The following support activities are provided to all deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind North Caroliniansand their families, in all 100 counties, through the Regional Centers:
-Advocacy
-Counseling
-Consultation
-Technology training
-Information and referral
-Consumer skills development
-Telecommunications and emergency alerting equipment distribution
Eligible North Carolinians who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing or Deaf-Blind may apply to receive telecommunications and emergency alerting equipment. To ensure effective communications, regional centers help clients with the following:
-Selection of telecommunications and emergency alerting equipment
-Installations of telecommunications and emergency alerting equipment
-Appropriate use of adaptive equipment
-Knowledge and awareness of other types of equipment
The deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind have different needs and regional centers assist with:
-Self-advocacy skills development
-Understanding individual rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and other related statutes
-Effective use of sign language interpreters
-Selecting and using effectively appropriate assistive technology
-Dealing with grief over losing hearing
-Training family members how to effectively communicate with an older adult with hearing loss
-Advocacy in accessing housing, transportation, healthcare services, emergency alert and response services, law enforcement, judicial system and so forth