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The Sault Ste. Marie Regional Office provides a wide range of services to meet your needs. Services are offered in a fully accessible and supportive environment by professionals experienced in meeting the needs of deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people.

If you require services in the District of Algoma, please contact our office. Staff may be available to provide in-person, video conferencing or telephone/TTY services.

Please contact our office for details.
Phone: (705) 946-4320 or TTY (705) 256-2752.

Click on the program below and it will lead you to the main introductory page for that service

CONNECT Counselling Services

CONNECT Counselling Services (CSS) is the community mental health and wellness program specializing in meeting the mental health needs of deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people and their families.

CONNECT provides accessible, confidential counselling and case management services to assist people in managing their lives more effectively.

SSM Corporate Communications Program

This program provides balanced, unbiased information to promote informed choice.

Retail and reference materials are available on-site and referrals to other sources are gladly made.

The Canadian Hearing Society takes pride in participating in community events to promote public awareness of hearing loss and its prevention.

Phone 705-946-4320 or TTY 705-256-2752 for more information.

Helpful Tips for Clear Communication :

Communication Tips

Employment Services (ES)

Employment Services (ES) has specially trained hearing, deaf, deafened and hard of hearing staff that use sign language and understand the culture. They have the expertise to meet the communication needs of each consumer.

A full range of employment services are offered in CHS regions. Employment services are offered directly and indirectly via partnerships with outside agencies.

  • To develop skills that will assist in seeking, securing and maintaining employment
  • Explore career choices and market trends
  • To offer real work experience
  • To provide employer expectations, work ethic and other job appropriate behaviour training to job seekers
  • To facilitate workplace relationships by encouraging the use of alternate communication methods and strategies

The Barrier Free Communication to Employment program represents a real chance for deaf, deafened and hard of hearing job seekers and the local business community to work together to benefit each other.

In addition, service is provided through programming with The Ministry of Community and Social Services,which provides employment supports to disabled Ontario residents who qualify.

This enables individuals and families to live as independently as possible within the community. The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) provides employment supports for people with disabilities who can and want to work.

The Canadian Hearing Society is an approved Employment Planner for the Ontario Disability Support Program and can assist you in obtaining your employment goals through the provincial employment program.

For more information on qualifying for this employment program please the office at 946-4320 or click here for the ODSP site.

Communication Device Program

General Support Services (GSS)

The General Support Services Program (GSS) provides confidential services to deaf, deafened and hard of hearing adults (age 16 and over) to enhance their independence and ability to live in the community. Consumers who require assistance with daily living skills, accessibility issues, legal problems and any other challenges can access a specially trained counsellor to advocate on their behalf.

A General Support Services Counsellor at The Canadian Hearing Society can provide long and short-term support to assist people in accessing the information they need. We are committed to promoting the rights of deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people and believe all people have the right to be involved in any decisions that may affect their life.

The Canadian Hearing Society General Support Services Program is committed to providing its services to an optimal level and respects each individual's right to make informed decisions about the options available to them.

If you are a person with a hearing loss click here for a list of some of the supports the CHS's General Support Services can provide for you.

Should you or a member of your family feel that they may benefit from the services provided by The Canadian Hearing Society, please call us at 705-946-4320 or TTY 705-256-2752.

SSM Hearing Aid Services

The helpful staff at CHS can provide you with information materials regarding the use, care and maintenance of your hearing aids and communication tips.

Our Hearing Care Counsellor helps hard of hearing seniors (55 and over) with their hearing loss.

The following links will help answer some of your questions.

Local audiologists
Group Health Centre Audiology: 759-7453
Sault Ste. Marie Audiology: 253-0508
Island Hearing: 759-3659
Hearing First: 253-6501

Hearing Care Counselling Program (HCCP)

  • Are you gradually losing your hearing as you get older?
  • Do you have a relative who is having a difficult time hearing in groups?
  • Are you feeling isolated from the community due to communication difficulties?
  • The Hearing Care Counselling Program (HCCP) might be the program that can help you.

HCCP provides communication and hearing care support services to enable a person with hearing loss to carry out daily activities independently, safely and with reduced communication difficulties.

Program Goals:

  1. Improve the communication ability of clients with acquired hearing loss.
  2. Increase the families' and caregivers' use of appropriate and effective speaking and listening strategies.
  3. Increase client's use of residual hearing in a variety of communication environments.
  4. Increase knowledge of clients, their families and caregivers of the existence and use of a wide variety of assistive listening and signalling devices.
  5. Educate professionals and volunteers working with eligible CHS clients about hearing loss, communication strategies, benefits and limitations of assistive listening devices.
  6. Assist clients & their families and caregivers in their adjustment to hearing loss by providing support and counselling.
  7. Improve the ability of persons with acquired hearing loss to access health care and other services.

Literacy & Lifeskills

Purpose of this program

  • To become more independent in personal daily living and social life
  • To improve any pre-employment or any necessary employment skills
  • To prepare for entry to at any level of education or training

Who Can join?

  • Deaf Adults, ages 18 & up
  • People wanting to improve or learn communication skills in American Sign Language (ASL)
  • People wanting to expand their basic English skills
  • People who want to improve their pre-employment and employment skills

This program is taught:

  • On a one-to-one basis
  • In a small group in a classroom setting
  • In American Sign Language (ASL)

Program Funded by:

Ontario Interpreting Services (OIS)

Ontario Interpreting Services (OIS) provides American Sign Language - English Language Interpreting services to Deaf and hearing individuals. Interpreting services are provided for essential services such as legal, medical, counselling, mental health, employment and business related matters.

OIS Interpreters are required to have professional training and pass a competency test. They adhere to a professional code of conduct and ethics that ensures accuracy, confidentiality and impartiality.

OIS After Hours Emergency Interpreter Services

This service provides one central access point for obtaining sign language interpreter services for health and mental health emergencies.

TTY: 1-866-831-4657

Telephone: 1-866-256-5142

  • Call one of these toll-free numbers if you or one of your family members is experiencing a health or mental health emergency and need a sign language interpreter.
  • This service is provided weeknights between 5pm and 9am and 24 hours a day on weekends and holidays.
  • Call for an interpreter if you are going to the hospital or after hour's clinic or a crisis centre.
  • Call for an interpreter if the CAS has come to your home.
  • A Customer Service Representative (CSR) will answer your call. The CSR will ask you for some information about the nature of your emergency and then contact the interpreter. If an interpreter is available he or she will meet you within an hour.

We cannot guarantee that interpreters will be available in every region across the province but we will do our best to respond to your needs.
This service is provided by the Ontario Interpreting Services Program of The Canadian Hearing Society and funded by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.

For more information about this program visit http://www.chs.ca/services/afterhour/afterhour.html

FAQ available at http://www.chs.ca/services/afterhour/faq.html

American Sign Language Classes

What do I learn?

The curriculum has two levels:

Level One is designed to introduce students to American Sign Language (ASL). Concepts discussed relate to people, places and things within the immediate environment. Students learn to handle basic, everyday communication such as exchanging information, identifying/describing others, and asking for clarification.

Level Two emphasizes language in context: locating things around the house, learning numeracy, making requests with inflection, talking about life events and family histories, describing objects and having a social conversation. In addition to learning ASL, you will also be taught the behaviours and norms of Deaf Culture.

A "no-voice" style is used to reinforce the learning during all classroom experiences.

American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual language using specific gestures, signs, hand shapes and facial expressions. ASL is a distinct and recognized language. It is the cultural form of communication for the Deaf community.

Click here to see the American Sign Language Class schedule.

SSM Communication Device Program (CDP)

  • Incorporated in 1940, CHS is the leading retailer of communication devices for deaf, deafened and hard of hearing individuals.
  • Our agency is dedicated to improving the quality of life of our consumers. Call or drop by our office to see the various devices available or visit our e-store.
  • Our communication device specialists will not only order your device, but provide set-up and training if required.
  • Devices can be delivered within 48 hours unless it is a specialty or backordered item. 30-day money back guarantee (excluding shipping). CHS is a registered vendor under the Assistive Devices Program (ADP) of the Ministry of Health.
  • CHS staff are also available to assist local businessess, service providers and public places such as churches to become accessible to deaf, deafened and hard of hearing persons. Call 946-4320 or TTY 256-2752 and ask how we can help you!
  • Devices for hard of hearing and deafened individuals under the age of 55 or deaf of all ages are looked after by our Administrative Assistant.
  • Hard of hearing persons (55+) are directed to our Hearing Care Counselling Program.


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