Giving Connection

Bridges for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

This nonprofit has not yet verified the listed information.

Volunteer

935 Edgehill Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203, USA

EIN Number: 62-0498798

contact information

Phone: 615-248-8828

Hours: Closed

Mon - Fri 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM (EST)

Sat Closed

Sun Closed

Website: http://www.bridgesfordeafandhh.org/

Email: info@bridgesfordeafandhh.org

NTEE Code: P87: Deaf & Hearing Impaired Centers

MISSION - WHAT WE DO

MISSION to build access, equity, and inclusion in partnership with the D/deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing communities through advocacy, education, empowerment, and effective communicationVISION a more just and inclusive world with no barriers.

SERVICES - HOW WE DO IT

Interpreting Services Bridges for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing offers sign language interpreting services for the Deaf, including Americna Sign Language interpreting, Video Remote Interpreting (VRI), and tactile signing. The agency also offers CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) services for hard of hearing and those who do not sign. Bridges has also introduced the use of Certified Deaf Interpreters (CDIs). CDIs work in tandem with a hearing interpreter to serve clients who limited or low language to ensure accuracy and safety in the interpretation. The American's with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires reasonable accommodations, including the use of interpreters and transcribers for those who need these services in everyday settings. Youth Education & Services (The Signing ACEs) Youth Education & Services, also known as The Signing Aces (Advocacy, Community, Empowerment) serves youth from first grade through high school. Our after-school program provides intensive literacy support, enrichment activities, and homework assistance. The after-school program also provides a warm and safe home away from home where students are able to share a common experience and the rich heritage of Deaf culture. Youth Education & Services also provides summer camps. Camp Sign Me Up is for hearing students who want to learn ASL, and Camp Rise & Sign is a sleep-away camp for Deaf and hard of hearing students, offering them an authentic camp experience complete with campfires, fireflies, and fun in a fully-language-accessible environment. Little ACEs is new program serving families with infants from birth to 5 where the child and/or parent are Deaf. Little ACEs offers early language intervention and acquisition and promotes and supports healthy family bonding and communication. Adult Education & Outreach Adult Education & Outreach (AEO) offers American Sign Language classes for levels I, II, and III three times a year in addition to offering engaging and informative workshops on Deaf culture, language, and hearing loss and prevention to area businesses, schools, and the community. AEO also offers community-building workshops and activities for the Deaf and hard of hearing communities. Under the umbrella of AOE, our LivingWell health and wellness program provides services in American Sign Language or with transcription as needed. With a beautiful fitness center, Bridges also offers personal training free-of -charge to individuals with any level of hearing loss. An extension of the education and outreach department, the fitness program was designed to deliver classes and provide health and wellness information to Deaf and hard of hearing adults (with the help of interpreters, captioned videos, other devices) who are typically at greater risk than hearing individuals for increased health risks. Empowerment Working under AEO, Empowerment provides critical services such as housing assistance, education advocacy, job training and placement assistance, self-advocacy support, healthcare access, and much more. Advocacy In April 2017, under the leadership of President & CEO Nancy Denning-Martin, the agency claimed its place in macro-level advocacy by inviting the Mayor’s Office, Sheriff’s Department, Metro Nashville Police Department, District Attorney, Public Defender’s Office, Metro Human Relations Commission, General Sessions Court, Juvenile Court, etc. to a meeting to discuss how these large civic systems interact with the Deaf and hard of hearing communities. In November 2017, over 60 people from law enforcement and criminal justice throughout Middle Tennessee and from the Deaf and hard of hearing communities came together to ask and answer questions and to share experiences in a Town Hall forum. Future Town Halls will be offered, bringing the Deaf and hard of hearing communities and other entities together to facilitate discussion, build consensus, and make positive policy change. Bridges for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing continues to provide in-depth trainings to various Metro departments. We also participated in Metro Nashville’s ongoing language access study. In 2017-2018, we will continue our work with criminal justice, while also working on larger issues of education, transportation, and mental health access. On a state-wide level, Bridges is leading initiatives that will create standardized legal/law enforcement and medical/healthcare training presentations, printed materials, and policies that can be used by agencies serving the Deaf and hard of hearing communities throughout Tennessee.