What is the Hard of Hearing Navigator Program?
This year, Hope is launching a Hard of Hearing Navigator Program to improve access and support for Alaskans who experience hearing loss. Across the state, an estimated 60,000 people experience some degree of hearing loss, and many face barriers that go far beyond technology. Communication gaps, limited services in rural areas, and systems that don’t always talk to each other can make everyday tasks exhausting. For many people, support exists – but finding it, understanding it, and accessing it can feel overwhelming.
This program was created to change that.
At the heart of the program is a dedicated Navigator who will serve as a guide, connector, and advocate for deaf and hard of hearing people and their families. The Navigator will help connect people to available resources—from healthcare and education to housing and employment—while bridging gaps between agencies that often operate in silos. Sometimes that support looks like helping a family navigate early intervention options after a new diagnosis. Other times, it means working with employers, landlords, or service providers to remove communication barriers and create more inclusive environments.
Who the Program Serves
The Hard of Hearing Navigator Program is designed to serve people and systems alike. Direct recipients include low-income adults, seniors, and students who need specialized communication tools but face financial or geographic barriers. At the same time, the program supports agencies, organizations, and service providers—such as senior centers, schools, government offices, vocational counselors, and healthcare workers—by offering training and guidance to improve accessibility and ADA compliance. The goal is not just to respond to needs as they arise, but to strengthen the systems people rely on every day.
Thanks to increased state funding, the program will also expand outreach and training efforts statewide, especially in rural and remote communities. The Navigator will help coordinate care across medical, educational, and social service systems so individuals with complex needs don’t fall through the cracks.
Services include:
- Connecting individuals and families to resources and support
- Advocating for accessible housing and employment opportunities
- Supporting early involvement for families of children with hearing loss
- Providing training for employers and service providers on communication access and assistive technology
- Offering guidance on best practices for working with people who experience hearing loss
When needed, the program also provides access to essential communication tools such as videophones, caption phones, TTYs, and computers for individuals who do not have them at home. This approach shifts support from reactive to proactive. It strengthens independence, improves access, and builds lasting connections across communities.
Our goal is that the Hard of Hearing Navigator Program will reduce service gaps, strengthen workforce integration, improve rural equity, and help Hard of Hearing Alaskans feel seen, supported, and empowered. We’re thrilled to see where this work will lead and grateful to be building it alongside our community.
How you can Support the Program
Community involvement plays an important role in the program’s success. Sharing information helps connect people to resources they may not know exist. Supporters can help by sharing program updates and job opportunities through community networks and social media platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn. Increased awareness strengthens the program’s reach and impact.
With community support and the right Navigator in place, the Hard of Hearing Navigator Program will create meaningful, lasting change across Alaska.
Contact Information
Questions about the Hard of Hearing Navigator program? Contact Mike Merritt, Deaf Navigator via video phone at 907-268-3274, text phone at 907-330-9880, or email at [email protected].
The Hard of Hearing Navigator program is funded by a grant from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.
