The Deaf Access Assistance Program
A program "of, by, and for" deaf and hard of hearing persons.

The California State Legislature created the Deaf Access Assistance Program (DAAP) in 1980 to insure that State and local government programs are adapted to meet the communication needs of the state's deaf and hearing impaired populations. The Welfare and Institutions Code mandates that the DAAP provide services in a minimum of seven categories: communication assistance, advocacy, job development and job placement, information and referral, counseling, independent living skills, and community education. This comprehensive program of services insures that deaf and other hearing impaired persons receive all entitled benefits and services, and assists them to achieve and maintain self sufficiency and independence. Clients include deaf, late-deafened, hard of hearing, and other hearing impaired people. Nonprofit charitable agencies operated by deaf and other hearing impaired persons provide sevices. these local nonprofit provider agencies establish the fees for services.
The services include:

  ADVOCACY
The DAAP is committed to helping clients gain communication access equal to that enjoyed by people who can hear. Advocacy helps clients protect their right to have access to education, employment, public services, and health and safety programs. classes are available to teach clients their rights and how to protext them.

  BOOKSTORE
This service offers information and products to clients to help them learn more about deafness, hearing loss and sign language. Clients can purchase reading materials and videotapes. these bookstores also offer special equipment for demonstration and purchase, such as, phone amplifiers, close captioning decoders for television programs, light signals for smoke alarms, doorbells, telephone rings, etc.

  COMMUNICATION ASSISTANCE
Provides find qualified people to help clients or public agencies achieve equal communication access. This service includes finding qualified and available sign language interpreters and captioned notenakers to help clients communicate in their preferred way of communication. Emergency 24-hour assistance is avaiable for medical, law enforcement and mental health situations. In addition, document translation of written English into sign language is available.

  EMPLOYMENT
In conjunction with the Employment Development Department and Department of Rehabilition, providers assist clients with application preparation, interview skills, job placement, and unemployment insurance issues. In addition, they also provide information to employers on how to achieve reasonable accommodation for their hearing impaired employees.

  INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, AND PEER COUNSELING
Individual, family and peer counseling that is communication accessible is available for a wide range of individual or family problems. Providers offer this service or refer clients to local mental health agencies.

  INFORMATION AND REFERRAL
Providers maintain extensive information on deafness, hearing loss and sign language, as well as national, state, and local resources. A printed directory of local community resources that are communication accessible is also available.

  INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS INSTRUCTION
Providers help hearing impaired individuals live more independently and function more effectively within their communities through support services and education on employment preparation, housing options, money management, etc.

  COMMUNITY EDUCATION
This service increases public awareness and fosters an understanding about the needs of the deaf and hearing impaired. Community education services include workshops, information booths, in-service training, distribution of community news information, and the provision of informative material about deafness and sign language.

• Deaf Service Agencies List