Police Training
For the past four years, the executive director of Bridges Oregon independently from this organization has taught an “Effective Interaction with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community” class every month to new incoming students at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST). As of 2022, it is estimated over 3,000 law enforcement officers have gone through this training, and more continue to receive this training. The executive director continues to develop and maintain working relationships with multiple law enforcement agencies throughout the state.
Currently, this organization provides training to law enforcement. We can customize our training program to meet the time constraints and needs of your group and organization. To discuss opportunities for your group, contact Bridges Oregon.
- Sample of presentation (PDF)
- Video: Partnership Between Police and Deaf Communities (link)
- Video: Oregon Police Training video (link)
To request your own personal copy of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Communication Card with Police (visor card, wallet card), please consider making a contribution to help us ship you your own copy. Contact us to make your request.
Law enforcement agencies and any other entities interested in having them in stock for local distribution, please send an inquiry to Kaylan Kamstra with DPSST at kaylan.kamstra@dpsst.oregon.gov.
Healthcare Training
The Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing community struggles with significant health disparities and is often excluded from health surveillance, outreach programs, and mass media healthcare messages. This community, through cultural and language barriers, are at high risk for poor health knowledge and inequitable access to medical and behavioral care in the healthcare system.
In attempts to meet the diverse needs of Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing people, Bridges Oregon offers workshops to medical providers to overcome communication barriers which present with Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing patients. The presentation will cover Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing needs, impacts of misdiagnosis and language deprivation, Deaf culture and communication etiquette, legal duties, pitfalls, and how to avoid the latter.
From the recent data through the Community-Based Needs Assessment that was published by the Research and Resource Center with Deaf communities (RRCD) at Western Oregon University. Findings included that there was a report of difficulties in accessing public services in the past 12 months.
- 45.7% – Oregon healthcare worker was impatient with communication
- 40.3% – No interpreter available
- 25.7% – Interpreter not qualified
- 17.9% – CART or caption services not available
- 11.4% – No FM/Loop/Personal assistive listening system
Contact us to schedule a workshop at info@bridgesoregon.org.
American with Disabilities Act (ADA) training
Bridges Oregon training staff and board member(s) has extensive knowledge of and experience in disability law issues, best practices, and trends, and have provided training program for entities such as:
- Emergency Management
- Health Care Providers
- Non-Profit Organization
- Postsecondary Educational Institutions
- State & Local Government
Topics includes, but are not limited to:
- ADA Employment Requirements
- ADA Overview
- Effective Communication
- Reasonable Accommodations
The executive director is a certified American with Disabilities Act Coordinator (ADAC) from ADA Coordinator Training Certification Program at University of Missouri. The certification verities that participants have completed training in required content areas and have an in-depth of knowledge of ADA issues.
We can customize our training program to meet the time constraints and needs of your group or organization. To discuss opportunities for your group, contact Bridges Oregon.
Deaf-Friendly Workplace
To build bridges of understanding between deaf and hearing employees so that the most productive and mutually beneficial work relationships can be developed.
If you have hired deaf or hard of hearing employees in your organization, or if that’s an area you wanted to explore. This workshop provides you with an excellent resource.
This training is designed to help supervisors and co-workers to develop the sensitivity and skills to communicate effectively with deaf and hard of hearing employees. It is recommended that human resource, staff, equal employment opportunity, diversity and disability hiring professionals also attend. It also can enable deaf and hearing colleagues to work together more productively and assist in fostering a workplace culture of diversity and inclusion.
The training offering:
- Working Together
- Understanding and perspective on Hearing Loss
- Essentials of Communication on the job
- Strategies to support workplace to integrate Deaf and hard of hearing employees
- Accommodation and inclusion in the workplace
Since 2006, Vicki Moseley has been on a mission to help businesses develop more inclusive, less isolating workplaces for the Deaf and hard of hearing employees. Since every organization is different, one of her favorite things to do is create customized trainings for targeted audiences. Vicki has worked as a career counselor at Gallaudet university in addition to bringing a wealth of counseling experience with her. She counseled Deaf and hard of hearing students as well as hearing students who majored in Interpreter Training Program at Seattle Central Community College for 25 years. She earned her MA in School Counseling (Gallaudet University) and BA in Sociology (Stephen F Austin State University).
To inquire about on-site or virtual training, or tailoring training to your workplace’s needs, contact us at info@bridgesoregon.org.