Center of Deaf Health Excellence

10/12/2026

In collaboration with the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing, we're thrilled to share findings from our research and host a community discussion on health navigation. Voice interpreting and captioning will be provided.

We will present findings from a randomized trial that paired Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing adults with remote ASL-fluent health navigators for up to 11 months of screening support.

[Image description: A square flyer with a dark navy blue background and white and gold text. At the top in large white letters: "Join Us for a Community Presentation." On the left is a drawing of a computer screen in gold outline. On the screen, a person signs on the left and a pair of lungs appears on the right. On the right, the title reads: "Using ASL-Fluent Health Navigators to Advance Cancer Screening Adherence with Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Adults." Key words are in gold. Below a white line, in gold: "Monday, November 2nd, 12 - 1 pm MST." A dark box with a gold video camera icon says: "Live on Zoom. Zoom link provided after registration. Voice interpretation and CART provided." Below that: "Questions? [email protected]." On the left: "Register: Scan the QR code," with a black and white QR code, then "or visit: https://gu.live/cnnKZ " At the bottom left is the logo of the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing. It shows large green letters "AZ" over purple mountains. At the bottom right is the Gallaudet University logo, with a gold arch over the name, and the words "Center of Deaf Health Excellence."]

10/08/2026

This past weekend, the CDHE team returned to Puerto Rico for the National Hispanic Latino Association of the Deaf (NHLAD) biennial conference, co-hosted by Apssc787 the Asociación Puertorriqueña de Sordos y Sordos-Ciegos (APSSC).

After our research trip there last year, we were honored to be invited back to present our findings on cancer screening adherence among DDBHH Puerto Ricans. The study was published in Frontiers in Oncology and translated into ASL and LSPR, both available on our website: https://deaf-health.com/videos/watch?v=bVbqFo3tEmk

Click the button above the transcript to switch the video between ASL and LSPR, and the transcript between English and Spanish.

09/21/2026

Check out our new ASL video highlighting our published manuscript, Joint Bilingual Navigation of Informed Consent and Intake Forms in American Sign Language and Written English.

The study evaluates a bilingual informed consent and intake form that simultaneously supports navigation via natural ASL signs and traditional touchscreen input.

Watch health and wellness topics explained in American Sign Language—making important information accessible for Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing communities through engaging ASL videos.

09/09/2026

DREAMWAVE ACCESS Expo 2026 is happening on September 18th in Martinsburg, West Virginia. The event will feature vendors, community resources, educational workshops, community panel, and more.

FLYER DESCRIPTION: A navy, gold, and blue flyer for the DreamWave Access Expo 2026. At the top, "FREE TO THE PUBLIC" appears on a ribbon banner, with "JOIN US!" in bold navy letters below. The centerpiece is a circular emblem featuring two illustrated hands (one gold, one blue) cupped beneath a golden Golden Gate Bridge silhouette, with stars and a shooting-star arrow above. Below the emblem, "DREAMWAVE ACCESS EXPO 2026" is displayed in white, gold, and blue lettering, with the tagline "Bridging Gaps. Building Communities. Creating Access." on a dark blue ribbon.
The lower section lists event details: Friday, September 18, 2026, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, at Holiday Inn Martinsburg, 301 Foxcroft Ave, Martinsburg, WV. Text notes it welcomes Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafPlus, Hard of Hearing, disabled, and hearing community members, and highlights it as an inaugural community event. A "Featuring" list includes vendors, CEU workshops for ASL interpreters, educational workshops, a community panel, and a DINGO-style community game. A QR code and "Learn More" text sit on the right. The footer includes the DreamWave Advocates Movement Alliance logo, contact info, and the phrase "Stronger Together" in script and bold lettering.

09/04/2026

Motion Light Lab at Gallaudet University is opening its third cohort with Project ECHO: "Empowering Healthcare Providers to Optimize Language Development in Deaf Infants and Young Children." Six weeks, online, free to join, CEUs available, and every session interpreted and captioned.
It is built for audiologists, SLPs, interpreters, early intervention specialists, educators, parents, and more.
Congratulations to the Motion Light Lab team on a third cohort. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eFEqFr_5

09/01/2026

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Deaf and Hard of Hearing men: join Zero Cancer virtual support group on the third Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m. ET. Next meeting: Thursday, September 17. For the Zoom link, contact Adam Novsam at [email protected].

Alt text / visual description:
A flyer with a dark navy blue header band on the top-left and a photo on the top-right. The photo shows a person in a black shirt holding a light blue awareness ribbon between their thumb and index finger, set against a blurred outdoor background with warm yellow tones.

In the navy header, white text reads "FOR DEAF & HARD OF HEARING MEN" in small caps next to a short light-blue line accent. Below it, large bold white text reads "ASL Prostate Cancer Support Group." Underneath, smaller light-blue/white text reads: "A monthly space to share, ask questions, and support each other — fully in ASL."

Below the header, the flyer has a cream/off-white background divided into three rows, each with a label on the left in small dark caps and details on the right in navy and gray text, separated by thin horizontal lines:

WHEN — "Third Thursday of every month" (bold navy), with "7:00 pm – 8:00 pm EST" below in gray.
WHERE — "Online, on Zoom" (bold navy), with "Join from anywhere — free, no registration" below in gray.
GROUP LEADER — "Adam Novsam" (bold navy), with "Volunteer facilitator" below in gray.
Near the bottom, a solid navy rectangle spans the width of the flyer with light-blue small caps text "GET THE ZOOM LINK" and, below it, large bold white text with the email address "[email protected]."

At the very bottom, on the cream background, gray text on the left reads "Sponsored by ZeroCancer.org" (with "ZeroCancer.org" in bold navy), and navy text on the right reads "Know your risk. Protect your health."

07/20/2026

The CDHE family gathers to honor the memory of one of our beloved community partners: Juan José Fumero Carrión.

Juan gave so much of himself to our shared work. He was instrumental in recruiting Puerto Rican Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing individuals for several of our research projects, and he was a passionate advocate for the inclusion of Puerto Rican Sign Language (LSPR) users in research studies.

Every one of these contributions reflected who he was: someone who showed up for others. His kindness touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him, and his legacy will continue to live on through the many lives he uplifted.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and all who loved him.

🔗 Read the study he contributed to: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2026.1771970/full

07/09/2026

Telehealth is designed to make it easier to connect with your healthcare provider virtually. However, many DDBHH patients experience access issues. If you've been unable to join, complete, or fully participate in a telehealth appointment due to access issues, we encourage you to share with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Watch the ASL video below for step-by-step instructions on how to file a complaint using the FCC complaint form.

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07/06/2026

Last week, our team attended the 58th Biennial National Association of the Deaf - NAD Conference, and we've been reminded of how much these gatherings matter, especially as starting points for identifying health priorities.

We presented a workshop: "From University-Community Discussion to Funded Project: When Community Drives the Research Needs." The story began with two conversations. At the 2017 DWU Conference, Dr. Poorna Kushalnagar spoke with a Deaf woman whose experience stuck with her. Then, at the 2018 NAD Conference in Hartford, a conversation with Dr. Ammons and several Deaf community leaders echoed the same need: caregivers who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing (DDBHH) and use ASL were struggling to access the support they needed to navigate healthcare while caring for their loved ones living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia (ADRD).

Those conversations led to two NIH grants; first one focused on the Quality of Life and Needs of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Caregivers and the second one, a multi-year grant, funded ASL-based Community Health Navigator training and a clinical trial run by our center.

We're proud to be members of NAD and grateful for the work they continue to do. Here's to many more conversations that turn into action.

05/29/2026

Aloha from Honolulu! 🌺 DT and Erika attended the 41st Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where they presented their poster, "American Sign Language–Fluent Patient Navigator Model to Reduce Cancer Screening Barriers for ASL Users."