relation: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/36275/
title: Adapting existing human services to meet the needs of the deaf population: a program evaluation on administrative case management in American sign language
creator: White, Makenzie
description: The deaf population is a minority that has historically lacked access to a variety of services and today that is no different. Pennsylvania, and specifically the city of Pittsburgh, have always been at the front end of changes within the deaf community. In 1869 the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf was founded in Pittsburgh, and it was the first day school for the deaf in the country. This was a watershed event for deaf individuals and really established the city of Pittsburgh as the preeminent service provider for those who are deaf. While a lot has changed within the city, and the deaf community since the founding of this school, in many ways the city has expanded in the number of opportunities available for those that are deaf.  However, the deaf population still has significant barriers in terms of accessing services—especially those that are adapted to their needs and in American Sign Language (ASL).   	CLASS is a non-profit in Pittsburgh that has fifty plus years of experience working with the disability population. Over the years, CLASS has worked with deaf individuals but never offered a program specifically focused on this minority. CLASS has a comprehensive case management program for people with disabilities and the pilot program under review looks to adapt this program to fit the needs of the deaf population. The pilot program discussed in this paper provides free administrative case management in ASL in order to determine how existing human services can be adapted to meet the needs of this population without creating a whole new program. The public health significance is that this program attempts to understand if providing services in American Sign Language (ASL) can in turn decrease health disparities the deaf population faces.
date: 2019-06-21
type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
type: PeerReviewed
format: application/pdf
language: en
identifier: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/36275/1/WhiteMakenzie_MPHthesis_April2019.pdf
identifier:   White, Makenzie  (2019) Adapting existing human services to meet the needs of the deaf population: a program evaluation on administrative case management in American sign language.  Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.    (Unpublished)