The DARS/Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (DHHS) has as one of its main programs the DHHS Specialist Program. Under that program there are 26 Specialists across the state who work with persons who a deaf/hard of hearing/late deafened, etc, their family members, their employers and agencies who need to provide services. A Deafness Resource Specialist (Deafness RS) works primarily on advocacy issues using laws such as the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and various other federal civil rights mandates to ensure access to communication for programs and services for individuals who have a loss of hearing. A Hearing Loss Resource Specialist (HLRS) works primarily on assistive technology (specialized telephones, assistive listening equipment, etc) with the same population. For persons who are losing their hearing, the HLRS will work with the individual, their family and employer, if employed, on coping skills/strategies for living with a hearing loss and what a assistive technology can be used for higher levels of independence in living and employment. These 26 individuals are employed by agencies who have contracted with the DHHS to provide this statewide service.
This link will give you the name and contact options of your area's Deafness RS and Hearing Loss RS: http://www.dars.state.tx.us/dhhs/providers/specialists.asp
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Doug H. Dittfurth, Outreach Development Specialist
DARS - Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
512/407-3273 (V/VP/TTY)
512/407-3299 (Fax) 4900 North Lamar Boulevard, 2-172
Austin, TX 78751

A Certificate of Deafness for Tuition Waiver (CODTW) is a DHHS program, which will waive the tuition and tuition-based fees for eligible consumers who attend a State of Texas-funded college or university. The application lists the basic criteria for persons with a severe-to-profound loss of hearing bilaterally. For persons with a lesser degree (moderate-to-severe) loss and/or extenuating circumstances there are two alternate formats to determined "functionally deaf" and eligible. This link will take you to application (for printing purposes), a more detailed description of the program's eligibility criteria, a list of possible colleges/universities in the State to use the Certificate, the statute which enacted the program and a list of
"Frequently Asked Questions" on the DHHS website: http://www.dars.state.tx.us/dhhs/trnganded.shtml#Certification.
[back]

Doug H. Dittfurth, Outreach Development Specialist
DARS - Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
512/407-3273 (V/VP/TTY)
512/407-3299 (Fax) 4900 North Lamar Boulevard, 2-172
Austin, TX 78751