hard of hearing community, so the Deaf Action Center’s advocacy ensures that they can meet the potential of those without hearing impairments. The advocacy program works with various companies and organizations, from local to state to federal, to encourage that they make a change for the better. Entities are encouraged to improve the ease with which the deaf and hard of hearing can use their products and services.
The interpreting branch is run by the deaf, for the deaf. It employs the best of the best interpreters to anyone who needs one. They have options for both in-person and virtual sessions. The Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened Support branch is dedicated to helping those that have recently gone deaf rather than those born deaf. Finally, the STAP program helps the deaf and hard of hearing the technology and communications accommodations they need.