Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing

The purpose of the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing (ACDHH) is to ensure, in partnership with the public and private sector, accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing to improve their quality of life.

The Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing provides the following services to the citizens of Arizona:

Telecommunications Relay Service
ACDHH administers a statewide 24-hour telephone relay service. This service is free to all hearing, Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Speech Impaired Arizona residents. To place a call through the Arizona Relay Service, call 7-1-1

Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program
ACDHH provides telephone equipment for qualified residents who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Speech Impaired, or Deaf-Blind.

American Sign Language Interpreter Licensure
The law establishing licensure; A.R.S. 36-1946, was passed by the Arizona State Legislature in 2000. It is designed to create a statewide standard for sign language interpreters. There are more than 400 licensed professionals in the state of Arizona. To view Licensure rules click here rules start at R9-26-501.

Empowerment
By informing Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals about their rights and the laws and programs available to support those rights, they can become empowered as self-advocates. Advocates are available to act on behalf of consumers as needed.

Community Development
ACDHH works closely with community leaders to determine the resources available, and those that need to be expanded or created to better serve Deaf and Hard of Hearing citizens in each region.

A.R.S. § 17.1 governs the work of our agency as we serve to fulfill our duties. Visit the Arizona State Legislature website for complete description.