The Washington D.C. metropolitan area, or as some like to refer to it, the Washington-Baltimore area, is home to one of the largest concentrations of deaf and hard of hearing people in the United States. No one knows how many, but the estimate has been in the hundreds of thousands. The geographic area is so large that if I left out something in this article that you feel should have been included (or removed), please let me know -- it is hard to know where the metropolitan Washington DC area begins and ends.
Area-Wide Event Calendars
One web site that showcases social events and deaf-friendly activities in the metro DC area is DeafWired. The metro DC area is home to Gallaudet University, a liberal arts university for the deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing. Area residents can easily check the Galllaudet University calendar online to see if there is anything happening at Gallaudet University. DC Deaf Performing Artists is a blend of a calendar and a social networking site, because it includes videos.
WASHINGTON, DC
If you live in the District of Columbia itself, here are deaf and hard of hearing related things in the city.
Captioning Services
Gallaudet Technology Services provides captioning services to the Gallaudet community. A few captioning services have affiliate offices in Washington, DC. DC is also home or headquarters for some services, such as All Inclusive Captioning, LLC..
Interpreters
Washington DC-based interpreters can join the Potomac Chapter, Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. For people seeking interpreting services in DC, services include:
- Gallaudet Interpreting Services
- Partners in Sign, Inc.
- Viscom Interpreting, Inc.
- Deaf Access Solutions
- Capitol Sign Interpreters
Movie Theaters
These DC-area theaters have captioned films. In addition, most of the city's museum theaters have IMAX captioned films. Plus, some of the Smithsonian museums offer free foreign subtitled films. Check CaptionFish.com for the most current information on available captioned movies. What follows is a sampling of theaters in the city with captioning:
- AMC Mazza Galleria 7 (rear window)
- AMC Union Station 9 (rear window)
- Loews Georgetown 14 (rear window)
- Regal Gallery Place Stadium 14 (open captions)
Organizations for Deaf and Hard of Hearing DC Residents
Washington DC is not home to the headquarters of any national deaf and hard of hearing organization, but it does have chapters of these organizations.- District of Columbia Area Black Deaf Advocates (chapter of National Black Deaf Advocates)
- District of Columbia Association of the Deaf
- DC HLAA (chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America)
Schools and Colleges in DC
DC is home to Gallaudet University and the Model Secondary School for the Deaf, a high school, and the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School. There is also a private oral charter school, the River School.
Sign Language
If you live in Washington, DC and are interested in learning sign language, here are some resources.- ASL Meetup has Washington DC chapters.
- DC public library offers sign classes
- Gallaudet University's Department of ASL and Deaf Studies has sign language classes.
- Other DC colleges also offer sign classes
Religious Worship
DC is home to Tifereth Israel Congregation, a synagogue in Northwest WashingtonDC that provides services for the deaf. Churches for the deaf in DC and that have services for the deaf include:
- Gallaudet University, in its Chapel Hall
- Bethesda Baptist Church (near Gallaudet) - 9:00 am and 10:30 am interpreted services
- Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, Washington, DC (11:30 am interpreted mass)
- National Community Church - Offers interpreted services. Check Theaterchurch.com for locations and times.
Social Services
The District of Columbia has a few social services programs for deaf adults. For decades, Deaf-Reach has provided residential services, mental health services, employment services, and more to deaf adults in need in Washington, DC. The organization frequently holds social fundraising events.
MARYLAND
Practically the entire state of Maryland is associated with the greater DC area.
Captioning Services
These Maryland-based captioning companies provide realtime captioning services, offline captioning, and software:
- Caption Reporters, Inc. (Camp Springs)
- Computer Prompting and Captioning Co. (Rockville)
- Pilgrim Imaging Inc. (Stevensville)
- Talking Type Captions (Bethesda)
Interpreters
Maryland-based interpreters can also join the Potomac Chapter, Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. The state is also home to several interpreting agencies:
- Birnbaum Interpreting Services (Silver Spring)
- CSD (Frederick)
- Professional Interpreter Exchange, Inc. (Laurel)
- Purple (Silver Spring)
- TCS Associates
Movie Theaters
Again, check CaptionFish.com for the latest information on Maryland movie theaters that offer captioned films. Here are a few of the known theaters with captioned films in Maryland:- AMC Columbia 14 (Baltimore, rear window)
- AMC Owings Mills (rear window captions)
- Loews Center Park 8 (rear window)
- Loews Magic Johnson Capital Center (Largo, rear window)
- Loews Rio 18 (Gaithersburg, rear window)
- Loews Wheaton Plaza 11 (Wheaton, rear window)
- Crown Harbour 9 (Annapolis, open caption)
- Regal Snowden Square (Columbia, open captions)
- Regal Westview Stadium 16 (Frederick, open captions)
- Regal Valley Mall Stadium 16 (Hagerstown, open captions)
- Regal Rockville Center Stadium 13 (Rockville, open captions)
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Organizations
While some deaf and hard of hearing organizations such as the National Association of the Deaf and Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) have their headquarters in Maryland, there are also a few Maryland-specific organizations.- Frederick chapter of the American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA)
- Greater Baltimore HLAA chapter
- Montgomery County Association of the Deaf,Inc (under Maryland Assn of the Deaf)
- Montgomery HLAA chapter
- Prince George's HLAA chapter
Religion
Churches for the deaf and with services for the deaf in Maryland include:
