OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire joins governors across the U.S. and world leaders in proclaiming Sept. 21 – 27 as Deaf Awareness Week. This week recognizes a rich deaf culture with own unique traditions, dialects and sense of humor.

"This annual celebration is dedicated to promoting the social, cultural and educational lives of deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind people, and recognizes their achievements and capabilities," Gov. Gregoire states in the proclamation.

In our state there are approximately 506,000 individuals with a hearing loss including 12,600 individuals who are deaf or deaf and-blind.

"The Governor's Proclamation is an excellent opportunity to increase public awareness about the deaf as a people. Misconceptions can become barriers and it is through awareness we can remove these barriers," said Eric Raff director of the Department of Social and Health Services

"Local businesses, government and nonprofit organizations realizing barriers exist can also obtain free technical assistance from a regional service center to become more accessible," adds Raff.

Technology is one tool the ODHH uses to provide resources for its deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing clients. Telecommunication services and devices such as video conferencing, text telephones also called TTY and text messaging and are making it communication easier for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

"We encourage deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind and speech impaired people and their families to visit one of our Regional Service Centers Regional Service Centers or the ODHH." Contact ODHH for information at: (360) 902-8000 Voice/TTY (800) 422-7930 Voice/TTY, e-mail Address: odhh@dshs.wa.gov.

(A PDF is attached that offer county census information on people who are deaf and hard of hearing in WA.)

DSHS does not discriminate, and provides equal access to its programs and services for all persons without regard to race, color, gender, religion, creed, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, age, veterarn's status or the presence of any physical, sensory or mental disability.