Deaf Empowerment Program
Services for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing
Deaf Empowerment Program (DEP)
The Deaf Empowerment Program provides services to people who are d/Deaf or hard-of-hearing. The program is designed to assist individuals with hearing disabilities reach their goals for independence.
Deaf Empowerment Program Services
Help finding a job
Resume writing
Advocacy
FREE devices (doorbell and baby alerts, clock alarms with bed shaker, and fire alarm strobes)
Application assistance (housing, social security, food stamps, Medicaid, etc.)
Sign language classes
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Sign Language Interpreters
CIL interpreters provide the highest quality of effective communication. CIL interpreters maintain a Level 2 background check through the Agency for Health Care Administration and complete annual Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
Free Amplified Phones
CIL is a Regional Distribution Center for Florida Telecommunication Relay, Inc. This program provides free telecommunication devices to people with hearing and speech disabilities.
DEP on Facebook
CIL Jacksonville supports the Deaf community by holding social events. Members of the community are welcome to join, including students and interpreters.
Meet Sherry Bell
Grandmother Sherry Bell was born Deaf and it hasn’t stopped her from having goals for herself or her family. She is extremely proud of her three children – one who is a college graduate, one who is attending college and one who is in the military. They are all keenly aware of her mantra that ‘deaf people can do everything that hearing people can do.’
Bell came to CIL Jacksonville for assistance and ended up working with the deaf clients to help them find employment. From there, her CIL Coordinator helped her find a job that Sherry felt was a better fit. Today Sherry works for Pitney Bowes in the Quality Control department.
“I have a lot of goals for myself,” she adds. “I want to be a good role model for the deaf community and I want deaf people to have the same attitude that I do – be assertive.”
Sherry wears hearing aids and communicates with the assistance of a sign language interpreter. Her motivation and willingness to engage with the community are a testament to her spirit.
