Specifications include, but are not limited to: The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) has served the Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing, Late Deafened and Deaf Disabled community members in the State of Washington for over thirty years. ODHH provides equal communication access through statewide sign language interpreter service contracts co-managed with the Department of Enterprise Services so that government entities can communicate effectively and provide equitable services to this population. In particular, ODHH endeavors to ensure that all Deaf, Deafblind, Hard of Hearing, Late Deafened, and Deaf Disabled Washington residents and state employees have equal access opportunities for effective communication through in-person sign language interpreting, ensuring their access and ability to contribute to state government activities. This responsibility includes working with other state agencies to facilitate their access to interpreter referral services, and that such services are provided in a way that meets the standards set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
