Program for Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

VR New Hampshire provides an array of supports to help people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or late-deafened earn, learn, and live life to the fullest. Central to these are vocational rehabilitation (VR) services.

Our VR services for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or late-deafened—like those offered by VR New Hampshire to people with all types of disabilities—can transform your life by helping you prepare for, obtain, and retain meaningful employment. In addition, specific services are available to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or late-deafened including American Sign Language (ASL) users.

Depending on your needs, VR services may include:

• Career counseling and guidance
• Job training
• Resume preparation and interview practice
• Job placement
• Onsite job coaching
• Help obtaining job accommodations, including assistive communication devices
• Workplace-based support for co-workers on how to communicate with people who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as general disability education and awareness training

VR New Hampshire can also help currently employed individuals who are losing hearing due to injury, illness, or aging learn about tools and strategies that can help them keep working.

Apply for VR services by contacting a regional office or online.

VR New Hampshire’s Program for Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing opened its doors in 1981 as the Office for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired. It was formalized and changed its name in 1989, when its functions were enacted into law by the New Hampshire State Legislature. Learn more by reading our fact sheet about VR New Hampshire’s Program for Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing or contacting:

Beth A. Keller
State Coordinator
21 South Fruit Street, Suite 20
Concord, NH 03301

Beth.A.Keller@doe.nh.gov
 

Resources:

• Interpreter Licensing Board - The New Hampshire Interpreter Licensure law RSA 326-I, which became effective January 1, 2003, requires that interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing hold a license in order to receive remuneration and to practice as an interpreter in New Hampshire.
• Waiver Form
• Interpreter Directory
• Current Interpreter Fee Schedule
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing Driver Visor Card
• Advisory Committee
• NH Interpreter Classification System
• NHICS Advanced
• NHICS Deaf Interpreter-Provisional Summary
• NHICS Deaf Interpreter-Provisional Guide
• NHICS Deaf Interpreter-Provisional Application
• NHICS Deaf Interpreter-Provisional Deaf Community Reference
• NHICS Deaf Interpreter-Provisional Licensed Interpreter Reference