SERVICES

The Cork Deaf Association is committed to the empowerment of Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in Cork city and county through the provision of information, advocacy and support services.

We aim to achieve a more inclusive society, where Deaf and Hard of Hearing people enjoy equality of opportunity, independence and full citizenship.

We provide a range of services including:

Information

• Deafness and Hearing Loss
• Sign Language Interpreters
• Tinnitus

Education

• Deaf Awareness Training
• Sign Language and Lipreading classes

Family Support Service

• Advice on Benefits and Entitlements
• Advocacy
• Mental Health Service

Aural Rehabilitation

Aural Rehabilitation focuses on reducing difficulties related to hearing loss.

Services include:

• Learning how to use your hearing aid
• Building confidence in communication situations
• Learning skills in speechreading (lipreading, facial expression, body language)
• Learning how hearing loss affects speech

Hearing Aid Repairs

We provide a Minor Hearing Aid Repairs Service on Tuesday and Friday mornings in HSE Hearing Services, Kinsale Road, Cork (Tel: 021 4927420). We also provide follow up support and advice around hearing aids and adjustment to hearing loss in the Cork Deaf Association.

Tinnitus Support

We provide support for people with Tinnitus, including:

• Tinnitus helpline – call (021) 4505944 to arrange for a call back.
• One to one appointments with an advisor
• A regular Tinnitus Clinic, which includes an Audiology assessment and Aural Rehabilitation advice
• Information Talks and Support Meetings

Assistive Technology (Deaftech)

Our ‘Deaftech’ service offers:

• information and advice on equipment for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (telephones, doorbells, smoke alarms etc.)
• the option of buying equipment or short term borrowing
• the opportunity for medical card holders to apply for free equipment
• home visits for people, who require equipment but have mobility difficulties
• hearing aid batteries at a very competitive price

Employment Support

• Jobsearch assistance
• C.V. writing service
• Interview preparation
• Mentoring

Accommodation Support

• Assisting service users to source accommodation

Support Groups and Activities

We offer a range of activities, meetings and talks for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people of all ages, for example:

• The Cork and Kerry Deaf Elderly Group
• The Hard of Hearing Support Group
• The Cool Youth Club
• Smiley Summer Camp for children
• Busy Bees Club for pre-school age children
• The Parent’s Forum support group for parents of children with a hearing loss

Outreach Programmes

The CDA are always seeking to extend and develop services and awareness of Deaf issues throughout Cork county, for example through:

• Information talks and equipment demonstrations
• Schools’ projects

Rooms to Let

The CDA offers rooms to let for training and meeting purposes. Our accommodation includes a large ground floor room with facilities for wheelchair-users close by.

The Cork Deaf Club

We are also proud to support the work of The Deaf Club. It is a social club run by the Deaf Community for the Deaf Community. It meets every Tuesday night at 8 p.m. in the Cork Deaf Association and organises a range of activities for Deaf people in Cork.