Providing Communication Access; Hearing and Assistive Technologies; and Support Services for Persons who are Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing.

  • (773) 248-9121
  • (773) 904-0154
  • 2017 N. Mendell St. #3NE Chicago, IL 60614
Logo with large green letters "CHS" above a purple line, and below in light purple it reads "A Division of" and "Anixter" in bold purple followed by "center" in light purple.
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Logo with large green letters "CHS" above a purple line, and below in light purple it reads "A Division of" and "Anixter" in bold purple followed by "center" in light purple.
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Statewide Alliance

Identifying Barriers to Access &
Creating Systemic Change

CHS, in collaboration with the CHS Advisory Council, has convened stakeholders from across the state to identify barriers and drive systemic change. With a strong commitment to partnership and coalition-building, members are united in their goal to improve access and equity for the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing communities.

Key priorities identified include: the statewide interpreter shortage, employment access, mental health services, early intervention, youth support, Joint Commission and hospital accessibility, DeafBlind/Co-Navigator services, and senior housing. Additional areas of focus include educating communities on state and federal laws, and establishing a centralized hub for information sharing and resources.

Members in attendance have represented the following agencies/organizations:

Logo with large green letters "CHS" above a purple line, and below in light purple it reads "A Division of" and "Anixter" in bold purple followed by "center" in light purple.

Chicago Hearing Society

A fierce, roaring tiger with claws extended appears behind the stylized gold letters "ISD". The tiger's fur features bold black and orange stripes, and its mouth is open, displaying sharp teeth.

Illinois School for the Deaf Outreach

Blue letters "FHSR" in bold, uppercase font with a white accent on the "R." Below, black text reads "Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources.

Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources

Chicago Park District seal featuring a large tree in the center with city buildings in the background. The Latin phrase "Hortus in Urbe" appears above the tree. The outer ring reads "Chicago Park District Seal Organized 1934.

Chicago Park District

The image shows the text "project REACH" with "project" in light blue and "REACH" in dark blue, and five blue dots above the text, increasing in size from left to right.

Project Reach

The image features the words "DEAF EQUALITY" in bold, black text with blue curved lines above, resembling stylized hands in sign language. The design emphasizes inclusion and equal rights for the Deaf community.

Deaf Equality

The image shows the letters "IAD" in large blue font, with the outline of the state of Illinois in gray forming the left side of the letter "I.

Illinois Association of the Deaf

Logo for the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission. The acronym "IDHHC" is spelled out in large letters, with each letter accompanied by its representation in American Sign Language fingerspelling.

Chicago Club of the Deaf

Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission

Logo of the Illinois Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (IRID), featuring a geometric blue illustration of Illinois next to the text "IRID" and "Illinois Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.

Illinois Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf

HLAA logo with three abstract human figures in green, orange, and purple beside large purple letters "HLAA." Below, it reads "Hearing Loss Association of America" in orange text.

Hearing Loss Association of America

Logo for Illinois Department of Human Services Rehabilitation Services, featuring stylized figures including one in a wheelchair and others standing, with text below the image.

Department of Human Services -Rehabilitation 

Logo of the National Catholic Office for the Deaf (NCOD) with green text inside a right-pointing arrow, soundwave symbols, and a white crucifix on a green background at the arrow tip.

Catholic Office of the Deaf

Chicago Public Schools logo with blue silhouettes of a child, a teenager, and a graduate inside a circle, next to the text "Chicago Public Schools" in blue.

Chicago Public Schools

Logo for Swoboda Deaf Center featuring a black city skyline silhouette above the text "SWOBODA DEAF CENTER" on a white background.

Swoboda Deaf Center

Logo for Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) featuring three abstract human figures in blue and yellow next to the text "IDHS Illinois Department of Human Services.

Department of Human Services – Mental Health 

Logo for Moraine Valley Community College featuring stylized green "MV" initials on the left and the college name written in green text on the right, all on a white background.

Moraine Valley Community College

A blue outline of Illinois with white hands in a circle, "IDLA" text below, surrounded by flags of various Latin American countries.

Illinois Deaf Latino Association

The image shows the Chicago Public Schools logo with a blue square, a red six-pointed star, and the words "CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS" in black bold letters.

Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities

Logo for Deaf Women United. The large, lowercase letters “dwu” are stylized with “d” in purple, “w” in teal, and “u” in light aqua. Below the letters, the words “DEAF WOMEN UNITED” are written in all capital letters in a clean, modern teal font.

Deaf Women United

The ISRC logo features stylized black letters "ISRC" with colored dots above them and an abstract design of curved lines and a red shape to the left.

Illinois Service Recourse Center

The image shows the words "Anixter center" written in purple text on a white background.

Anixter’s ASL Counseling Program

Hinsdale South High School logo with a black and gold crest on the left, featuring the letters "H" and "S" and a laurel branch, and the school's name in black text to the right.

Hinsdale South High School

Blue and white logo of a horse's head with a flowing mane, above the text "WSAD" and a ribbon reading "West Suburban Association of the Deaf.".

West Suburban Association of the Deaf

Alliance meetings are currently held by invitation only. For inquiries or additional information, please contact Karen Aguilar.