Berks Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services

The mission of Berks Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services is to provide services, resources, and social opportunities to and education and advocacy for the deaf, hard of hearing and hearing individuals in Berks and surrounding counties.

In 1964, Mrs. Margaret Danowski learned that her six-year old daughter had hearing loss. This knowledge had a tremendous emotional impact upon her and her husband, mixed with self-blame, self-pity, and the realization that this was really happening to their child, and not to someone else's child. Berks Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services had its start, thanks to Mrs. Danowski and local Audiologist Dr. Grabowski, at a meeting held in March 1967, forrents of (or professionals working with) children with speech and hearing problems.In May 1968, the organization was incorporated as a Non-Profit Agency, known as The Berks County Association for the Hearing Impaired, Inc., later to be known as Berks Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services. The group's first project was to open a pre-school for Deaf children. This occurred in September 1968, at the First Presbyterian Church in Reading, PA. The agency has grown over the years, and now has seven full time and onert time employee, and has fully expanded services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing members of the community.

Advocacy, Assistive Device Program, Hearing Aid Assistance Hearing Aid Repair Assistance, Hearing Screenings, Information and Referral, Interpreting Service, Personal Assistance, Sign Language Classes, Public / Private Education, Social Activities, Educational Programs, and Deaf & Hard of Hearing Related Library