The Ottawa Deaf Health Care Team, ODHCT, is pleased to share our website with you. The website is dedicated to the shining lights of the Deaf community who have encouraged us and let us share their journey through the health care system. Special mention is made of:
 

• Don Simonds, a beloved member of our Deaf Community and a true humanitarian.  Our work brings his dream of accessible services in LTC and hospice palliative care to reality.
• Dorothy Beam, a well known and long-time advocate for the Deaf Community and a member of the Order of Ontario. Don and Dorothy were an inspiration to our Team.
• Leslie Wood, an exceptional, humble volunteer on the team, whose work was cut short by her untimely death.

 
The ODHCT has had a variety of experiences serving the needs of the community, Deaf members, oral deaf, late deafened and hearing family of Deaf people:
 

• at May Court and Ruddy Shenkman hospices - in residence, day program and in-home support

• palliative support at Elizabeth Bruyere, TOH
• seniors accessing acute care and CCAC with our advocacy
• Deaf persons moving to the specialized unit for the Deaf at Glebe Centre, established with our Team’s advocacy work
• Deaf persons needing support in psychiatric settings
• Butterfly remembrance event organized in memory of family and friends

 
The website has videos and news articles we think will be of interest to you, to the community and to professionals. The website will also feature a post in remembrance of all those we have served.
 
Please share your impressions and suggestions at deafhealthcareteam@gmail.com and contact us if we can help you.
 
Heartfelt Thanks to Simone Edwards-Forde and Lisa Garrett for their work on the technical set up and to Judy Settle for helping us in our beginning phases. Their hearts were evident in their work helping us. Thanks also to Robert Sirvage for his advice on ensuring accessibility for persons with low vision accessing the site, to Todd Tobin for his timely technical hints and to all the volunteers, interpreters and friends shown in our photos. 
 
There is more work to be done to ensure the Deaf community has seamless access to all facets of the Health Care system in the years to come and we look forward to continuing our work.
 
Monica Elaine Campbell mecbell@rogers.com
Christine Wilson wilsonchristine@rogers.com
deafhealthcareteam@gmail.com
 
Co-Chairs, ODHCT