Deaf and Hard of Hearing Clients
Helpful Information for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
The following links are available to clients who are deaf or hard of hearing. The resources available within the linked pages include videos that provide information on services available, contacts for Regional ADA coordinators, telephone numbers, and other resources.
How to get Hearing Aids
- First, check with your primary care Doctor and medical insurance about hearing tests and hearing aids.
- DCF cannot determine if you qualify for hearing aids or provide them for you.
- If you have Medicaid please contact your Medicaid provider.
- If you have Medicare please contact: https://www.medicare.gov/talk-to-someone
Links to Community Service
Below are links to organizations that list many types of resources for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf Blind and Late Deafened. If you do not see the information you are looking for, please contact DCF.
- Florida Coordinating Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- The Florida Association for the Deaf
- Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Telephone Numbers
Below is a list of numbers which provide access for services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Florida Abuse Hotline - 800-962-2873, Florida Relay 711, TTY 800-955-8771
The Florida Abuse Hotline accepts reports 24 hours a day and 7 days a week of known or suspected child abuse, neglect, or abandonment and reports of known or suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult. - Domestic Violence Hotline - 800-500-1119, TTY 800-621-4202
The Department’s Domestic Violence Program operates as the central clearinghouse for state and federal funding initiatives for the prevention and intervention of domestic violence. Florida’s 42 certified domestic violence centers provide crisis intervention and support services to adult victims of domestic violence and their children free of charge, 24 hours a day, 7-days a week. - ACCESS Florida - (850) 300-4323, Florida Relay 711 or TTY 800-955-8771
The Automated Community Connection to Economic Self Sufficiency (ACCESS) Florida Program helps to promote strong and economically self-sufficient communities by providing food, cash and medical assistance to individuals and families on the road to economic recovery.
Videos Explaining DCF Forms
Customer / Companion Feedback Form | 3:47 min.
This video explains the Department of Children and Families’ Customer or Companion Feedback form, including the form fields and the various sections of the form.
Customer or Companion Communication Assessment and Auxiliary Aid and Service Record | 13:29 min.
This video explains the form that is completed by DCF personnel or the Contracted Client Services Provider for each service date, including the form fields and the various sections of the form.
Customer or Companion Communication Assessment and Auxiliary Aid and Service Record for Phone Interviews | 6:01 min.
This video explains the form that is completed by DCF personnel or the Contracted Client Services Provider for each service date occurring via telephone, including the form fields and the various sections of the form.
Summary of DCF Policy for Filing Complaints by Reason of Disability | 19:10 min.
This video provides the process for customers or companions to file a complaint against the Department of Children and Families by reason of disability in provision of benefits or services. The video also includes appropriate state or federal entity contacts for submission of complaints as well as DCF’s review process for complaint handling.
Summary of DCF Policy for Providing Auxiliary Aids and Services | 38:26 min.
This video provides the process for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to obtain auxiliary aids and services. The video also describes information about the scope of interpretive services.
Summary of DCF Notice of Privacy Policy and Management and Protection of Personal Health Information | 25:00 min.
This video provides a summary of the operating procedures for uniform policies and requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, also known as HIPAA. The Department is required to assure security and protection of personal health information as outlined within HIPAA.
504 Fact Sheet | 8:12 min.
This video provides an overview of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which is a national law that protects qualified individuals from discrimination based on their disability. The video also includes brief descriptions of an individual's rights under this law.
ADA Rights Fact Sheet | 11:12 min.
The Americans with Disabilities Act, also known as the ADA, is one of America's most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life. This video provides facts about the ADA and also explains requirements of Title II of the ADA, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public entities.
Forms & Publications
- Customer / Companion Feedback Form
The Department of Children and Families values your opinion and requests that you complete this short survey to assist us in evaluating and improving our services.
English | Haitian/Creole | Spanish - Customer or Companion Request for Free Communication Assistance or Waiver of Free Communication Assistance
The Florida Department of Children and Families and its contracted client services Providers are required to provide FREE interpreters or other communication assistance for persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. This form helps to identify your communication preferences.
English | Haitian/Creole | Spanish - Customer or Companion Communication Assessment and Auxiliary Aid and Service Record
The purpose of the Customer Companion Communication Assessment and Auxiliary Aid and Service Record is to facilitate the collection and coordination of auxiliary aids and services provided to Customers or Companions who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
English | Haitian/Creole | Spanish - Know Your Rights Brochure
English - Policy for Filing Complaints by Reason of Disability
This chapter establishes uniform procedures for customers and potential customers or companions to file complaints of discrimination against the Department by reason of a disability.
English | Haitian/Creole | Spanish - 504 Fact Sheet
This fact sheet provides an overview of your rights under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
English | Haitian/Creole | Spanish - Americans with Disabilities Act Fact Sheet
This fact sheet provides an overview of your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
English | Haitian/Creole | Spanish - Summary of DCF Notice of Privacy Policy and Management and Protection of Personal Health Information
This operating procedure establishes a uniform process for disseminating privacy standards and policies required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations within the Department of Children and Families.
English | Haitian/Creole | Spanish - Auxiliary Aid Service Record Monthly Summary Report
This document provides instructions for capturing the information needed to verify the number of Customers and Companions served each month who may require auxiliary aids and services, because they are deaf or hard-of-hearing, as well as those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing low vision or blind, and deaf or hard-of-hearing and limited English proficient.
Website Accessibility
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by Federal agencies, in programs receiving Federal financial assistance, in Federal employment, and in the employment practices of Federal contractors.
Section 504 states that "no qualified individual with a disability in the United States shall be excluded from, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under" any program or activity that either receives Federal financial assistance or is conducted by any Executive agency. To see what the department is doing to assist individuals with disabilities, please visit the departments Services for Individuals with a Disability section. The DCF Auxiliary Aids and Service Plan is also available online. To read more about website accessibility read below.
Section 508 now establishes requirements for electronic and information technology developed, maintained, procured, or used by the Federal government. Section 508 requires Federal electronic and information technology to be accessible to people with disabilities, including employees and members of the public.
In December 2000 the Federal Access Board issued final standards for electronic and information technology under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. These were adopted and published in the Federal Registrar in April 2001 with enforcement to begin June 21, 2001.
While these standards currently apply to federal government, it is the direct responsibility of Florida state government agencies and their web designers and developers to become familiar with these accessibility guidelines and to apply these principles in designing and creating any official State of Florida web site.
The Florida Department of Children & Families welcomes your comments and suggestions for improving the accessibility of information on our website. If you use assistive technology and the format of any material on our website interferes with your ability to access the information, we encourage you to notify us at @email for assistance.