Who we are and what we do

ODHHS was formed as a result of House Bill 3230, passed by the Legislature in 2005.  That bill separated ODHHS from the Oregon Disabilities Commission, and moved it into the Department of Human Services.  

The law that established it says “the purpose of the program is to assist members of the public and state agencies in making agency programs available and accessible to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.”  As staff, we are committed to carrying out this purpose.  It is the intent of ODHHS to assure that the deaf and hard of hearing citizens enjoy equal access and representation in all aspects of state government.

We do this in a number of ways:

• We contract with sign language interpreters and providers of assistive listening technology (such as real-time captioners, FM-loop systems, etc.) to accompany clients or employees of state agencies to meetings, appointments and services.  We ensure that the providers are appropriately certified and that they operate within their code of professional conduct, which includes strict confidentiality parameters.
• We provide training to agency staff on deaf and hard of hearing awareness and sensitivity, and make specific recommendations on how services can be improved.
• We provide TTY checks and information on technology to agencies and to the community, as well as developing projects to use technology to increase accessibility in the State of Oregon.

House Bill 3230 also organizes ODHHS to enter into additional optional areas of services.  Our Advisory Committee works actively with us to provide these statutory services:

• Identification and publicity of the needs and concerns of deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals as their needs and concerns relate to the full achievement of economic, social, legal and political equity; and
• Provide advice to the Department of Human Services, the governor, the legislative assembly and appropriate state agency administrators on how state services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals might be improved or better coordinated to meet the needs of those individuals. 

The statute also grants permission for ODHHS to work on issues relating specifically to rehabilitation and employment.  We have just completed 38  of 42 training sessions with the staff of the Employment Department  throughout Oregon and look forward to joint projects, which will enhance  employment options of  deaf and hard of hearing Oregonians.          

• Winds of change
• Who we are
• Service requests
• Deaf Awareness Month
• Role of the interpreter
• Emergency preparedness
• Network of Care
• Cathy Sanders Interview

• Newsletter archives
• ODHHS Web site
• ODHHS Advisory Committee
• DHS Web site
• Interpreter request

Please contact us with questions, comments or suggestions:

ODHHS
500 Summer St NE E06
Salem, OR 97301

800-358-3117 (Voice/TTY)
odhhs.info@state.or.us

ODHHS News is produced quarterly by the Department of Human Services, Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services.