Today, Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities are facing significant challenges across Washington State.

For example, Deaf people are struggling to find enough American Sign Language interpreters amidst a significant shortage. Local Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) service centers, including in Eastern Washington, Tacoma, and Bellingham, have closed. And we need more fully hearing-accessible spaces for meetings, especially hybrid meetings, so that people with all hearing abilities can participate equally.

Together with other advocates, we’re stepping up to find solutions to these challenges.

We’ve worked closely with the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) for years to help build a hearing-friendly Washington State. Now we’re also working with the Washington State Association of the Deaf, the Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center, the DeafBlind community, Hands & Voices, and Deaf Spotlight to raise our collective voices for all people who need communication services and ADA-mandated access across our state.

On October 1, this emerging coalition met with Washington State Governor Jay Inslee’s office and ODHH leadership to work on key issues:

• Early, meaningful input from hard-of-hearing and Deaf communities in state-level decisions that affect our communities should be routine and automatic. Nothing for us without us.
• More ODHH staff dedicated specifically to the needs of hard-of-hearing people are needed. The communication access needs of hard-of-hearing people are different from those in Deaf communities. We need more staff familiar with hearing assistive technologies and the lived experiences that come with a hearing loss.
• A new department specifically for people with hearing loss is needed. This department should be separate from the department for people who identify as Deaf or DeafBlind. While we’re united in our support of one another, the Deaf community and the hard-of-hearing community have different, unique needs.
• Closure of the regional DHH service centers has left our communities at risk of isolation and further marginalization. Not everyone has access to high-speed Internet, captioned telehealth, or the technical knowledge to get the hearing care and services they need remotely. Local services with established providers are vital to ensure meaningful hearing care and treatment.
• More programs accessible to the hard-of-hearing community are needed. For example, ODHH-sponsored programs and community meetings could proactively include hearing loops or other assistive listening systems and captions in addition to ASL for the Deaf community.
• There’s a waiting list for the Deaf Family Mentor program, leaving families with immediate needs behind, risking negative impacts on family dynamics and child development.
• The ASL interpreter shortage is dire and needs immediate and near-term action. Thanks to a budget proviso (SHB221) in 2024, which HLAA-WA supported, a committee is examining this issue. Recruitment has started for the job position that will lead this work.

Undercounting Hard-of-Hearing Washingtonians

This isn’t really an ODHH or even an ALTSA issue, in my view. In reality, it’s a State of Washington issue and a budget issue. And I think part of the funding problem is the data being used to assess our needs.

For example, the 2023 Census estimated there are just over 321,000 Washingtonians age 12 and up with severe hearing loss. That’s 4% of our state’s population. But national health organization data sources, including the NIH and the National Center for Health Statistics, show that between 18% and 20% of our state’s population has a hearing loss. That means between 1.4 and 1.6 million people with hearing loss, the majority of whom are seniors.

I believe the gap in services is related to the gap in the data, and I raised this issue with the governor’s office. If we can demonstrate that that a bigger population of people with hearing loss needs help, I hope that more resources and services can be directed toward these communities.

Looking to the Future of the Coalition

Our hearing loss/Deaf coalition will meet in again with the governor’s staff and ODHH leadership in mid-November to plan our next steps, including what to do for the next legislative session. Our efforts will incorporate feedback from our latest survey. If you didn’t get a chance to weigh in last month, let us know what you think in comments below, or email us: admin@hearingloss-wa.org.

Thank you to all our friends and allies across our state. Together, we are doing great things.

About the Author

Cheri Perazzoli
HLAA-WA President

Cheri is a national leader in hearing loss advocacy who has been recognized with multiple awards for her service and philanthropy. The founder of Let’s Loop Seattle and a member of the HLAA board of directors, she’s passionate about universal design and inclusion. Cheri’s vision and dedication have made Washington State a leader in hearing-friendly neighborhoods, laws, and policies. Cheri has made lifelong friends throughout her advocacy journey and is honored to serve alongside incredible HLAA-WA volunteers and advocates.