The
Center on Deafness, a not for profit Illinois
Corporation, began serving the deaf and hard of hearing
community nearly thirty years ago and has only one mission, to
serve both children and adults who have hearing impairments
with additional disabilities such as mental illness or
developmental disabilities. We are only one of a few
organizations in the country that serves only the deaf and
hard of hearing population with additional disabilities. Since
its inception, the Center has had as its purpose the
treatment and rehabilitation of clients who are deaf or hard
of hearing, along with other disabilities, with return to the
community at large or integration into the community with
assistance as the goal for each client. Residential services
for adults and students are based in the community using
apartments, townhouses and homes to create a less restrictive
more normal environment. An experienced staff trained in the
area of deafness and fluent in the use of sign language
provides treatment, life skills training, and vocational and
social skills training to clients. Qualified, certified and
licensed social work, psychiatric, nursing, vocational and
educational staffs are part of the team that provides service
to the population. The Center contracts with the only hospital
psychiatric unit for the deaf in the State of Illinois should
hospitalization be required for clients.