Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

DMHAS Deaf, Hard of Hearing or Deafblind Programs and Services (DHOH)

William Pierce, Community Services Division, DMHAS Office of the Commissioner

Voice: 860-418-6933 | TTY Relay: 7-1-1 | Fax: 860-418-6690 | William.Pierce@ct.gov

 

American Sign Language (ASL) Public Service Announcements:

 

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How to use Text-to-911 and other DHOH resources PSA

 

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DMHAS Deaf, Deafblind Hard of Hearing (DHOH) Programs and Services

The Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as other federal laws and Connecticut Statutes. 

As a public entity under Title II of the ADA, DMHAS provides qualified persons with disabilities effective communication and equal access to programs, services and activities.

The ADA defines qualified persons with disabilities as individuals who meet criteria for participating in programs, services and activities of a Title II entity (such as a local government or state agency program). For DMHAS, qualified persons with disabilities include individuals who are receiving or seeking services from DMHAS, their companions as well as visitors and guests of DMHAS facilities, programs and activities.

ADA Title II public entities give primary consideration to the aid or service requested by a qualified person with disabilities and to honor their request unless it can be demonstrated the request results in a fundamental alteration or undue burden and another equally effective means of communication is available. 

DMHAS Deaf, Deafblind Hard of Hearing Programs and Services (DHOH Services) provide aids and services to qualified persons with disabilities who have communication impairments equal access to the full continuum of mental health and substance use disorder treatment services offered by DMHAS at no cost in a culturally and linguistically affirmative manner.

DMHAS DHOH services include American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreting, Certified Deaf Interpreting, Home Sign, Tactile Interpreting, Signed English, Foreign Sign Language, other forms of visual gestural communication as well as Assistive Listening Devices, Communication Access Real Time (CART) and Video Relay Interpreting.

DMHAS DHOH services are provided by DMHAS state-operated facilities in collaboration with the DMHAS Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). 

DMHAS state-operated programs, services and activities: 

DMHAS operates six Local Mental Health Authorities and two psychiatric hospitals:

  • Capitol Region Mental Health Center (CRMHC), Hartford
  • Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC), New Haven (in conjunction with Yale)
  • River Valley Services (RVS), Middletown
  • Southeastern Mental Health Authority (SMHA), Norwich
  • Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS), Bridgeport and Stamford
  • Western CT Mental Health Network (WCMHN), Danbury, Waterbury and Torrington
  • Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH), Middletown (and Blue Hills Hospital, Hartford)
  • Whiting Forensic Hospital (WFH), Middletown

DMHAS state-operated facilities provide qualified persons with disabilities DHOH services on request through designated DHOH contact persons. 

DHOH Contacts at DMHAS State Operated Facilities

Complaints about DMHAS state-operated facility DHOH services can be addressed at the lowest possible level using the DMHAS Client Grievance Procedure.

DMHAS Office of the Commissioner (DMHAS OOC)

  • DMHAS Community Services DHOH Services

    The DMHAS Office of the Commissioner DHOH Services approves Interpreter requests from DMHAS programs and DMHAS funded providers.  DHOH Interpreter requests from DMHAS funded providers are submitted by the provider to the Community Services Division Regional Services Team. Requests from DMHAS programs are submitted to DMHAS Office of the Commissioner DHOH Services using the: 

    DMHAS OOC Interpreter Request Form

    For more information contact: William Pierce, Community Services Division, DMHAS Office of the Commissioner.   Voice:  860-418-6933, TTY Relay: 7-1-1
    Fax:  860-418-6690     William.Pierce@ct.gov

  • DMHAS OOC Statewide Vocational Rehabilitation Services

DMHAS vocational services assist individuals with disabilities who qualify for DMHAS services including persons who are Deaf, Deafblind or Hard of Hearing find employment through DMHAS Supported Employment Services

For more information contact: Ellen Econs, MHSA, LCSW, Employment Systems Manager. Voice:  860-418-6770, Mobile: 860-308-4523, TTY Relay: 7-1-1 Ellen.Econs@ct.gov

DMHAS Funded Providers

DMHAS provides funding to over one hundred Connecticut mental health and substance use disorder treatment providers. DMHAS contracts with these providers are overseen by DMHAS state-operated Local Mental Health Authorities or by divisions within the DMHAS Office of the Commissioner.

DMHAS funded providers are places of public accommodation covered by Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Title III of the ADA, prohibits discrimination of persons with disabilities.  Places of public accommodation:

  • Cannot deny a person with disabilities the opportunity to participate in and benefit from goods, services, privileges, advantages or accommodations and  
  • Remove barriers to persons with disabilities when readily achievable and after they consult with the person with disabilities to determine what aid or service is appropriate given the nature of what is being communicated and the person’s method of communicating. 

ADA-related complaints regarding DMHAS funded providers can be addressed at the lowest possible level by the DMHAS Client Grievance Procedure. 

DHOH services in the community

Persons seeking mental health and addiction services who need DHOH services or who have a companion who needs DHOH services should contact a DMHAS state-operated or funded service provider for the community they reside in:  Finding Services (ct.gov)

Persons who are not receiving or seeking services from DMHAS or a DMHAS funded provider should contact: 2-1-1 Infoline Sign Language Interpreter Resource or one of the Community Resources listed on this page.

Complaints

People have the right to seek remedies to their complaints beyond the DMHAS Client Grievance Procedure. 

ADA Title II and Title III complaints may be submitted to United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section, 950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington D.C. 20530-0001 

Discrimination Complaints may be submitted to the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, 450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 2 Hartford, CT 06103 

For information on rights and other remedies, contact Disability Rights Connecticut (DRCT). DRCT is Connecticut’s federally funded protection and advocacy system for persons with disabilities.  DRCT, 846 Wethersfield Ave.  Hartford, CT 06114 (voice) 860-297-4300  (videophone) 860-509-4992  info@disrightsct.ogr    

Resources:

DMHAS

Community Resources

State Statute and Federal Law

(DMHAS DHOH Programs and Services Revised 10/2022)