Deaf-Hearing Communication Center (DHCC)

Education & outreach: sign language services include education classes in local schools, and outreach classes are provided at the organization's workplace locations and private locations. Dhcc uses Deaf teachers since sign language is their native language. Sensitivity training is offered to increase awareness of the impact of Hearing loss on individuals, Deaf culture, and to share Communication options and strategies. Workshops are offered to sign language interpreters to help improve their skills. Dhcc also provides information about community resources and advocacy to Deaf and hard of Hearing individuals and/or their families.

Emergency interpreting services: an essential service provided outside of dhcc's regular business hours. Dhcc has coordinators and interpreters on call every evening and holiday to respond to police and medical emergencies. Deaf Hearing Communication center has the largest and most comprehensive program in the philadelphia region.

Interpreting services: this is our largest program. Dhcc recruits and screens qualified american sign language (asl) interpreters to facilitate Communication between Deaf and hard of Hearing individuals that use asl to communicate, and Hearing individuals that use english. Dhcc sends interpreters to a variety of settings, including hospitals, physician's offices, court, lawyer's offices, businesses, colleges, universities, public school classes, public school conferences, and any situation where Communication occurs. Hard of Hearing individuals that do not use asl gain access through real-time captioning (cart). Dhcc advocates with Hearing individuals to hire interpreters and captioners to provide Communication access to Deaf individuals.