RiseHands Communication Gives Back

In 2018, Amy and Lori, the founders, worked as job developers for deaf and hard-of-hearing clients referred by the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS). Amy and Lori discovered that a majority of deaf and hard-of-hearing clients were not job-ready. Amy and Lori noticed that all job readiness programs in Maryland required interpreters. While Amy and Lori found that having an interpreter for communication access when dealing with hearing employers is beneficial, this setup is not the best but costly practice. An interpreter's role is to bridge the communication gap yet remain neutral in the overall process. We provide direct communication and access to our clients seeking skills necessary to obtain gainful employment, which is the best effective practice in their natural language.

 

As a result, RiseHands Communication was born. The organization provides cost-effective employment services for the deaf and hard of hearing in American Sign Language and Cued American English as well as qualified and experienced deaf educators with linguistic and cultural knowledge.