CSD provides various community support services to provide assistance to deaf and hard of hearing citizens with various challenges to remain as independent individuals in the community. Among our list of services are transportation assistance for medical appointments, community events and personal needs (such as food shopping). We also provide recreational and social opportunities to help reduce loneliness and isolation that our members of the community often experience. CSD also provides assistance in handling personal finances and personal affairs. CSD works closely and cooperatively with other community agencies to ensure the consumer has the perfect combination of support to live safely in their own home or apartment.

Information and Referral (I&R)

CSD provides an information referral service that provides information in relation to a consumer’s rights or to other resources. Our referral service can assist the consumer to obtain needed services through other sources on a wide range of disability-related topics, or information and referral that addresses the barriers confronted by individuals with hearing loss with respect to education, rehabilitation, employment and transportation.

Individual Advocacy (ADV)

CSD provides advocacy services to assist individuals in developing the skills they need to advocate on their own. Our advocacy services will provide consumers information, experience and skills to speak for themselves, to obtain what they need to live and/or to maximize their quality of life.

Peer Support (PEER)

CSD has a community-recognized peer support program. Our peer counseling helps to promote personal growth among our members of community by sharing their own experiences and explaining how they have coped with and adjusted to having a hearing loss. Our services also include information sharing, support services, mentoring and parent to parent opportunities. CSD’s Peer Support program also provides informal support groups for heard of hearing persons to share their experiences and seek guidance in coping with their hearing loss. Peer Support may help facilitate personal and social adjustments skills, communication skills, educational activities, and develop valuable resources for a successful life.

Community Integration Skills Training (CIST)

CSD provides individualized teaching, mentoring and guidance services that enable consumers to better access services in the community. Our consumers might seek assistance with reading and understanding documents or to communicate with public and private enterprises. Our planned services includes support, skills development and communication support that the communication specialists determine will enhance the consumers’ abilities to become more independent and enhance their ability to contribute as members of society.

American Sign Language

CSD provides American Sign Language (ASL) classes ranging from ASL-I to ASL-IV to the community on a state-wide basis with extremely knowledgeable and qualified staff. For a small fee, we can provide workshops on Deaf Culture, sensitivity training and more. Further inquiries can be made by contacting the CSD office that is the closest to you.

Employment

CSD provides employment services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals looking for work. We provide training on how to conduct a successful job search and provide vital tips for job interviews. CSD assists members of the community through a guided job search of the local labor market. CSD also provides interpreter services for job interviews. If employment is found, CSD can also provide job coaching and sign language classes for coworkers. CSD is also able to provide consultation to employers on effective ways to meet the workplace communication needs of the deaf and hard of hearing employees. Occasionally, CSD works with other successful job placement organizations to assist them to better service their consumers with a notable hearing loss.

Equipment Distribution Program (EDP)

Are you deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, speech-impaired, or have difficulty communicating on the telephone? CSD’s Equipment Distribution Program (EDP) provides special telephone equipment at a minimal or at no cost to enhance your phone communication.

To be eligible for EDP, you have to meet our criteria below:

• A resident of the State of South Dakota
• Experience difficulty communicating on the telephone because of a hearing or speech impairment (A hearing loss of a full 30 decibel minimum requires the use of a TTY or volume amplifier to communicate effectively on the phone. Severe speech impairment means a speech condition that requires the use of a TTY to communicate effectively on the phone.
• Has existing phone service with a modular jack in your home.
• Must be five years of age or older.

EDP also provides other devices for your phone such as flashing light signalers, loud ring signalers, etc. to qualified applicants.

For a full specific list of features for each phone, please contact the CSD office nearest to you.

Transportation

CSD provides transportation for the following: Medical appointment, CSD and other approved events on Tuesdays and Thursdays at no charge.

To be eligible, you must be the following:

• 55 years of age and older
• Do not own a working vehicle
• Mentally-impaired
• Sioux Falls resident

Please contact the CSD-South Dakota’s Sioux Falls office to apply for transportation.

Deaf/Blind Program

Are you a deaf/blind individual? We are able to provide an analysis on your specific needs. CSD provides preferred training tuned to specific consumer’s needs. We also provide consultation for professionals such as teachers, employers, Vocational Rehabilitation specialists, members of each Individualized Education Planning committees. Our analysis of each consumer will determine the preferred communication needs each person requires and will result in a much better access regarding tactile signing, racking and positions of each communication partner. Please contact our CSD-South Dakota (Sioux Falls) office to see if you qualify for our services.

Mentoring Program

Established in 1975 to provide interpreters to the Sioux Falls' deaf community, interpreting is the sole reason CSD is here today. Today, CSD provides interpreting referral services in many states around the nation, not only Sioux Falls, S.D.. Part of that commitment to providing interpreters is ensuring that the interpreters provided are the highest quality possible.

CSD's mentoring program is an opportunity for a new interpreter to learn from an experienced interpreter. Working together on a one on one basis, the novice interpreter is paired with an experienced interpreter so they have a source of support, access to information critical for their continued growth, a smoother entry into the interpreting profession, and expert feedback. While not a substitution for a formal interpreter training program, CSD's mentoring program is used to augment the skills the novice interpreter already owns. Mentees also have access to deaf mentors, along with language model mentors and ASL experts.

For more information about CSD's mentoring program, please contact Paula Souhrada.