Visible Voices: Mental Wellness Strategies for Residential and Community Providers Working with Deaf or Hard of Hearing Individuals
Merge Webinar Series
Date and Time: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Eastern Time | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Central Time
Description:
People with combined mental health and intellectual/developmental disability (I/DD) diagnoses are more than one story – or even two! During this webinar we will think about how hearing loss, identity, communication choices, and society impact identification, diagnosis, treatment, and support. Participants will think about what access and quality of life may look like for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, and DeafDisabled individuals and consider how their programs or services could be designed to better fit the needs and wants of people in residential and community-based settings.
Host: Human Development Institute (HDI) at the University of Kentucky
Learning objectives:
- Identify how hearing loss interacts with signs and symptoms of mental health and I/DD affecting how a person should be approached.
- Consider the “different lens” a person who is Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deafblind, or DeafDisabled operates from and how that affects diagnosis, treatment, and support services.
- Learn practical tips and resources when working with the population.
English