Deaf Access Simcoe Muskoka

Our Story

Where we have been……

We were established in 1984 in Barrie; the agency responded to the lack of services in the
area for ASL-Deaf, deafened, oral deaf and hard of hearing residents of Simcoe County.
We started out with a Canada Works Grant to offer part time services from a store front on
Dunlop Street. Within a short time funding was secured from the United Way (of Greater
Simcoe County) and later the Ministry of Health and then the United Way of South
Georgian Bay.

We were originally named The Huronia Association for the Advancement of the Hearing
Impaired Inc but commonly known as HHI. We continue to be a charitable non-profit
organization managed by a volunteer Board of Directors, 50% of whom must be Deaf,
deafened or hard of hearing.

Our staff, services and funding has continued to expand. In 2005 HHI changed the name to
Deaf Access Simcoe Muskoka Inc. Driven by the directive that the Board and staff set out in
our Strategic plan of 2006-09, in 2007, we co-located with the Canadian Hearing Society to
offer a comprehensive continuum of services to all residents of Simcoe. In response to
consumer feedback, in 2008-09, we expanded to offer one day services in Orillia,
Collingwood, and finally Midland.

In October 2008 through a Ministry of Health, Innovative Project, we were able to offer
services to ASL-Deaf and hard of hearing seniors in Bracebridge, Muskoka.


Where we are going……

We are in the midst of our second strategic planning process that will provide the beacon
that represents the needs of consumers and direction of our organization for the next four
years. Our dedicated and talented staff with our very committed and resourceful Board will
strive to ensure that Simcoe Muskoka is the community of choice for all ASL-Deaf,
deafened, oral deaf and hard of hearing people in Ontario.