Hearing Loss/Deafness Support The Deaf Community in Rochester, New York By Jamie Berke Jamie Berke Facebook Jamie Berke is a deafness and hard of hearing expert. Learn about our editorial process Updated on June 30, 2021 Fact checked Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Angela Underwood Fact checked by Angela Underwood LinkedIn Angela Underwood's extensive local, state, and federal healthcare and environmental news coverage includes 911 first-responder compensation policy to the Ciba-Geigy water contamination case in Toms River, NJ. Her additional health-related coverage includes death and dying, skin care, and autism spectrum disorder. Learn about our editorial process Print Where is the best place in the United States for a deaf person to live? Many say that Rochester, New York is the most deaf-friendly city in the country and for good reason. Rochester has one of the largest deaf populations per capita, meaning that out of the total population of Rochester, a substantial percentage are deaf. Rochester is also the birthplace of key or historic elements of the deaf community. Just about every aspect of life in Rochester is deaf-accessible. Brian Mitchell / Getty Images Rochester's Deaf Culture Rochester has been the birthplace of organizations for deaf and hard-of-hearing artists. The National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) hosts The Joseph F. and Helen C. Dyer Arts Center, a showcase for deaf artists. Also at NTID, the traveling theater group Sunshine 2.0 puts on performances for deaf and hard-of-hearing children and adults. Education Rochester is home since 1968 to NTID, a technical college on the campus of Rochester Institute of Technology. Younger deaf students can attend the Rochester School for the Deaf (RSD). Before RSD in the early 1820s, there was a short-lived small school for the deaf. RSD started in 1876 as the Western New York Institution for Deaf-Mutes and became RSD in 1920. Health Resources At the Marion B. Folsom Health Center, there are professionals skilled in sign language. The University of Rochester offers the Deaf Health Pathways program for medical students interested in deaf culture, health and American Sign Language (ASL). Sign Language Classes In a place with such a large deaf population, it is to be expected that sign language classes would be in high demand and easy to find. A few resources for sign language classes in Rochester: ASL at the University of Rochester Rochester School for the Deaf Sign language students in Rochester can interact through a local chapter of ASL Meetup. Deaf Interpreting Services Rochester is home to several interpreting services, and also has training and organizations for interpreters: The National Technical Institute for the Deaf has an ASL-English Interpretation Program. The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf has a local chapter, the Genesee Valley Region Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Interpreting agencies include: FMI Interpreting Services Inc.InterpretekM.E. ServicesSign Language ConnectionStrong Connections (medical interpreting provided by the University of Rochester Medical Center) Open Captioned Movies The Regal Henrietta Cinema Stadium cinema shows open captioned movies; at the time this article was written, no theaters in Rochester had the rear window captioning display system. The George Eastman Museum also sometimes shows subtitled films. Deaf Organizations For women, there is the Deaf Women of Rochester. Hearing Loss Association of America has a Rochester chapter. Churches Rochester is home to several churches for the deaf, and many Rochester area churches have deaf ministries: Anchor Christian Church (deaf ministry)Emmanuel Church of the DeafFirst Bible Baptist Church (deaf ministry)Victory Baptist Church (deaf ministry) Deaf Jewish people in Rochester have the Louis S. and Molly B. Wolk Center for Jewish Cultural Enrichment for the Deaf at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Recreation and Sports Sports and recreational opportunities abound in Rochester. Here is a sampling: Rochester Recreation Club for the Deaf Greater Rochester Deaf Golf Association Deaf Elders Around Rochester (senior citizens who are deaf) Eastern Athletic Association of the Deaf Social Opportunities As befits such a large deaf community, social opportunities for the deaf in Rochester are plentiful: Deaf International of Rochester: social gatherings of deaf people from various countriesDeaf Professional Happy Hour held monthlySilent Suppers Social Services When times are hard or people are abused or just need help with hearing aids or other hearing loss-related concerns, families and deaf people in Rochester have places to turn to, such as: Abused Deaf Women's Advocacy Services Rochester Hearing and Speech Center Substance and Addiction Intervention Services for the Deaf (at RIT/NTID) Big Brothers Big Sisters has a deaf/hard-of-hearing program Deaf-Accessible Businesses Several businesses in Rochester are fully accessible to the deaf (or are deaf-owned). Media With Real-Time Captioning Two Rochester area television stations (WHEC, WROC) have real-time captioning of the local news. In addition, NTID has a caption center. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 3 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. City of Rochester, NY. Deaf and Hard of Hearing Resources. National Technical Institute for the Deaf. History of NTID. Rochester School for the Deaf. History.