The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services of Northwest Florida began as a dream of Carol Donahue Ross. After moving to the Pensacola area, Carol discovered there were no coordinated services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities. Although some churches were providing limited services, there was a lack of access for persons who are deaf and hard of hearing. Carol shared her vision of a deaf service center with a group of concerned citizens. From the meeting, the Resource Center for the Hearing Impaired (RCHI) was founded in June 1987.
There have been many changes over the years and RCHI is now known as Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services of Northwest Florida (DHHS). For nearly 25 years DHHS has helped thousands of deaf and hard of hearing individuals and their families in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties with an array of services.
Our reach expanded in June 2009 when we became an affiliate of United Cerebral Palsy of Northwest Florida. As well established regional charities, the organizations combined many years of experience in serving people with disabilities to improve their quality of life and live independently. This merger has allowed us to expand our services across the Florida Panhandle. “Connecting Two Worlds” is what we are doing – combining resources of our organizations to make us more efficient, effective, and dynamic for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.