governments and people with hearing loss
Governments at all levels are involved in providing support to persons
with hearing loss. Most significant in the United States is the Federal
Government, which has established numerous laws and agencies to
ensure that people with hearing loss are as fully
included in American society as possible.
State and Local governments are also involved in the lives of people
with hearing loss. Like the Federal Government, they have established
laws and agencies that affect the lives of HOH/LD people. These state
and local agencies often have a more immediate impact on people's lives,
because they are more closely involved with everyday issues. The goals
and effectiveness of the various state and local laws vary enormously.
In other countries, the governmental influence on the lives of
persons with hearing loss also displays significant diversity. Among the
most enlightened are the Scandinavian countries, with Sweden being
particularly aggressive in providing services. Many other countries,
including even some of the "modern" European countries, are
dismally far behind in assuring appropriate treatment of HOH/LD persons.
