Canadian Hearing Society
Canadian Hearing Services was founded in 1940 to provide services for deaf and hard of hearing people in Ontario. Its programs include instruction in American and Quebec Sign Languages, interpreter and deafblind intervenor services, as well as audiology and speech–language pathology. CHS also advocates for accessibility measures such as 9-1-1 texting, visual fire alarms, and access to the justice system, and supports emergency response in hospitals, clinics, shelters and police services.
Services
Ontario interpreting services
Ontario Interpreting Services provides interpreting services across Ontario for American and Quebec sign language in some regions. They cover a range of public and personal events.
Workplace accessibility
The workplace accessibility program assesses the workplace to ensure that there are no barriers for the deaf and hard of hearing. It provides seminars to "increase awareness of hearing loss in the workplace". Business staff and management are educated to raise awareness of hearing loss and provide strategies for communication, which includes holding accessible meetings.
Communication devices program
The Communication Devices Program was made on behalf of members who were "culturally deaf, orally deaf, deafened or hard of hearing". The main aim is to offer technical solutions to communication barriers. The CDP recommends devices for the home, workplace or business.
The CHS provides video conferencing services in 25 offices across Ontario. VCS allows for conferencing with up to 12 locations and can be used for many different purposes such as interviews, meetings or training sessions.
Audiology
The CHS Audiology service is available in Hamilton, Mississauga, Toronto, Kenora, Sarnia, Windsor, Ottawa, Sudbury and Toronto East. The audiology program takes a holistic approach to hearing health care by looking at hearing loss and the ways in which it affects life. Audiologists provide hearing tests, hearing aid evaluations, hearing aid check-ups and fine tuning, and hearing aid fitting and dispensing for children and adults.
Hearing care counselling program
The Hearing Care Counselling Program operates in 26 Ontario sites. It aids seniors with hearing loss in adjusting and maintaining connections. While the priority is adults 55 and up, younger adults can also join. Counsellors offer home visits, training, device demos, and suggestions.
CONNECT counselling program
The CONNECT Counselling Program at Canadian Hearing Services is a dedicated mental health counselling service available at 26 locations across Ontario. It provides support to individuals and families with Deaf, deafened, or hard-of-hearing members, offering counselling for a wide range of issues, including mental health concerns, depression, relationship difficulties, abuse, family support, education, and advocacy.
The CHS offers classes in American Sign Language.
Locations
There are 22 Canadian Hearing Services locations across Ontario: