About the Commission

We proudly serve Arizona residents with hearing loss through community involvement and partnerships with local agencies and organizations. We are committed to expanding resources and identifying opportunities for improved quality of life.

Information and Referral

ACDHH maintains an extensive directory of resources and services available to the Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing communities. The directory is used to make referrals to assist consumers in need of information for employment, housing, education and much, much more.

Empowerment

ACDHH strives to empower Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals to become self-advocates by informing them about their rights, the laws and programs available to support those rights. Advocates are available to act on behalf of consumers as needed.

Community Development

ACDHH works closely with community leaders to determine the resources available, and those that need to be expanded or created to better serve Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing citizens throughout the state of Arizona.

Outreach and Education

ACDHH provides valuable outreach and educational opportunities throughout the State. The workshops and information sessions include but are not limited to: Hearing loss, Deaf Culture, ADA and Civil Rights information; legal rights; employment issues and concerns; training for 9-1-1 trainers, as well as a Healthcare Curriculum for medical professionals and a Public Safety Curriculum for First Responders.

The purpose of the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing (ACDHH) is to ensure, in partnership with the public and private sector, accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing to improve their quality of life. 

The Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing provides the following services to the citizens of Arizona:

Telecommunications Relay Service

ACDHH administers a statewide 24-hour telephone relay service. This service is free to all hearing, Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Speech Impaired Arizona residents. To place a call through the Arizona Relay Service, call 7-1-1

Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program

ACDHH provides telephone equipment for qualified residents who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Speech Impaired, or Deaf-Blind.

American Sign Language Interpreter Licensure

The law establishing licensure; A.R.S. 36-1946, was passed by the Arizona State Legislature in 2000. It is designed to create a statewide standard for sign language interpreters. There are more than 400 licensed professionals in the state of Arizona. To view Licensure rules click here rules start at R9-26-501.

Empowerment

By informing Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals about their rights and the laws and programs available to support those rights, they can become empowered as self-advocates. Advocates are available to act on behalf of consumers as needed.

Community Development

ACDHH works closely with community leaders to determine the resources available, and those that need to be expanded or created to better serve Deaf and Hard of Hearing citizens in each region.

Statutes

A.R.S. § 17.1 governs the work of our agency as we serve to fulfill our statutes which can be found by clicking here.

A.R.S. § 17.1 governs the work of our agency as we serve to fulfill our statutes which can be found by clicking here.