Hearing Care Counselling Program (Formerly Seniors Outreach)

• for those over the age of 55 with an acquired hearing loss, or persons older than 19 with an acquired hearing loss and a physical illness, frailty, or physical disability
• communication, education, counselling and support services provided
• goal is to enable people with an acquired hearing loss to carry out their daily activities independently, and with reduced communication difficulties
• counselling and support services available for families, caregivers and service providers of clients
• information about assistive listening devices provided and help given with ordering and installation

Hearing Care Counselling Services are provided in the Peterborough area. We also do some outreach in Victoria, Northumberland, and Haliburton regions.

Hearing Help Classes

Offering a supportive group environment for hard of hearing individuals by providing a step by step approach to coping with hearing loss and improving communications skills in social settings and providing information about the physical and technical aspects of hearing loss. Hearing Help Classes

LEVEL ONE: HELP FOR HEARING AID USERS

• 2 hours for 8 weeks
• help with understanding your hearing loss and learning to cope with it
• demonstration of different devices
• speech reading
• because of small class size (limit of 8 people), they provide a supportive group environment for hard of hearing individuals
• $50.00 – family members or friends can attend for free.

Sign up for these informative and worthwhile classes! Learn about your hearing loss and how to improve your speechreading skills. Please contact the office or e-mail for more information.

Tinnitus Self-Help Group

Do you have Tinnitus - a ringing in the ears? Tinnitus Self-Help Group now meets the 4th Wednesday of every month at Mark St. United Church. Please contact the office or e-mail for more information to confirm the time and location.

Meniere's Self-Help Group

The Meniere's Self-Help Group meets quarterly. Please contact the office or e-mail to confirm the date, time and location.

Cochlear Implant Self-Help Group

CHS is happy to announce the formation of the Cochlear Implant Self-Help Group. Meetings are held quarterly. Please contact the office or e-mail to confirm the date, time and location.

Employment Services – Peterborough & Durham Office

• for those who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing and unemployed
• goal is to help find employment
• orientation with employers, educating them about deafness, hard of hearing people and their needs, and to ensure workplace accessibility for their employees
• Variety of services are provided:
  • job search training skills
  • job lead referrals, contacting the employer
  • preparation for a job interview
  • help with resume and cover letter preparation
  • Internet training for employment searching which includes accessing various job banks such as Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC).
  • finding possible funding, such as Targeted Wage Subsidy (see below)
  • advocacy on behalf of consumers.
    

  Regions served by Employment Services and General Support Services Program: Peterborough, City of Kawartha Lakes and Durham.

  Targeted Wage Subsidy

• If you are presently collecting Employment Insurance (EI), or have received EI benefits in the last 3 years, you may be eligible for the Targeted Wage Subsidy (TWS).
• This is a program that pays the employer some of your wages (up to 75% and maximum of $7.50/hr). You get on the job experience for three to six months and possibly permanent employment.
• Contact us for more information and/or to find out if you are eligible for this program.

General Support Services

The Canadian Hearing Society Counsellors are specially trained to understand the unique needs of Deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people.

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. We also provide social services assistance and referrals for Deaf, deafened and hard of hearing consumers with the goal of maintaining their independence in the community.

• case management
• providing personal support and counselling with daily living activities
• help seeking financial assistance, housing, day-care, transportation
• crisis intervention
• consumer advocacy and education
• referral services
• restoration, technical devices
• providing advocacy to support Deaf, deafened and hard of hearing persons to achieve access and full participation with the community

CONNECT Counselling

CONNECT Counselling is the newest program offered by Peterborough Region CHS.

Wellness Counselling is offered free of charge to people who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing, or their family members. Wellness counselling includes, but is not limited to: support in times of stress, marital, family or relationship problems, coping difficulties, addictions, mental health issues, and any other situation where support and empathy can lead you on your way to wellness. The counsellor is aware of the specific issues and cultures of the deaf, deafened and hard of hearing and can be a great support. Counselling is available to all ages, from children to adults.

The CONNECT counselling program also offers community outreach, presentations and advocacy. Again, free of charge, the community liaison may be contacted for advocacy in terms of accessing mainstream services, where communication is a barrier. Presentations topics include: effects of a hearing loss, better communication skills, creating a better listening environment, how to run accessible meetings and others.

Ontario Interpreting Services (OIS)

• Two full-time staff interpreters working in five regions: Peterborough, Haliburton, City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Durham

Settings in which professional sign language interpreting services are provided include:

• medical
• legal
• employment
• social services
• personal business
• government ministries and agencies
• educational

Appointments must be booked by calling, faxing, or e-mailing our office at least 48 hours in advance due to the high volume of requests. All enquiries will be held in the strictest confidence.

OIS toll-free numbers: 

1-888-363-0373 Voice

1-888-363-0343 TTY

Communication Devices Program

For a direct link to our communication Devices Homepage, more information and how to order, click here: visit our online store

A full range of communication devices which promote better communication.

• alerting systems
• assistive listening devices
• TTYs
• amplified phones
• FM and Infrared systems
• signalling devices
• repair services
  

Volunteer Services

The goal of this program is to provide meaningful and rewarding opportunities for our volunteers while expanding and improving the quality of CHS services. We would be delighted to have you become part of our team!

What type of volunteer position would match your skills and interests? Consider the following list of possible volunteer positions:

• Clerical Assistance - Assist staff with administrative duties such as photocopying, filing, and collating.
• Computer Assistance - Assist staff on computer projects.
• Community Development Board Member - Join the Council or a Committee to assist with various regional projects such as fundraising, public awareness, program evaluation, or public speaking(three positions available).
• Community Development - Assist staff with workshops, presentations, setting up information booth at malls, fairs and special events and provide information at the display.
• Editor - Develop and write a newsletter.

If you would be interested in finding out more about these or other Volunteer Positions, please contact the Co-ordinator of Volunteer Services at our Peterborough office.

Visit The Walter M. Scott Resource Centre!

Our resource centre is dedicated to the memory of Walter M. Scott in honour of his lifelong generosity to the Peterborough Regional Office.

We have a Resource Library that is open to the public. There are a variety of books, videos and magazines about deafness and hearing loss that may be borrowed with a membership in the Walter M. Scott Resource Centre.

Resources available on:

• Deaf, Deafened & Hard of Hearing People
• American Sign Language & Interpreters
• Education & Employment
• Parents of Deaf, Deafened & Hard of Hearing children
• Tinnitus
• Medical informaion
• Children's Literature
• Coping with Hearing Loss
• Deaf Culture
• linkup to the Internet also available

You can become a CHS member for only $25.00. This includes receiving a copy of Vibes, our quarterly magazine. You also become a member of the Walter M. Scott Resource Centre at no additional charge.

Concerns & Complaints

If you have a concern or complaint about any CHS service, we will be happy to discuss this with you. We can do this over email mdgilbert@chs.ca on the phone or in person by making an appointment with the Regional Director, Maggie Doherty-Gilbert. We will listen to your concern or complaint and what you want done.

It is our intention to follow up on your complaint promptly and try to resolve it to your satisfaction. If you are not satisfied, you can direct your inquiry to the Katherine Hum-Antonopoulos, Vice President, Programs and Services.

All concerns and complaints will be held in confidence.

When you raise a concern or make a formal complaint, you can expect:

• A chance to fully explain the problem
• Prompt action and follow up
  
• Information in a format that is accessible to you about what we are doing to respond to your concern or complaint
  
• Respect
  

You have the right to express your concerns, or issue a complaint.