General Social Service Counselling
We provide personal counselling to deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people who require support and encouragement through difficult times and experiences. For those who need a more in-depth approach, such as therapy, the counsellor will work with other resources in the community to arrange the appropriate services for the client.
Provides social services assistance and referrals for deaf, deafened and hard of hearing consumers with the goal of maintaining their independence in the community.
Employment Services
Employment services are geared toward helping the consumer become job-ready and in their search for employment. The counsellor and consumer work together to develop an effective resume, practice interviewing skills and conduct an effective job search.
Assistance with resume writing; counselling on appropriate jobs; working on an effective job search; and developing appropriate salary expectations suitable to the job seeker. Review of expected interview practices. Orientations and assistance to employers in making workplace accessible to deaf, deafened and hard of hearing employees.
Ontario Interpreter Services
Ontario Interpreter Services (OIS) provides professional sign language interpreting services in the following settings: medical, legal, employment, social services, personal business, government ministries & agencies and education related business. Sign language interpreters can be used in individual discussions, group meetings, or for conferences.
Professional sign language interpreters are knowledgeable in the language and culture of both Deaf and hearing people. They provide communication in both ASL and spoken English. Sign language interpreters are bound by their professional Code of Ethics.
Hearing Care Counselling
Providing communication and hearing care support services to enable people with acquired hearing loss to carry out daily living activities independently, safely and with reduced communications difficulties. Priority is given to people aged 55 years and older.
This program also offers Hearing Help Classes. In a supportive group environment, hard of hearing individuals are provided with a step by step approach to coping with hearing loss and improving communication skills in social settings.
Hearing Help Classes
Hearing Help classes are designed to help the hard of hearing person who is experiencing difficulty communicating in day-to-day situations. The course offers a supportive environment for a hard of hearing person to share and solve problems, difficulties and frustrations related to hearing loss.
Classes offer lots of opportunity to practice and improve lipreading skills.
Communication Devices
Providing deaf, deafened and hard of hearing individuals with a wide range of communication devices available for their day-to-day lives. These devices can be used throughout the community to help agencies, organizations and businesses become more accessible to deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people in the community. Visit our online store.
Information Services
Raising consumer and public awareness of issues related to deafness and hearing loss.
Providing information to government and to the public in support of projects that promote the rights of deaf, deafened and hard of hearing individuals. Developing information resources to meet consumer needs.
Community Educational Outreach
Working with other organizations, agencies, businesses and service clubs to make services and facilities accessible to the deaf, deafened and hard of hearing consumers in our region. Providing educational support through presentations, displays and public venues.
Trained volunteers and professionals give presentations on topics related to hearing loss, noise pollution, hearing health care, and assistive listening devices for deaf and hard of hearing people. Presentations are also offered to groups, other professionals and within the school system.
The Grace Harris Library & Family Resource Centre
The Library & Resource Centre includes information on many aspects of hearing and hearing loss for use by: professionals who provide service to/for adults and children experiencing hearing loss; parents, families, relatives and friends; employers and employment agencies; individuals who have hearing loss; community groups and leaders in social athletic, religious, fundraising, parent guidance and other important services.
The Library is available free of charge to all members of The Canadian Hearing Society. Materials are available on loan for a two week period through active membership. Annual membership fees are $25.00 and can be purchased through any CHS office. As a member, you will also receive four issues of the provincial publication, Vibes and the local newsletter, Ripple. Library hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sign Language Services
We offer sign language classes! We teach American Sign Language (ASL) classes and train Sign Language instructors.
Using the Signing Naturally curriculum, this program takes people who have no knowledge of sign language to the point where they can function comfortably in a wide variety of situations in the Deaf community. Each class level is a total of thirty hours, generally provided on a weekly basis.
Please send us an email at info@chs.ca to receive up-to-date information about our classes.
Sign Language Services - Special Contracts
Providing organizations or individuals an opportunity to communicate more effectively with deaf people, using the Signing Naturally curriculum or through slight modifications to the lesson plans in order to meet the specific needs of the organization or individual. Classes vary in length and duration to suit needs, but generally most introductory classes run for a total of 30 hours.
Volunteer Program
The intent of this program is to enhance existing programs and services and operations of the Hamilton Regional Office of The Canadian Hearing Society. This program is designed to maximize consumer service provision while working within the strategic plan both locally and provincially to ensure that full core service provision exists and to maintain existing optional programs wherever possible.
