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As printed in Hearing Health, volume 20:1,
Spring 2004
Hearing is definitely not a requirement for successfully
accessing and utilizing the Internet. Most deaf and
hard-of-hearing (D/HH) cybersurfers simply use standard
methods to tap into its nearly infinitesimal opportunities.
Even though the entire cyberworld is your oyster, some
sites and services might be of particular interest.
Here is a sampling of web resources and hangouts for
people with hearing loss.
Fun, support and socializing
www.deafchat.com
Monitored chatrooms open round the clock
www.deafsinglesconnection.com
www.deafmatchinternational.com
For friend and/or love seekers, chatrooms, message boards,
personal ads and mailboxes
www.hearingexchange.com
Online community for exchange of ideas and info on hearing
loss and related issues
www.saywhatclub.com
Mailing lists, some general, others focused on topics
like “Deaf/Hearing Couples,” etc.
Products and services
www.DeafRx.com
Canadian discount mail-order pharmacy that serves D/HH
Americans
www.digital-recordings.com
Free hearing and tinnitus tests online
www.harriscomm.com
Over 1,400 items for D/HH people with a “Cool
Senior Store”
www.hitec.com
Electronics for D/HH people, feature-laden phones and
personal FM systems
www.microsoft.com/enable
Software and tutorials on accessibility features of
popular Microsoft programs
Membership organizations
www.agbell.org
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard
of Hearing, focus on hearing loss and auditory/verbal
approach to communication
www.nad.org
The National Association of the Deaf, watchdog on accessibility
and civil rights of millions of D/HH Americans
www.shhh.org
Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc., information
and self-help support
Educational resources
http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu
/WorldAroundYou/
Online magazine for D/HH teens sponsored by Gallaudet
University
www.bhi.org
Better Hearing Institute, educational info for the public
and healthcare workers
www.drf.org
Deafness Research Foundation, research news and opportunities,
advocacy and public education materials and updates
www.hearinghealthmag.com
HH online edition, newsflashes, current features and
article archives
www.helpkidshear.org
News, commentary and resources for parents of D/HH kids
www.nidcd.nih.gov
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication
Disorders, information clearinghouse offering free publications
Online communication options
www.hiprelay.com
www.ip-relay.com
Hamilton Relay Services and MCI’s text relay services,
both offer free calls nationwide, typed message spoken
by an operator who also types reply
www.sorensonvrs.com
Sorenson Video Relay Services, free
videoconferencing using American Sign Language (ASL)
www.sprintrelayonline.com
www.sprintusavrs.com
Sprint relay and video relay calling
Lifelong learning
www.classesusa.com
Portal to 4,000+ online courses and degree programs
at schools and universities
www.deafed.net
Resource for new teachers and professional development
of existing teachers of D/HH students
Related Article:
Let’s Go Surfing Now
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