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
• Speech, Language & Communication

History

Family and community have been fundamental to HSDC’s mission 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 serving children and adults with communication differences until the mid-1960s.

Over the years, HSDC began to incorporate more programs for the local Deaf community, whose members preferred sign language over spoken language. During the 1960s and 1970s, HSDC introduced what was, at the time, a controversial program that taught deaf children 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.

For nearly 90 years, HSDC has served individuals and families with hearing and speech differences throughout the Puget Sound, providing high-quality communication access and care at free or reduced cost.

Board of Directors