What We Do

History | Equity Leadership Team | Board of Directors | Admin Staff

The mission of Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center (HSDC) is to foster inclusive and accessible communities through communication, advocacy, and education. We envision an inclusive, accessible world where everyone is understood and respected.

We offer a comprehensive array of programs that foster effective communication for individuals and families affected by hearing or speech differences. Our services include:

• Assistance and Information for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• Family support for households with Deaf and Hard of Hearing toddlers
• Bilingual preschool services with instruction in American Sign Language and English
• Interpreting for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• Audiology and Hearing Aids
• Speech and Language Therapy

History

HSDC has been serving the Puget Sound area for over 80 years, and family and community have been fundamental parts of the agency since the very beginning. Originally a partnership between mothers of children with hearing loss and a social club for hard of hearing women, HSDC was incorporated in 1937 as the Seattle Chapter for the Hard of Hearing. In the 1950s, our name changed to the Seattle Hearing and Speech Center, which remained the only independent nonprofit west of the Mississippi for children and adults with communication differences until the mid-1960s.

Over the years, the HSDC began to incorporate more programs for the local Deaf community, who favored sign language over spoken language. During the 1960s and 70s, HSDC introduced what was, at the time, a controversial program that taught children with hearing loss American Sign Language (ASL).

By the 1980s, the Deaf community had become such an essential part of the agency’s programming that our name was changed to Hearing, Speech & Deafness Center. In February 2016, we dropped the “ness” and became Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center to reaffirm our commitment to the local Deaf community.

Today, HSDC has a main office in Seattle and satellite offices in Bellingham and Tacoma. The majority of our clients are in King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Whatcom Counties, but we serve thirteen counties in total across Western Washington. Many of our services are offered for free or at reduced costs, allowing local individuals and families in need to receive high-quality communication access and care.

Board of Directors