Press Announcement - CSD of Ohio Provides Resource Web Site Sign Language Accessible Mental Health Videos

From: CSD - Mar 26, 2007

PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT
Release Date: March 26, 2007
Contact: Derric Miller
CSD Communications Office
dsmiller@c-s-d.org



CSD of Ohio Provides Resource Web Site Sign Language Accessible Mental Health Videos

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (March 26, 2007) — Teaming up with the Ohio Department of Mental Health, CSD of Ohio and CSD-TV have developed American Sign Language (ASL) videos as a resource for deaf or hard of hearing mental health consumers. The videos are also captioned and voiced. These Web-based videos were produced for a community resource network called the Network of Care, the first online community resource in the health and human services arena. Ohio is one of 13 states who operate a statewide Network of Care (www.networkofcare.org).

CSD of Ohio has the expertise to develop these videos based on their experience providing unique services addressing the mental health needs of deaf and hard of hearing consumers throughout the state, as well as to professionals in the mental health system. Some of the video topics are “Child and Adolescent Depression,” “What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,” “Anxiety Disorders in Adults,” “What Are Mood Disorders,” and many more.

Cultural competency is one of the major issues surrounding the resources for deaf consumers seeking mental health. The industry is English-driven, not ASL-driven. This means that deaf consumers often fail to find resources who offer services in the medium they desire — the visual language of ASL. ASL, as a language, has a different set of structure, morphology, semantics and syntax from English, making communication a complicated barrier to a deaf consumer’s recovery. These videos are the most effective way to provide information to consumers who rely on ASL as their primary mode of communication and information gathering.

“Accessibility is the priority issue for our Network of Care community Web sites,” said Afshin Khosravi, Trilogy Integrated Resources chief executive officer, who operates Network of Care. “From people with physical disabilities to people with developmental disabilities, we create everything with them in mind since they form the communities we are trying to serve. Whenever we have an opportunity to provide a resource to a special needs group, such as the hard of hearing and deaf communities, we will do it.”

“CSD is continually striving for innovative ways to work with service providers who can use our insight to connect with their deaf or hard of hearing consumers,” said Ben Soukup, CSD chief executive officer. “Providing these videos in ASL doesn’t just further the CSD mission—it helps realize Network of Care’s mission as well.”

To check out the new Ohio Network of Care Web site and the videos, go to www.ohio.networkofcare.org.

About CSD — CSD (aka Communication Service for the Deaf, Inc.) was established in 1975, primarily to provide sign language interpreting services to deaf and hard of hearing adults in South Dakota. Today, CSD employs over 3,000 individuals in offices across the nation, providing a broad continuum of social and human services programs, as well as telecommunications relay services. CSD is a private nonprofit agency dedicated to providing quality services; ensuring public accessibility; and increasing awareness of issues affecting the deaf, hard of hearing and individuals with speech disabilities. For more information, please visit www.c-s-d.org.

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