SWK X002 - Understanding Deaf Culture and Support Needs: Empowering Ohio's 988 Response

This training is designed to equip 988 call line workers with knowledge and skills to respond effectively and compassionately to deaf individuals in crisis. By understanding Deaf culture, language barriers and the unique challenges faced by deaf individuals, hotline workers will be prepared to guide hearing caregivers, friends, law enforcement and others calling on behalf of a deaf person in providing appropriate and culturally competent support. The goal of this training is to ensure equitable crisis intervention, reduce re-traumatization and improve outcomes for deaf individuals in distress.

What You'll Learn

After completing this training, participants will be able to...

• Recognize the unique needs and challenges faced by deaf individuals in crisis.  
• Recognize the importance of cultural sensitivity when interacting with hearing callers supporting deaf individuals. 
• Effectively gather information from hearing callers regarding a deaf individual’s communication preferences and barriers. 
• Evaluate risk factors, formulate strategies to overcome communication barriers and design culturally sensitive safety plans for deaf individuals in crisis.
• Create follow-up steps to ensure improved outcomes for all parties involved.  
• Apply culturally sensitive approaches when interacting with hearing callers supporting deaf individuals in crisis.  
• Implement strategies and apply information to guide hearing callers in supporting deaf individuals in crisis empathetically.  
• Provide relevant resources to callers, including crisis support services, Deaf Services Centers and advocacy organizations.  

What You'll Earn

Social workers completing this training will receive 3 cultural competence continuing education clock hours under ACE. 

This training is approved for 3 CE clock hours in ethics for counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists, as well as prevention professionals in domain CC - cultural competence in prevention and substance use counselors in domain TR1 - treatment field related (renewals only) in the state of Ohio. 

Additional Information

Development Date: May 2025 

Target Audience: 988 crisis call line staff and other human services professionals

Content Level: Beginner

Training Outline

• Understanding the deaf community and communication
• Understanding audism and its impact
• Communication challenges
• Deaf and hard of hearing crisis communication
• 988 experience: When and how to direct deaf individuals to 988
• Case scenarios 1 and 2: Overwhelmed parent and concerned friend
• Case scenarios 3 and 4: Texting crisis and oral deaf person

Presenters

Maria O'Neil Ruddock, PsyD

Director, Mental Health and Deafness Project funded by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

Maria O’Neil Ruddock, PsyD, directs the Mental Health and Deafness Project funded by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, training mental health professionals on how to work effectively with D/deaf and hard of hearing clients. She has worked in the Deaf community for over 40 years as a clinician, consultant and advocate. Previously, O’Neil Ruddock served as director of the Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at the Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center, overseeing vocational services, case management, advocacy and training and American Sign Language programming. She is also involved in a project funded by the Office on Violence Against Women in collaboration with the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, studying the incidence, prevalence and impact of domestic and sexual violence in the D/deaf community. Now working as a community engagement and advocacy consultant, she provides education, outreach, consultation and training to social service agencies, healthcare workers and businesses across Northeastern Ohio. She received a bachelor’s in special and elementary education, a master’s in school psychology and a PsyD in clinical child psychology from New York University.  

Timothy Skaggs

Director, Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center's Community Center for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing

Timothy Skaggs first joined the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center’s Community Center for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (CCDHH) in December 2020. He initially took a staff position enabling him to join a team of deaf professionals working collaboratively for the betterment of the Deaf community. Skaggs has a long history of working at a variety of deaf-focused centers in numerous states, including Deaf Services Center in Columbus, Ohio; PAHrtners Deaf Services in Pennsylvania; and Walden Learning Center for the Deaf in Massachusetts. He is very passionate about working to support the needs of the community. In addition to his work at various deaf-specific centers and schools, Skaggs has taught American Sign Language for six years at community and university levels. He was promoted to director of the CCDHH in January 2021, overseeing all programs and services, including vocational services, case management, advocacy, training and ASL programming. He is looking forward to supporting the continued growth of the CCDHH and its committed and dedicated staff. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Gallaudet University.

Gerald F. Hayes, PsyD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Gerald F. Hayes, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience providing psychotherapy, psychological assessment and training. He received his PsyD from Wright State University’s School of Professional Psychology in 2000. He specializes in providing culturally affirmative care to a wide variety of diverse populations, including deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Hayes has extensive clinical experience in private practice, higher education college counseling centers and community mental health. In addition, he has worked on grant-funded programs designed to train mental health clinicians and interpreters in serving Deaf communities. He has served as a member of Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center’s Deaf Advocacy Committee for over 15 years, as well as an adjunct faculty member at Case Western Reserve University and Notre Dame College. Hayes has spent much of his professional life contributing to the professional growth of future mental health practitioners as a mentor, trainer and clinical supervisor. His career reflects a commitment to advocacy, education and the delivery of compassionate, high-quality care. 

Vincent Sabino, MBA, MSW, LISW-S, LICDC-CS

Associate Director, Mental Health Recovery Board for Licking and Knox Counties

Vincent Sabino, MBA, MSW, LISW-S, LICDC-CS, is a seasoned professional with 25 years in central Ohio’s community mental health system, specializing in addiction, severe mental illness, homelessness and deaf and hard of hearing populations. He is passionate about supporting individuals in recovery. At the Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Board of Franklin County, Sabino managed $19 million in treatment programs and led key opioid initiatives, including Quick Response Teams, the Addiction Stabilization Center and services for substance-using pregnant women and justice-involved individuals. He later served as division director of Behavioral Health at Alvis, overseeing treatment for justice-involved individuals and mothers in recovery. Sabino has also played a crucial role in crisis care planning across Franklin, Montgomery, Licking and Knox Counties, with expertise in call centers, mobile crisis teams and facility-based services. Currently, he is the associate director of the Mental Health Recovery Board for Licking and Knox Counties, overseeing clinical and fiscal operations.

Continuing Education Approvals 

The Ohio State University College of Social Work provides approvals for continuing education for counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists that are accepted by the state of Ohio Counselor, Social Work, and Marriage and Family Therapist (CSWMFT) Board.

The Ohio State University College of Social Work has been approved by the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals (CDP) Board as a provider of Continuing Education, approval number: 50-24068.

The Ohio State University College of Social Work, (Provider: 1628), is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The Ohio State University College of Social Work maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 4/30/25-4/30/28. Social workers completing this course receive 3 cultural competence continuing education credits.

Certificates & CE Reporting 

CE certificates will be available for download in your learner portal within 1 business day after submitting the evaluation survey.

Hours for those with Ohio licenses that are submitted with the evaluation survey will be reported to CE Broker every 14 days (twice per month). 

⚠️ Note: You may only complete this training once for CE credit. You may revisit the content, but only one certificate will be issued and credit will only be reported to CE Broker one time.

Cancellations, Refunds, Grievances, Accessibility Requests & Learning 

Please visit the Policies section of our website for more information on our processes for cancellations, refunds, grievances, training completions & certificates, participant conduct, and accessibility requests and learning accommodations. 

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. If you require an accommodation to participate in this training, please contact CSW Accessibility as early as possible and in advance of the training start date by email at csw-accessibility@osu.edu or call 614-688-1657. Requests received at least 14-days prior to the date you plan to begin a training will generally allow us to provide seamless access, but the College will make every effort to meet requests that we receive regardless of lead time. 

Contact Us

For questions about the enrollment process, payment options, technology, or training records, please submit an inquiry and our Enrollment Support team will assist you within 24 hours during business days.

Submit an enrollment inquiry

If you have any questions, concerns or feedback about the training content or delivery format, please contact the CSW Office of Continuing Education at cswce@osu.edu. For questions related to the training content, our office will facilitate communication with the training instructor on your behalf and connect you, if applicable. Presenter contact information will be provided within the training for questions, feedback, or comments. 

The Ohio State University, College of Social Work, Office of Continuing Education, 302 Stillman Hall, 1947 College Road, Columbus, OH, 43210.

Phone: (614) 292-3032

Email: cswce@osu.edu 

Website: csw.osu.edu/continuing-education/