Michigan Nonprofit Marks 20 Years Serving Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Adults And Their Families
Deaf and Hearing Impaired Services (DHIS) a pioneer in deaf services, advocacy in southeast Michigan
Although she can hear perfectly, Linda Booth understands a world of silence. Her mother, May Booth, was born to deaf parents. American Sign Language (ASL) became May Booth's €first€ language, as she first interpreted for her parents and then others.
Eventually, May Booth become a pioneer in providing deaf services through a community-based, nonprofit organization. That group, Farmington Hills, Mich.-based Deaf and Hearing Impaired Services, Inc. (DHIS) is now celebrating its 20th year of service to the community. Like her mother, DHIS president Linda Booth has been a tireless, creative advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Just a beginning. In 1969, May Booth was approached by the Tri-County Deaf Senior Citizens organization and was asked to be its Director/Interpreter. Four years later, May Booth successfully wrote her first grant to the Area Agency on Aging 1-B to provide deaf services to deaf older adults.
In 1993, with the strong support of southeast Michigan's deaf community, Linda Booth re-organized her activities, forming today's DHIS. May Booth passed away four years ago.
€I'm thrilled to represent my mother's legacy. A lot has changed in society over time, but we are as energized as ever in providing deaf services to a group that represents nearly a tenth of Michigan citizens,€ says Booth, whose first career was as a teacher in the Bloomfield Hills, Michigan school system.
Today's DHIS. Increasingly, the major thrust of DHIS's deaf services is providing ASL interpreters for deaf adults in a variety of settings, including when deaf individuals access health care, financial services or have dealings with the law and lawyers.
This growth in the need for interpreters and interpreter referral, Linda Booth notes, parallels our society's better appreciation for the contributions and needs of all citizens, beginning with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Following May Booth's legacy, DHIS maintains a vibrant program of deaf services for seniors, staffed by DHIS personnel and a network of volunteers. Activities and services include group education at satellite centers; picnics, parties and field trips; and individual client assistance, conducted by specially trained case managers. Non-hard of hearing seniors are encouraged to attend.
Booth also is working on meeting today's critical shortage of ASL interpreters and building the first housing community for deaf seniors in Michigan.
To find an ASL interpreter or learn more about DHIS' deaf services for seniors, please visit: www.dhisonline.org.
Although she can hear perfectly, Linda Booth understands a world of silence. Her mother, May Booth, was born to deaf parents. American Sign Language (ASL) became May Booth's €first€ language, as she first interpreted for her parents and then others.
Eventually, May Booth become a pioneer in providing deaf services through a community-based, nonprofit organization. That group, Farmington Hills, Mich.-based Deaf and Hearing Impaired Services, Inc. (DHIS) is now celebrating its 20th year of service to the community. Like her mother, DHIS president Linda Booth has been a tireless, creative advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Just a beginning. In 1969, May Booth was approached by the Tri-County Deaf Senior Citizens organization and was asked to be its Director/Interpreter. Four years later, May Booth successfully wrote her first grant to the Area Agency on Aging 1-B to provide deaf services to deaf older adults.
In 1993, with the strong support of southeast Michigan's deaf community, Linda Booth re-organized her activities, forming today's DHIS. May Booth passed away four years ago.
€I'm thrilled to represent my mother's legacy. A lot has changed in society over time, but we are as energized as ever in providing deaf services to a group that represents nearly a tenth of Michigan citizens,€ says Booth, whose first career was as a teacher in the Bloomfield Hills, Michigan school system.
Today's DHIS. Increasingly, the major thrust of DHIS's deaf services is providing ASL interpreters for deaf adults in a variety of settings, including when deaf individuals access health care, financial services or have dealings with the law and lawyers.
This growth in the need for interpreters and interpreter referral, Linda Booth notes, parallels our society's better appreciation for the contributions and needs of all citizens, beginning with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Following May Booth's legacy, DHIS maintains a vibrant program of deaf services for seniors, staffed by DHIS personnel and a network of volunteers. Activities and services include group education at satellite centers; picnics, parties and field trips; and individual client assistance, conducted by specially trained case managers. Non-hard of hearing seniors are encouraged to attend.
Booth also is working on meeting today's critical shortage of ASL interpreters and building the first housing community for deaf seniors in Michigan.
To find an ASL interpreter or learn more about DHIS' deaf services for seniors, please visit: www.dhisonline.org.
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