A world-class institute of changemakers in the deaf and signing community.
Since 1864, we have been investing in and creating resources for deaf and hard of hearing children, their families, and the professionals who work with them.
Over 50 degree programs, with online and continuing education for personal and professional development.
Innovating solutions to break down barriers, and using science to prove what does and doesn’t work.
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HSLS Coordinator:Dr. Karen Garrido-Nag, Ph.D.
Au.D. Program Director:Dr. Chizuko Tamaki, Au.D., Ph.D.
Speech-Language Pathology Program Director:Dr. James McCann, Ph.D.
Ph.D. Program Director:Dr. Kara Hawthorne, Ph.D.
Contact:Ms. Daun Duvall
Sorenson Language and Communication Center (SLCC) 3110
(202) 568-8766 (videophone)(202) 651-5327 (voice)(202) 448-7144 (fax)
A peer mentor is an individual who is d(D)eaf or hard-of-hearing and trained to work with other individuals with acquired hearing loss who are in need of support, information, teaching, and/or advocacy, in order to live their life as seamlessly as possible.
According to the Hearing Health Foundation as of 2020, 48 million people in the United States have a hearing loss. Among adults aged 70 and older with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, fewer than one in three (30 percent) has ever used them; even fewer adults aged 20 to 69 (approximately 16 percent) who could benefit from wearing hearing aids have obtained hearing aids (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)).
While hearing loss is a physical diagnosis one must manage, it is also intricately tied with psychological and social aspects of life. It is the complexity and impact of hearing loss that often makes it difficult for consumers to digest information and become good advocates for their needs. An audiologist will typically provide care and management to individuals with hearing loss who seek services, but it is often difficult for consumers to obtain the multitude of information and support necessary to truly cope with and manage their hearing needs. Peer mentors are needed so that they are available to assist these individuals by supplementing information they have already acquired, share in their struggles, validate their experiences, and provide the resources and support needed to enable these individuals to become effective users of technology and advocates for their needs.
The role of the peer mentor in auditory rehabilitation is a revolutionary concept in the area of audiology. The role of the peer mentor may include but is not limited to:
Peer mentors who have graduated from this program have come from different professions and walks of life with a variety of goals and reasons for participating in this program. If you are interested in working or already work with a hearing loss association, an audiologist, government or state disability programs/projects that serve a large percentage of individuals with hearing loss, or are interested in the development of self, self-advocacy, or self-identity, you may want to consider the Peer Mentoring Program.
The long-term objectives of the Peer Mentoring Program are to meet the holistic needs of individuals with hearing loss by building a vocation of professionals who can become part of a multidisciplinary team, a team that can better serve those with hearing loss. The short-term objectives of this program are to collaborate and facilitate self-actualization in individuals with hearing loss, and create a body of empathetic adults trained to meet the needs of the hearing loss community.
Admissions Requirements
Spring 2021 – Dec 12Fall 2021 – May 15