Center on Hearing and Deafness

The Center on Hearing and Deafness, Inc. (CHAD) was founded in 1994 by a small group of advocates, lead by Bill and Beth Lockard, who recognized the challenges that communication barriers have on Deaf and hard of hearing (D/HOH) individuals and their families. It was almost impossible to find effective and accessible health, human services or employment opportunities. Critical emergency services at hospitals, hotlines, police, domestic violence and crisis intervention were problematic to impossible.

CHAD’s drive to remove those barriers continues today. Success is measured by teaming throughout the community, and by breaking through barriers and building bridges with D/HOH people in crisis, hospice care, prisons, the homeless, mentally ill or those “simply” seeking access to schools, jobs or health care.

CHAD is the only general, drop-in, social service agency of its kind in the five-county Philadelphia area, and one of just four service centers in the state. CHAD specialists understand the communication needs of D/HOH individuals and are skilled in communication challenges, American Sign Language (ASL) and other communication modes, disability laws and hearing issues, assistive technology, and sensitivity and inclusion strategies for service providers, employers and coworkers.