The clinical psychologists, sign language interpreters, and social service professionals from the “Touch My Heart” Mental Health Project for the Deaf have integrated their practical research and experience from the past two years to produce the A Guide to Serving Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing People for Mental Health Practitioners (the Guidelines). The aim is to equip professionals with practical tools and skills, enabling them to provide more appropriate and tailored services to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
The Guidelines cover topics such as the communication needs of different deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in Hong Kong, cultural differences between them and hearing people, as well as common challenges they face during development and in their family. The Guidelines also provide step-by-step guidance on techniques for serving deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, including seating arrangements, teaching Hong Kong Sign Language sentences alongside Cantonese, and how to collaborate effectively with sign language interpreters to achieve better therapeutic outcomes.