NorCal Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing is a non-profit community-based organization serving Deaf individuals in 24 northeastern counties of California. Their One-Stop Staff who are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) are happy to help you in finding the right resources to maximize your job opportunities. They work with Employers.

They also offer "I Am Hard of Hearing" cards for pickup at their headquarters or they can email a printable file.

For Job Seekers we offer:

• Free use of CalJobs via Internet
• Assist with Job Search
• Help with Resume/Cover Letter
• Assist with Job Applications
• Practice Interview
• Job Support
• Use of Computer and Resources

Web pages:

• Home - https://norcalcenter.org/edd/

California Connect, also called the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program (DDTP), is funded by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and is a public purpose program that provides communications equipment and services to persons with disabilities. The program’s accessible products and services are fully subsidized, removing financial barriers.

Equipment is available for people who have difficulty:

• Hearing
• Seeing
• Moving
• Speaking
• Learning or remembering

California Relay Service can connect TTY users to non-TTY users.

There are free trainings on how to make a smartphone work better for people with disabilities.

To be eligible, you must be certified as having a permanent or temporary disability and you also must:

• Live in California
• Have access to telephone service
  • You must have access to either cell phone or land line service to participate in the program.

Web pages

• Home - https://caconnect.org/
• Apply - https://apply.caconnect.org/
• Find equipment - https://caconnect.org/e…

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The Assistance Dog Special Allowance (ADSA )Program provides a monthly payment to eligible persons who use a guide, signal, or service dog to help them with their disability-related needs. The allowance is to help pay the costs of food, grooming, and health care for the dogs.

To be eligible for the ADSA program, you must meet all four of the following criteria:

​1. Lives in California

2. Is blind, deaf, hard of hearing, or disabled

3. Uses the services of a trained guide, signal, or service dog

4. Receives benefits from one or more of these programs - 

• SSI - Supplemental Security Income
• SSP – State Supplementary Payment
• IHSS – In-Home Supportive Services
• SSDI – Social Security Disability Insurance(SSDI recipients must also meet federal poverty guidelines)
• CAPI– Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants

Web pages

• Information in English and Spanish - www.cdss.ca.gov/Assistance-Dogs
• Flyer - https://www.cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/entres/forms/english/pub294.pdf

Society for the Blind provides programs and services for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Services include

• Classes & services
• Programs for 55+ including the Senior IMPACT project
• Youth programs
• Low vision clinic
• Store with assistive technology

Web pages from above with visible url links

• Classes & services - https://societyfortheblind.org/programs-services/classes-services/
• Programs for 55+ including the Senior IMPACT project - https://societyfortheblind.org/programs-services/programs-for-55/
• Youth programs - https://societyfortheblind.org/programs-services/youth-programs/
• Low vision clinic - https://societyfortheblind.org/low-vision-clinic/about-our-clinic/
• Store with assistive technology - https://societyfortheblind.org/store/

California Braille and Talking Book Library offers free services to anyone who can't read standard print materials because of a physical disability including those who can't hold a book.

California State Library services:

• CA State Library specializes in providing library services to individuals with visual impairments
• CA State Library loans braille, cassette and digital talking books, magazines and playback equipment to Northern Californians unable to read conventional print

Web pages

• Home - https://www.library.ca.gov/btbl/

The Deaf Access Program provides the following services:

• Communication Services - sign language interpreters and translation of documents for deaf clients with low language skills
• Advocacy Services
• Job Development and Placement
• Information and Referral
• Counseling
• Independent Living Skills Instruction
• Community Education
  
  

REGION VII - NorCal Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NorCal)

4044 N. Freeway Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95834
916-349-7500 (Voice)
916-993-3048 (Videophone)
916-550-9355 (Videophone P3)
Email: piar@dss.ca.gov
Website: www.norcalcenter.org

Web pages

• Home - https://www.cdss.ca.gov/deaf-access
• Contact info for all region offices -https://www.cdss.ca.gov/deaf-access/deaf-access-program-dap-service-providers

Guide Dogs for the Blind is a nonprofit, charitable organization with a mission to provide Guide Dogs and training in their use to visually impaired people throughout the United States and Canada. Their dogs and services are free to those they serve, thanks to the generosity of donors and support of volunteers.

Students have access to instructors, counselors and veterinarians, a full-time nursing staff, a dedicated dormitory staff all of whom attend to students' needs in order to make their stay pleasant and enjoyable. They also offer follow-up services to each graduate of their program at their home or place of business for the lifetime of their guide dog partnership.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 150,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists in the United States and internationally. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems, including swallowing disorders.

Web pages

• Home - https://www.asha.org/

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit that expands possibilities for people with vision loss.

Web pages

• Home - https://www.afb.org/