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Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS)

Deaf & Hard of Hearing

Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDHH)

It is the mission of SDHH to provide high-quality, innovative services that result in employment opportunities, improved quality of life, and full inclusion in society for Arkansans who are deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, and deaf-blind. The professional staff of SDHH is knowledgeable about the unique barriers faced by people with hearing loss and speech disabilities and is experienced in collaborating with both the person experiencing the barrier as well as the community at large to develop effective solutions.

Vocational Services

Vocational Rehabilitation provides specialized employment services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. ARS has several counselors in Arkansas who have specialized training and are able to provide direct communication with consumers with hearing loss by using sign language or other techniques to communicate effectively.

Independent Living Services – SDHH

The purpose of independent living services is to enable people who have hearing loss to become independent in their homes and communities. People who are deaf or hard of hearing often face barriers that are not immediately related to work.  Independent Living Services (ILS) are provided to assist in removing those barriers. ILS may also be provided in support of Vocational Rehabilitation Services or to prepare a person for vocational training. The ILS Program is carried out through IL Counselors assigned to different areas of the state. The IL Counselor works with the consumer to develop independent living skills and set attainable goals.  ILS may begin early in the consumer’s life, as soon as hearing loss is diagnosed, or later in life as lifestyles or environments change and present barriers.

Interpreter Services

Interpreter Services provides interpreters for the customers of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, the Independent Living program, students attending the Arkansas Career Development Center (ACDC), employees of Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS), and several other entities related to ARS.

Staff interpreters also:

  • Provide information to the public on contracting and using interpreters
  • Maintain a list of private practice Interpreters
  • Contract with Support Service Providers (SSPs) for people who are deafblind 
  • Maintain a list of SSPs
  • Coordinate the statewide Quality Assurance Screening Test (QAST), a state screening mechanism conducted to evaluate the skill level of interpreters. 

If you would like more information regarding our services, please contact one of our Staff Interpreters at Arkansas Rehabilitation Services at 900 W. 7th Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201, or call (501) 686-2800.

List of Sign Language Interpreters
Invoice for Interpreters
SSP Invoice

Technical Assistance and Training

We provide training and technical assistance to deaf and hard-of-hearing Arkansans as well as to agencies, organizations, and businesses such as law enforcement, hospitals, 911 call centers, and behavioral health clinics.  We recognize that it is critical that members of the Arkansas community have access to information about how to remove barriers so that people with hearing loss may experience full access. 

Examples of topics include (but are not limited to):

  • Introduction to Hearing Loss
  • American Sign Language and Deaf Culture
  • Assistive Listening and Other Technologies 
  • Accommodations in the Workplace
  • Use of Interpreters 
  • Real-time Captioning 
  • Smart911
  • Strategies for Effective Communication 
  • Captioning

List of SDHH Counselors

Advocacy

People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind who are unsure about their rights, or who need assistance in accessing services are welcome to call any of the staff of SDHH for assistance.

The Independent Living Services (ILS) Program is carried out through IL Counselors assigned to different areas of the state. The IL Counselor works with the consumer to develop independent living skills and set attainable goals.  ILS may begin early in the consumer’s life, as soon as hearing loss is diagnosed, or later in life as lifestyles or environments change and present barriers.

Eligibility

Services are provided to individuals who meet the income and severity of hearing loss guidelines.  Income eligibility maximums are based on family size.

Services

Services are based on an individual independent living plan and may include counseling, audiological and medical evaluation, independent living skills training, adaptive equipment, basic sign language instruction to the individual or family members, interpreter services to support other planned services, information, and referral, and advocacy.

The ILS Program also conducts community awareness programs to enhance the understanding and integration of individuals with disabilities.

Telecommunications Access Program (TAP)

The Telecommunications Access Program (TAP) provides free telephone equipment to eligible Arkansans who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or who have a speech, visual, mobility, or intellectual disability that prevents them from using a standard telephone. TAP is a program within Arkansas Rehabilitation Services that removes the barriers to telecommunication access through the provision of accessible communication technology.

More about TAP

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

FROM THE ARKANSAS DIVISION OF WORKFORCE SERVICES​

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ADWS provides interpretation and translation services, at no cost, for clients who need assistance in accessing and participating in available services and programs. To request an interpreter or translator, please contact your nearest local office. 

ADWS ej lewaj jerbal in ukok ilo jeje im kennaan, ilo ejjelok wōnāān, ñan client ro am ak ro kimij jerbal ippair im rej aikuij jipañ ñan bok kunairilo jerbal ko iim pirokiraam ko. Ñan am kajjitōk juon ri-ukok, jouij im kepaake opij eo epaake ijo kwoj pād ie.

ADWS proporciona servicios de interpretación y traducción, sin costo alguno, para clientes que necesitan asistencia accediendo y participando en servicios y programas disponibles. Para solicitar un intérprete o traductor, por favor póngase en contacto con su oficina local más cercana.

ADWS cung cấp dịch vụ thông dịch và phiên dịch miễn phí cho khách hàng cần trợ giúp trong việc tiếp cận và tham gia các dịch vụ và chương trình hiện có. Để yêu cầu thông dịch viên hoặc phiên dịch viên, yêu cầu liên lạc với văn phòng địa phương gần nhất.

ພະແນກ ADWS ຈັດຫາບໍຣິການນາຍພາສາແລະການແປເອກະສານ ໂດຍບໍ່ຄິດຄ່າບໍຣິການ ສຳລັບຄົນງານທີ່ຕ້ອງການຄວາມຊ່ວຍເຫລືອເພື່ອເຂົ້າເຖິງ ແລະເຂົ້າຮ່ວມໃນ ການຮັບບໍຣິການແລະໂຄງການຕ່າງໆທີ່ມີຢູ່ສຳລັບທ່ານ. ຂໍໃຫ້ທ່ານຈົ່ງຕິດຕໍ່ຫ້ອງການທ້ອງຖິ່ນທີ່ໃກ້ທ່ານທີ່ສຸດ ເພື່ອຂໍຮັບບໍຣິການຈາກນາຍພາສາຫລືນັກແປເອກະສານ.