Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

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

 

American Sign Language (ASL) Public Service Announcement

 

Text-to-911 is now available in Connecticut. Screenshot of video.

Information on: DHOH Crisis and Emergency Services

Resources can be found at the end of this webpage. 

The Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) complies with Connecticut Statutes and federal laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Connecticut General Assembly Public Act 24-81.

PA 24-81 requires state agencies to designate a contact person for concerns related to persons who are Deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing.  The DMHAS contact person is:

William Pierce, DMHAS ADA Title II Coordinator,

Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Office of the Commissioner, (William.pierce@ct.gov)

860-418-7000 (Relay CT 711)

Dialing 7-1-1 allows persons who are Deaf or have communication disabilities to use Relay CT, a free telecommunications relay service, to call any phone number.

 

DMHAS state-operated facilities, services, programs, and activities: 

ADA Title II requires DMHAS provide qualified persons with disabilities effective communication and equal opportunity to enjoy programs, services and activities at no cost to the person and to prohibit discrimination due to disabilities. 

Qualified persons with disabilities include individuals who are participating or who are eligible to participate in DMHAS programs, services and activities (with or without reasonable modifications) along with their companions as well as visitors and guests. 

Each DMHAS facility has a contact person for Deaf, Deafblind, Hard of Hearing (DHOH) services.  DHOH services are provided on request and can include American Sign Language (ASL), Certified Deaf Interpreting (CDI), Home Sign interpreting and Tactile interpreting, Signed English, Foreign Sign Language, as well as other auxiliary aids for effective communication such as Communication Access Real Time (CART) and Video Relay.

·         Capitol Region Mental Health Center (CRMHC), Hartford

Melissa Dennis, Melissa.dennis@ct.gov  

Voice: 860-293-6345 Videophone: 860-856-6121

Cell: 959-710-9365

·         Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC), New Haven (in conjunction with Yale)

Dana Jacquemin, Dana.Jacquemin@ct.gov,

Voice: 203-974-7494 (TTY Relay 711), Videophone: 203-361-3370

·         Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH), Middletown and Blue Hills Hospital, Hartford

Patricia Flint, Patricia.Flint@ct.gov

Voice 860-262-7192 (TTY Relay 711)

·         River Valley Services (RVS), Middletown

Sarah Gadsby, Sarah.Gadsby@ct.gov   

Voice 860-262-7192 (TTY Relay 711)

·         Southeastern Mental Health Authority (SMHA), Norwich

Stephenie Guess, Stephenie.Guess@ct.gov

Voice: 860-859-4645

·         Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS), Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center (GBCMHC) and F.S. DuBois Center Stamford

Glenn Alleman, Glenn.alleman@ct.gov

Voice: Bridgeport, 203-551-7574 Voice Stamford, 860-929-2980

Videophone: 203-416-8177         

·         Western CT Mental Health Network (WCMHN), Danbury, Waterbury and Torrington

Cliff Knight, Clifford.Knight@ct.gov Voice: 959-895-2355 (TTY Relay 711)

·         Whiting Forensic Hospital (WFH), Middletown

Shantika Canty-Porter

Shantika.Canty-Porter@ct.gov  Voice 860-262-5141 (TTY Relay 711)

 

DMHAS facilities also designate an ADA Title II Contact Person who addresses requests for reasonable modifications of services, programs, and activities: DMHAS ADA Title II


DMHAS Office of the Commissioner

The DMHAS Office of the Commissioner (OOC) Community Services Division approves DHOH service requests for events held or sponsored by DMHAS OOC Divisions. 

Requests from DMHAS OOC Divisions are submitted using the DMHAS OOC Interpreter Request Form at least 10 days in advance to allow time to arrange an interpreter.

 

Related webpages:  

 

·        DMHAS Divisions and Offices

·        Glossary of DHOH Terms

DMHAS Contracted Providers

Mental health and substance use disorder treatment providers contracted by DMHAS are places of public accommodation covered by Title III of the ADA. 

Persons with disabilities needing DHOH services including but not limited to Sign Language, should contact their provider. 

Each DMHAS contracted provider has a Client Rights Officer who can help address requests for reasonable modifications or effective communication: Client Rights Officers

Community Resources

People who are not receiving services from DMHAS or a DMHAS contracted provider can contact the following resources for information on DHOH services:

Other Resources

·         American School for the Deaf (ASD) Outreach Services, ASD outreach services includes fee for service certified sign language interpreting services to the public, 24 hours/7 days a week. 

·         ADA.gov, Department of Justice Office of Civil Rights Division ADA website

o    ADA Requirements for Effective Communication

·         ADA Coalition of Connecticut, (ADACC) nonprofit membership organization which educates organizations and the public on the ADA.

·         Centers for Independent Living A statewide network of regional Centers for Independent Living which advocates for people with disabilities to live independently.

·         Connecticut Association for the Deaf, (CAD) is a state association affiliated with the National Association of the Deaf to promote the rights and quality of life of deaf and hard of hearing Connecticut residents.

·        Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS). DMHAS and other state agencies use DAS approved vendors for interpreter services.  For information on DAS vendors go to: www.ct.gov/das  or CTsource Contract Board.

o   DAS DHOH Vendor List  A list compiled by DMHAS of vendors approved by DAS.  The list is not inclusive of all vendors providing DHOH services and does not constitute endorsement of any vendor.

·         Connecticut Legal Rights Project, (CLRP) is a statewide advocacy organization that provides legal services to low income individuals with mental health conditions who reside in hospitals or the community regarding treatment, recovery and civil rights.

·         Disability Rights Connecticut, (DRCT) is a statewide advocacy organization and Connecticut’s Protection and Advocacy System for persons with disabilities.  

·         Hearing Loss Association of America, nonprofit membership organization with chapters in Connecticut which provides information, advocacy and support for people with hearing loss.  

·         New England ADA Center, one of ten regional ADA technical support centers.

·         New England Assistive Technology (NEAT) Marketplace, a division of Oak Hill School, NEAT is a vendor of new and used assistive technology for persons with disabilities.

·         Relay Connecticut, (Hamilton Relay) provides telecommunications relay services for people living in Connecticut including, TTY, Voice Carry Over (VCO), Hearing Carry Over (HCO), Speech-to Speech (STS), Spanish and CapTel® (captioning telephones). 

Links on this website were functioning when it was published.

This page was prepared by William Pierce, ADA Title II Coordinator, (William.pierce@ct.gov) Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Office of the Commissioner, 860-418-7000 (TTY Relay 711)

ACA Notice:  DMHAS and other federally funded healthcare providers complies with federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Section 1557).

DMHAS DHOH Services Revised June 2025