CURRENT FOCUS
D.E.A.F. is currently focusing its efforts on a campaign to raise funds in support of the Washington School for the Deaf’s Post High School Program. This program helps to reverse negative employment trends for the deaf and hard of hearing by providing both work experience and independent living skills.
D.E.A.F. also provides annual scholarships to WSD students.
THE NEED
Unemployment and under-employment figures hover near 74% for deaf and hard of hearing individuals once they leave the school system. Facing continually reduced state budgets, serving the changing outreach and education needs of this population is an ongoing challenge.
Most deaf students and graduates face significant communication barriers when interacting with persons outside the deaf community – some of those are even within their own families – and a significant percentage are met with socioeconomic disadvantages and multiple disabilities.
Each year, thousands of high school students throughout the State of Washington strive to meet higher academic standards, new graduation requirements, and succeed as they move from school into the work force. Deaf and hard of hearing students face even greater challenges in their efforts to make a successful transition from school to the workplace and find suitable employment opportunities.