Provides technical assistance, training, and resources to families and service providers of children (birth - 21) with varying levels of both hearing and vision loss. Services are geared toward improving educational outcomes for children of all ages in order to help prepare them for eventual transition into adulthood. Technical assistance and support services include: Understanding vision and hearing loss Developing communication skills Using accommodations and technology Assisting with the development of educational plans and meaningful strategies Daily living skills and transitioning across life stages Trainings include: on-site on-line (Dakota cohorts training in deaf-blindness) Information and resources Include: guides and handbooks, links to state and national resources, Wegner library resources, deaf-blind topic pages

Audiology - SDSD pediatric audiologists offer diagnostic hearing evaluations, hearing assistive technology recommendations/ fittings/ troubleshooting, and educational audiology services. The SDSD audiology assistants provide hearing screenings at schools and daycares. All services are provided at no cost. Outreach - SDSD offers early intervention and school-based outreach services for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families at no cost. Student Evaluations - SDSD can evaluate SDSD Outreach Clients for school districts and LEAs serving children identified as deaf or hard of hearing at no cost.

South Dakota Deaf Resource & Outreach Programs (SD DROP) provides services and support to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf/blind, and/or have a speech disability. This includes: Community Education and Support: Provides a variety of direct service programming to deaf and hard of hearing consumers and the general public, including advocacy, peer support, mentoring, independent living, deaf mentoring, social services, recreation and social activities, senior citizen services, and other services as available. Employment Services: Assistance is provided with seeking and keeping employment, including job search and applications, preparing for interviews, initial job training, job coaching, assistance with co-workers and staff meetings. Telecommunication Equipment Distribution: Providing installation, training, and equipment including amplified telephones, captioned telephones, ring signalers, and mobile phones/tablets. American Sign Language: Community based and contractual sign language classes, interpreter mentoring, information regarding ASL, deaf culture, and deaf history available to the public and private organizations.

South Dakota Deaf Resource & Outreach Programs (SD DROP) provides services and support to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf/blind, and/or have a speech disability. This includes: Community Education and Support: Provides a variety of direct service programming to deaf and hard of hearing consumers and the general public, including advocacy, peer support, mentoring, independent living, deaf mentoring, social services, recreation and social activities, senior citizen services, and other services as available. Employment Services: Assistance is provided with seeking and keeping employment, including job search and applications, preparing for interviews, initial job training, job coaching, assistance with co-workers and staff meetings. Telecommunication Equipment Distribution: Providing installation, training, and equipment including amplified telephones, captioned telephones, ring signalers, and mobile phones/tablets. American Sign Language: Community based and contractual sign language classes, interpreter mentoring, information regarding ASL, deaf culture, and deaf history available to the public and private organizations.

South Dakota Deaf Resource & Outreach Programs (SD DROP) provides services and support to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf/blind, and/or have a speech disability. This includes: Community Education and Support: Provides a variety of direct service programming to deaf and hard of hearing consumers and the general public, including advocacy, peer support, mentoring, independent living, deaf mentoring, social services, recreation and social activities, senior citizen services, and other services as available. Employment Services: Assistance is provided with seeking and keeping employment, including job search and applications, preparing for interviews, initial job training, job coaching, assistance with co-workers and staff meetings. Telecommunication Equipment Distribution: Providing installation, training, and equipment including amplified telephones, captioned telephones, ring signalers, and mobile phones/tablets. American Sign Language: Community based and contractual sign language classes, interpreter mentoring, information regarding ASL, deaf culture, and deaf history available to the public and private organizations.

Audiology - SDSD pediatric audiologists offer diagnostic hearing evaluations, hearing assistive technology recommendations/ fittings/ troubleshooting, and educational audiology services. The SDSD audiology assistants provide hearing screenings at schools and daycares. All services are provided at no cost. Outreach - SDSD offers early intervention and school-based outreach services for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families at no cost. Student Evaluations - SDSD can evaluate SDSD Outreach Clients for school districts and LEAs serving children identified as deaf or hard of hearing at no cost.

A statewide non-profit organization serving the deaf and hard of hearing South Dakota citizens and their families. Goals and Objectives: Committed to opening the doors of opportunity to deaf and hard of hearing people. Promotes activities where deaf and hearing people can come together to learn about, understand, and value each other. Advocates and promotes for equal rights to accessibility and quality of education, social, early intervention, employment, mental health, health, independent living, technology, telecommunications, youth development and leadership and senior living and support.

HAAP will help with the cost of hearing aid(s) and associated ear mold(s) for South Dakota children, younger than 19, with progressive or permanent hearing loss who would benefit from hearing aid(s). The program is open to families with a household income of less than 400 percent of federal poverty guidelines, up to 1 time every 3 years, who do not have coverage through their current insurance plan. HAAP operates on a sliding fee schedule, with the financial contribution ranging from 50 to 100 percent of the total cost of purchasing hearing aid(s) and associated ear mold(s).