Community Resources
Emergency & Safety Resources
With a population of 1.5 million people, our local government has a vast amount of services to meet the needs of every resident—from urban gardeners to skateboarders, community leaders to musicians. As a new member of the Mayor’s Office team, I learn about a new city service or program everyday—and I wanted to share a few of them with you!
The goal of the group is to send out resources, event information, and contacts that can benefit families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), blind or visually impaired (BVI), or deaf-blind (DB).
It helps you and your child have more access to what you need for success in school and beyond. It will keep your family more informed about the special education process and about available supports across Pennsylvania.
Emergency Communication Board Now Available
In partnership with the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University and The Mayor’s Office on People with Disabilities, Philadelphia Department of Public Health is pleased to announce the release of a new Communication Board. This Communication Board is part of a broader effort to ensure accessibility in public health programming.
The Board is intended to be used when spoken English may not be effective. It can be utilized in acute and/or crisis situations and should not be used to replace American Sign Language (ASL) and other non-English VRI or interpretation services.
HOW TO APPLY FOR BENEFITS
Online: www.compass.state.pa.us
Or install the mobile App: myCOMPASS PA/1-844-831-0584
By Phone call: Benephilly at 1-8010-236-2194
You can also apply in person or by mail at your local
Philadelphia County Assistance Office.
CLICK HERE for more resources!
News & Resources
ASL Interpreted Shows at the Arden Theater:
Please confirm interest in advance of select 2023 dates.
The Arden Theatre (40 N. 2nd St., Philadelphia, PA 19106) is planning their ASL interpreted shows for this coming season. Ken Wesler at DHCC has offered to organize group tickets for interested families. Please email Ken at kwesler@dhcc.org to let him know if you are interested in attending so that tickets can be reserved. Please let him know what show you would like to attend, the date and the number of people attending. Any questions can be directed to Ken.
Here are the details:
CHARLOTTE’S WEB
ASL Interpreted performances:
Friday, January 20, 2023, 10:00 AM
Saturday, January 21, 2023, 4:00 PM
RED RIDING HOOD
ASL Interpreted performances:
Friday, May 26, 2023, 10:00 AM
Saturday, May 27, 2023, 4:00 PM
Group rates apply only to groups of 10 or more
$18 per ticket for performances on Tuesdays through Fridays
$20 per ticket for performances on Saturdays and Sundays
A 10:1 student-to-chaperone ratio is required for all groups with students under 15 years old. Complimentary tickets will be issued only to chaperones within the ratio requirement.
$2 tickets with ACCESS Card to:
1812 Theater Company
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
African American Museum in Philadelphia
American Helicopter Museum & Education Center
American Swedish Historical Museum
Barnes Foundation
Bartram’s Garden
Betsy Ross House
BlackStar Film Festival
Brandywine River Museum
Chanticleer Garden
Christ Church and Christ Church Burial Ground
ComedySportz
Eastern State Penitentiary
EgoPo Classic Theatre
First Person Arts
First Person Tours
Franklin Institute
Franklin Square – Parx Liberty Carousel
Franklin Square – Philly Mini Golf
Friends of Laurel Hill
FringeArts
Glen Foerd on the Delaware
Glencairn Museum
Grounds For Sculpture
Grumblethorpe
Hedgerow Theatre Company
Independence Seaport Museum
Inis Nua Theatre
InterAct Theatre Company
James A. Michener Art Museum
John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove
Longwood Gardens
Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania
Museum of the American Revolution
Mütter Museum
National Constitution Center
National Liberty Museum
Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History
Natural Lands
Philly POPs
Opera Philadelphia
Penn Museum
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
People’s Light
Philadelphia Ballet
Philadelphia Film Center
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Theatre Company
Philadelphia Youth Orchestra
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens
Physick House
Please Touch Museum
Powel House
Princeton Symphony Orchestra
Quintessence Theatre Group
Shofuso Japanese House and Garden
Stoneleigh: a natural garden
Players Club of Swarthmore
Temple Theaters
The Bearded Ladies Cabaret Co.
The StageCrafters Theater
Theatre Horizon
Tyler Arboretum
Waynesborough
Wharton Esherick Museum
Wilma Theater
Woodmere Art Museum
UPDATES
Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH) Refugees, Immigrants, and Asylees (RIAs).
HANDS UP PRODUCTIONS
Hands UP Productions is committed to providing customer focused, high quality sign language interpreting services for performing arts and cultural events.
By utilizing Deaf and hearing professionals, we create a rewarding experience for both theatre-goers and the theatre community.
In 2003, Brian and Donna worked together for the first time in Philadelphia while interpreting the Broadway hit, Chicago at the Miller (formally Merriam) Theatre.
Fast forward to 2007: With countless partnered productions under their belts, they embarked on a new adventure: Hands UP Productions.
Please find the Newsletter Link below:
Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities Winter 2023 Newsletter (mailchi.mp)
Disability Pride PA RevUP Philly
Claudia Tasco
Constituent Service Coordinator for
The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities
215-686-2798, Claudia.Tasco@phila.gov
Stay Connected with the Mayor’s Office by subscribing to our mailing list.
The Center For Continuing Education at Gallaudet University, in partnership with the American Caregiver Association, has launched
PST-93, DEAF CENTERED NATIONAL CAREGIVING CERTIFICATE COURSE
Designed for Deaf caregivers and caregivers of the Deaf, this course is a fully bilingual conversion of the ACA’s standard caregiver course into American Sign Language and English.
Upon completion of the course, participants will receive their certificate from the ACA. Cources are offered every month.
NEW! DEAF 101
Self-paced
This module is designed to provide participants with resources to increase their awareness of the ethnic and cultural diversity within the deaf community; and that there is not “one” deaf community but rather many. This module examines identity and intersectionality among deaf people from lived experiences of deaf people. This is designed for anyone who wants to engage with deaf people. It provides participants with fundamental knowledge of identity and intersectionality as well as some tools to engage with deaf people.
Smart Homes Made Simple: Your Guide to Smart Home Technology, 2nd Edition
We are excited to announce the release of the brand new edition of our guide, Smart Homes Made Simple: Your Guide to Smart Home Technology, 2nd Edition. This guide was written to help people with disabilities, older adults, and their families learn to successfully integrate smart home technology into their homes and their lives.
“Smart home technology is one of the best resources for people with disabilities so they can live safely and more independently in a home of their own. These devices also help people perform everyday activities, thrive in employment, school, and in their communities,” says PATF’s CEO, Ben Laudermilch.
Smart home technology can help with:
Connecting with friends and family
Turning on and off the lights
Setting reminders and alarms
Checking in with a caregiver
Locking and unlocking the door
Using telehealth services and health monitoring
Changing the TV channel or turning on music
And more!
We hope this new edition of our guide will help you explore smart home technology, develop a framework to choose your technology, and build a team who can support you in achieving your goals.
In addition to the digital version in English (508-compliant PDF), the guide is also available as a printed booklet.
You can request a printed copy of the latest edition of our guide at https://patf.us/contact/.
New Video About Smart Home Technology
2023 Summer Academy for High School Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Now accepting applications for the 2023 DHH Summer Academy for DHH high school students!
The program will be held on July 16-26, 2023 at Penn State Main Campus in State College, PA.
Click here to apply!
Click here for the program flyer!