Organization
Bridges for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Founded in 1927 in Nashville, Bridges for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing builds access, equity, and inclusion for D/deaf, Deaf-Blind, and hard-of-hearing communities through advocacy, education, interpreter services, and early intervention programmes across a multi-state region. Three offices in Nashville, Johnson City, and Memphis serve Tennessee and surrounding states.
About
Bridges for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing was founded in 1927 by Margaret Lane Washington and is one of the oldest D/deaf-community service organisations in the South. In 2017 the organisation adopted its current name to better reflect its broad, inclusive mission serving D/deaf, Deaf-Blind, and hard-of-hearing individuals of all ages.
What They Do
Bridges provides certified ASL interpreter services (medical, legal, educational, and mental health settings), early language intervention through the Little ACES programme for children birth to five, empowerment case management covering housing and employment, cultural education for hearing allies, and community advocacy. Three offices — BridgesTN (Nashville), BridgesEAST (Johnson City), and BridgesWEST (Memphis) — ensure statewide reach.
Who They Serve
Bridges serves D/deaf, Deaf-Blind, and hard-of-hearing individuals and their families from birth through senior years, primarily across Tennessee with additional reach into northern Alabama, southern Kentucky, southwest Virginia, and parts of Mississippi and Arkansas.
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