Provides individualized support, recreational programming, community connections, and accessible resources for deaf and hard of hearing people, for people experiencing sudden or progressive loss of hearing or speech, individuals with adaptive communication needs, and their families

Services can be provided in person, virtually or a combination of both in office or in the community.

Personalized support offered within the Community Support Services program may include:

• LITERACY support, including filling out forms and applications
• Short-term COUNSELLING, crisis intervention and referrals
• COORDINATION of complex services
• Providing an ACCESSIBLE LINK to local community resources
• ADVOCACY for individuals and accessibility education to community
• Specialized PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN with hearing loss of all ages, and their families living in Simcoe County and Muskoka
• Inclusive in-person and online support groups, educational WORKSHOPS and events
• COMMUNICATION strategies for individuals with hearing loss and the community at large
• RESOURCES and information relating to hearing loss implications, technical devices, language and culture
• Specialized support and peer-to-peer connections for SENIORS (virtual and in-person)

Community Support Services staff are fluent in American Sign Language, English and French, and work alongside individuals who identify as culturally deaf, oral deaf, deafened and hard-of-hearing, as well as those using an alternative to spoken communication, in their preferred language or mode of communication (speech reading, sign supported speech, text, AAC)