Los Angeles, CA – Jay Nolan Community Services (JNCS) is proud to announce the launch of a new initiative designed to provide Deaf+ adolescents and their families with access to the resources they need to succeed in their personal and professional lives through informational presentations and individualized plans.
Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and have additional disabilities or identities, such as intellectual or developmental disabilities, are often referred to as “Deaf+”. For many families with Deaf+ support needs, cultural barriers and socioeconomic factors present challenges to accessing public social services.
This is especially difficult for racial and ethnic minority groups, such as the Latino and Korean communities, where a general mistrust of public systems and discomfort around authority figures may prevent many families from requesting needed services and exercising their rights. This initiative seeks to improve access to vital vocational, educational, and behavioral support services for Deaf and Deaf+ young adults and their families from underrepresented communities, who may be unclear about next steps after high school.
JNCS will be hosting four informational presentations to Deaf+ adolescents and young adults, and their families throughout the year. The aim of the presentations is to help facilitate understanding in how to access and advocate for North Los Angeles County Regional Center (NLACRC) and Title 22 services, while also providing support for understanding eligibility for services. Presentations will also highlight integrated social and recreational inclusion opportunities. The goal is for young people, who are often socially and educationally marginalized, to have access to inclusive opportunities for developing friendships and expanding their social circles.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn about available resources and services and ask questions to better understand how they can access these resources. Culturally relevant support will be provided by ASL interpreters and Spanish and Korean language community members.
JNCS will also be offering person-centered profiles for interested individuals and families. This one-page document will identify strengths of the individual, potential accommodations they may require in employment or social settings, help set and identify transition goals, suggest relevant local and regional resources, and propose ways for monitoring progress toward goals. These profiles will also serve as a clear overview of the Deaf individual’s needs, preferences, and interests. This helps future service providers to be culturally and linguistically responsive to the beliefs, values, and choices of the individual.
Services are aimed for transition aged youth (ages 14-22) who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf+ and their families in the Los Angeles area. The overall goal for these services is greater accessibility to community resources for Deaf and Deaf+ individuals transitioning out of high school with the goal of empowering them to achieve their full potential. Deaf and Deaf+ individuals can then work with their support network to pursue available resources, such as educational programs, vocational training programs, or financial assistance.
This initiative is made possible through a grant from the Department of Developmental Services (DDS). This grant from DDS is intended for the purpose of improving “accessibility of integrated social and recreational programs that are person-centered and culturally and linguistically responsive to the beliefs, values and choices of children and adolescents with I/DD.”
For more information about Jay Nolan Community Services and their new resources for Deaf individuals and families, please contact: Carlos Jessie Acosta at cjacosta@jaynolan.org or call (661) 581-0795.
Jay Nolan Community Services is a non-profit organization that provides a wide range of support services to individuals with disabilities and their families. With over 48 years of experience, JNCS is committed to providing high-quality, personalized support to help individuals achieve their goals and live their best lives.
