Our Non-Profit. Our Community.
Your financial support helps to provide our much needed services, which include sign language classes, advocacy, social events, hearing aid assistance, and interpreting services.
What We Do
Mission Statement
The mission of Berks Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services is to provide services, resources, social opportunities, education and advocacy for the deaf, hard of hearing and hearing individuals in Berks and surrounding counties.
Vision Statement
We operate with unbending integrity and professionalism and consider ourselves to be genuinely accountable to our clients and our colleagues. Our board and staff function as one team focused on common goals and our employees are empowered to be the best they can be.
Our Story
Berks County, Pennsylvania was the birth place and is the home of Berks Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services. BDHHS has grown over the years, and has fully expanded services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals throughout much of Eastern Pennsylvania.
Brief History
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. 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, for parents 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. In the decades since, BDHHS has grown to be a faithful and trusted cornerstone for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community, always looking for new and better ways serve our community.
Become a Volunteer Today
We have many opportunities to volunteer at BDHHS! These opportunies include board membership, clerical work, committe member, filing, grant writing, and man booths.
Get in Touch. Get Involved.
Want to get involved? Contact us today!