Initiatives
Solving this issue requires initiative on two fronts: Political & Social.
Learn quick, free, and efficient efforts available to you to impact this cause!
Political
Advisory Letters
Influence governmental priorities and advancements
in your area
Change and political awareness begin when leaders hear from constituents' voices. Use our ready-to-send policy letters (both a general informational email and specific policy pushes) to contact your elected officials and push for more inclusive, accessible mental health care for the Deaf community. This pre-written template makes it easy to take action: just copy, fill in the contact info, customize any parts you'd like, and send to your political officials via email or supplemental contact methods.
Examples of Advisory Letters
Free for Use
1.
General Awareness of Issue [Name of Elected Official] [Title/Position] [Office Address] Dear [Representative, Senator, Councilmember, etc.] [Last Name], My name is [Name] and I am writing to you as a concerned [identifiable title: student, practitioner, occupation, etc.] and concerned member of the community in regards to behavioral health equity for the Deaf population. Through my collaboration with the organization ListenUp, I hope to advocate for general awareness and meaningful policy action to address the mental health crisis and underrepresentation experienced by the Deaf community. I understand your time is limited and that you receive many requests, but I feel strongly that this deeply important issue has long been overlooked, and I hope to bring it to your attention. It is no secret that mental health is a growing crisis. Across the population, rates of behavioral/psychological issues and suicidal ideation are gradually rising. However, Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals face these struggles at far higher rates, despite receiving far less support (Kushalnagar et al.). Communication barriers and a widespread lack of understanding make it especially difficult for many Deaf individuals to express their mental/emotional health needs or access specialized mental health services. The problem stems not only from this systematic communicative barrier, but also from a societal failure to truly listen. To address this, we must shift the focus from teaching the Deaf how to ask for help to teaching one another how to listen. Through this message, I simply hope to facilitate recognition of this often neglected issue and its prevalent impact. A lack of communication is the problem. By advocating for the amplification of the marginalized voices, we can collaborate to create a significant push in policy that advocates for Deaf behavioral health equity. I hope that in future endeavors, your awareness of this challenge can help influence applicable policy for positive reform. To close, I would like to thank you for your time in considering this societal issue and the leadership you provide for members of this community. I look forward to your response- feel free to contact me via [Contact Information- phone #, email address, etc.]. Sincerely, [Full Name] [Your Address/City, State, ZIP] [Date]
2.
Better Financial & Social Access to ASL-trained Interpreters [Name of Elected Official] [Title/Position] [Office Address] Dear [Representative, Senator, Councilmember, etc.] [Last Name], My name is [Name] and I am writing to you as a concerned [identifiable title: student, practitioner, occupation, etc.] and concerned member of the community in regards to behavioral health equity for the Deaf population. Through my collaboration with the organization ListenUp, I hope to advocate for more reliable financial / social access to ASL-trained interpreters for the Deaf community. I understand your time is limited and that you receive many requests, but I feel strongly that this deeply important issue has long been overlooked, and I hope to bring it to your attention. As the Americans with Disabilities Act indicates, healthcare providers are already required to offer available and effective means of communication for patients who are deaf or hard of hearing1. Despite this, reality often fails to reflect this mandate. There are still many critical situations where an interpreter is needed but not given. Miscommunication and a widespread lack of understanding make it especially difficult for many Deaf individuals to express their mental/emotional health needs or access specialized mental health services. Without universal access to interpreters, Deaf individuals face miscommunication that leads to misdiagnosis, unequal treatment, and serious health risks. This systematic barrier leads to misdiagnosis, unequal treatment, and serious health risks. Through this message, I hope to facilitate support for pending legislation such as the SPEAK Act and H.R. 7863. Push in this area of policy addresses essential accessibility to interpretation in behavioral health services for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. These bills expand requirements for language access and ASL-interpreter services, ensuring equitable communication in clinical and telehealth settings. Their passage would be a significant step toward closing long-standing gaps in behavioral health equity and guaranteeing that Deaf individuals receive equitable care that ensures their voices are listened to. To close, I would like to thank you for your time in considering this societal issue and the leadership you provide for members of this community. I look forward to your response- feel free to contact me via [Contact Information- phone #, email address, etc.]. Sincerely, [Full Name] [Your Address/City, State, ZIP] [Date] 1 Advocacy Letter Healthcare Providers, National Association of the Deaf, www.nad.org/uploaded-documents/advocacy-letter-healthcare-providers.pdf.
3.
Revising Telehealth with Virtual Closed Captioning System [Name of Elected Official] [Title/Position] [Office Address] Dear [Representative, Senator, Councilmember, etc.] [Last Name], My name is [Name] and I am writing to you as a concerned [identifiable title: student, practitioner, occupation, etc.] and concerned member of the community in regards to behavioral health equity for the Deaf population. Through my collaboration with the organization ListenUp, I hope to advocate for Telehealth revisions that ensure the integration of closed-captioning systems for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing population. I understand your time is limited and that you receive many requests, but I feel strongly that this deeply important issue has long been overlooked, and I hope to bring it to your attention. It is no secret that mental health is a growing crisis. With rates of psychological and emotional issues gradually rising, navigating the behavioral health care system has become an essential lifeline. However, the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community constantly struggle against systematic communication barriers that lead to misdiagnosis, unequal treatment, and serious health risks. Telehealth has become an increasingly prevalent source of medical treatment, yet remains a hindrance for Deaf behavioral health availability and equity. While live captioning is federally recommended, a virtual Telehealth closed-captioning system remains scarce. Misconceptions about compliance with HIPAA1 compliance are often used as excuses, even though HIPAA-compliant captioning platforms exist2. Expanding Telehealth captioning through stricter regulation of platform providers would greatly improve care for millions of Americans with hearing loss. Available live captioning that follows HIPAA guidelines on virtual platforms would greatly improve care for millions of Americans with hearing loss. I hope to facilitate greater support for pending legislation such as the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (CVTA), Telemental Health Care Access Act, and/or CONNECT for Health Act of 2023. Push in this area of policy addresses essential accessibility to communication barriers in behavioral health services for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Promotion for these telehealth revisions would be a significant step toward closing long-standing gaps in behavioral health equity and guaranteeing that Deaf individuals receive equitable care that ensures their voices are listened to. To close, I would like to thank you for your time in considering this societal issue and the leadership you provide for members of this community. I look forward to your response- feel free to contact me via [Contact Information- phone #, email address, etc.]. Sincerely, [Full Name] [Your Address/City, State, ZIP] [Date] 1The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 2 McKee M;James TG;Helm KVT;Marzolf B;Chung DH;Williams J;Zazove P; “Reframing Our Health Care System for Patients with Hearing Loss.” Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research : JSLHR, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2022, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35969852/.
4.
Brief Funding/Partnership Advocacy for BHE Programs [Name of Elected Official] [Title/Position] [Office Address] Dear [Representative, Senator, Councilmember, etc.] [Last Name], My name is [Name] and I am writing to you as a concerned [identifiable title: student, practitioner, occupation, etc.] and concerned member of the community in regards to behavioral health equity for the Deaf population. Through my collaboration with the organization ListenUp, I hope to advocate for grant funding that is directed towards behavioral health programs that address widespread disparities in healthcare. I understand your time is limited and that you receive many requests, but I feel strongly that this deeply important issue has long been overlooked, and I hope to bring it to your attention. Behavioral health disparities remain an urgent issue within the larger healthcare system. The crisis is especially prominent due to its harsh influence on millions of individuals and families who struggle to access consistent, affordable, and effective care. A myriad lack of specialized resources and financial/geographical barriers impede on marginalized populations’ support. The wellbeing of one’s most vulnerable constituents must remain a paramount priority. Yet, strides in equitable mental health treatment remain invariably underfunded. Despite Medicaid and other external sources providing support, disparities in allocation leave many underserved communities without adequate care. Collaboration with organizations such as ListenUp or various interest groups allows community leaders such as yourself to form valuable policy change for a crucial cause. Increased budget allocations for behavioral health will facilitate expanded access to specialized mental health services, broader medical involvement in impoverished schools/workplaces, and overall support for the most underserved citizens. I hope that in future endeavors, your awareness of this challenge can help influence applicable policy for positive reform. To close, I would like to thank you for your time in considering this societal issue and the leadership you provide for members of this community. I look forward to your response- feel free to contact me via [Contact Information- phone #, email address, etc.]. Sincerely, [Full Name] [Your Address/City, State, ZIP]
Social
Use Your Voice
Make this vital societal issue and its implications more widespread
Communication is the foundation of this dilemma. Whenever possible, spread the information learned from ListenUp to others. This allows the problem and its risks to be personally heard, which sparks awareness. Awareness is the catalyst for support, so amplify the Deaf community's voice with your own!
Support Trailblazing Services
Donate time (and possibly money!) to recognize other various efforts pertaining to Deaf behavioral health equity.
One powerful way to create change is by uplifting the organizations already leading the way. Whether by volunteering your time, spreading the word, or making a donation, you can help expand the impact of services dedicated to this cause. Your support can offer even more people- especially those most in need- the opportunity to connect with these wonderful resources.
Here are a few places to start exploring:
Essential Hubs
For Deaf empowerment and advocacy; developing and presenting mental health resources specifically for the Deaf community
- DeafYes!
Access to news articles about recent progress in behavioral health; updating on the current social and political landscape
A comprehensive guide with vital information for universal behavioral health equity advocates; contains supplemental policy opportunities available
Explore the cultural, historical, and legislative journey of the d/Deaf community to better understand the importance of sign language, autonomy, and equitable mental health care
Subsection of the National Association on the topic
An article explaining why captioning is essential for accessible telehealth and how its absence continues to harm patients with hearing loss