Louisiana Association of the Deaf, Inc. dba Deaf Focus

Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Region Served: South

Web Address: https://www.lad1908.org
Email: info@lad1908.org

Description:
Louisiana Association of the Deaf LAD is the oldest largest and premier nonprofit organization for the Deaf DeafBlind and hard of hearing DDBHH citizens in the state of Louisiana LAD was founded in 1908 by the alumni of the Louisiana School for the Deaf and is one of fifty 50 states affiliated with the National Association of the Deaf NAD LAD advocates the promotion of the educational economic and social well-being of DDBHH individuals in Louisiana.

In addition, LAD, doing business as Deaf Focus, provides a variety of services to the DDBHH community, including:

  • Interpreting Services
  • Expert Consulting
  • Law Enforcement & First Responders Training
  • Professional Development
  • Advocacy: Legislative, Education, Services, Employment, and Access
  • Educational Support
  • Health and Wellness Services
  • Social and Recreational Activities
  • ASL Classes
  • And more.

Social Media Channels:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/LAD1908
Instagram: https://instagram.com/deaffocus

Louisiana State Resources

  • Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs: Provides a list of national and local resources for people with disabilities, their families, and the agencies that serve them.
  • Louisiana Rehabilitation Services: Helps people with disabilities obtain or maintain employment and achieve independence in their communities by providing rehabilitation services and working in collaboration with businesses and other community organizations. 
  • Louisiana Association of the Deaf (LAD): The oldest and largest consumer organization of the d/Deaf and hard of hearing in the state of Louisiana. LAD advocates for the educational, economic, and social well-being of d/Deaf and hard of hearing people.
  • Louisiana Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf: Professional organization designed to further the profession of interpretation of American Sign Language and English and the transliteration of English. The website provides information, resources, and education and training opportunities for interpreters.
  • Louisiana Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program: Works to ensure all children who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing can effectively communicate and develop the language skills they need to learn, grow and thrive.
  • Louisiana Hands and Voices: Provides family-to-family support from a trained parent guide to parents of children recently identified as d/Deaf or hard of hearing.
  • Louisiana Believes | Louisiana Department of Education: Provides guidance and resources for families, educators, and administrators to help students with disabilities reach their full academic potential.
  • Louisiana School for the Deaf: Serves approximately 400 d/Deaf or hard of hearing children and their families, making it one of the major schools for the d/Deaf in the nation. Visit the website to view teacher and class web pages, read information about various Outreach and Support Services, and find employment opportunities.
  • Louisiana DeafBlind Project for Children and Youth | LSU Human Development Center: Provides information on DeafBlindness, including effective strategies to support children and youth with who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing or have low vision/vision loss. The program also provides family support, webinars, training, and technical assistance.
  • Louisiana 988- Help and hope are here: Need emergency emotional support? If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can chat with a 988 Lifeline crisis counselor 24/7 by:

    • For deaf or hard of hearing ASL users, call 988 Videophone
    • Online chat – Click here to use the chat button
    • 988 Text – Send any message to 988 to start a text conversation
    • For TTY Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.

National Resources

  • Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths & Adults (HKNC) Regional Center: Tools and resources for people who are DeafBlind to help them live, work and thrive in the communities of their choice.
  • College Online Accommodation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students: A guide that helps deaf and hard of hearing students to learn about online accommodations colleges offer to comply with the American Disabilities Act, popular listening devices and applications, and scholarships. We also provide a list of the 5 best colleges for students with hearing disabilities as well as additional helpful resources.
  • DeafLEAD: Provides 24-hour crisis intervention, advocacy, case management, interpreting, and mental health services to d/Deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind, and late-deafened individuals and their families. DeafLEAD is designed to help individuals who are victims of crimes and their families, but it also provides support to individuals, agencies, and organizations providing victim services to individuals with a hearing loss.
    24 Hour Crisis Line: (321) 800-3323
  • Gallaudet University Regional Center: The premier institution of learning, teaching and research for d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

Resources for ASL Interpreters