About KCD

History

KCD has seen numerous changes in its 32 plus years of service to the Greater Knoxville area. The Knoxville Center of the Deaf was founded in 1977 by a small group of interested persons who recognized the need for a center devoted to communication services for the Deaf. The Center was opened in South Knoxville in a loaned office space in Graystone Presbyterian Church. KCD assisted deaf, late deafened, deaf-blind, and hard-of-hearing persons by offering communication services, community services and technology assistance, all on a limited basis. Initial efforts were focused on providing interpreting services and telephone message relay service. In 1979 KCD began providing services outside of Knoxville. Today KCD serves 20 counties in east Tennessee. In 1990 telephone relay services were ended as AT&T took over this service in the state of Tennessee. After a few months of duplicating this service to ensure a smooth transition KCD officially ended telephone message relays and interpreting services began in earnest.

Communication services have always been provided to deaf consumers without a personal charge being incurred. At first, many hours of interpreting services were rendered without hope of financial reimbursement. However, with changes in federal and state legislation, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the KCD interpreting program became a self-sustaining program. In all situations and where the law does not affix responsibility for providing communication services, such services are rendered without question or charge.

KCD currently provides 24/7 sign language interpreting services for deaf and deaf-blind persons for medical, legal, psychological, social, employment and other situations. This service still is the primary and most used service offered by KCD. In the past few years, new concepts have emerged and new services have been added to fit the needs of the Deaf Community. KCD has two internet-connected computer labs and seven VRS stations making it the hub of state-of-the-art communication access for the Deaf in East Tennessee. As the consumer base of KCD has grown to include the late-deafened and hard-of-hearing populations, the technology and a wider range of accessibility options have been added. Current demands for such technology continue to grow.

KCD moved again in 1989 so that more office space would be available and a meeting room for consumer socialization, recreation and education could be offered. The community center has always hosted meetings of many local organizations and groups. Regular meetings have included groups such as: Knoxville Deaf Senior Citizens, East Tennessee Self-Help for the Hard-of-Hearing, Knoxville Chapter of the Tennessee Association of the Deaf, Knoxville chapter of the Tennessee Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Knoxville Deaf Craft Club, East Tennessee Bass Club for the Deaf, Special Interest Group of the East Tennessee Computer Club, Tennessee Deaf Blind Association, and many others. The Center also allows for training classes, workshops and special community activities. The services and opportunities of the community center have met a major need in the lives of individuals with differing ranges of hearing and continues to do so.

Community service efforts were intensified in 1991 with the addition of the first community services staff person. The Community Service Program of KCD currently offers community center and social services. These services include opportunities for socialization, public awareness, advocacy, sign language instruction and client assistance. These services are tailored to individual consumer and community needs.

In 32 plus years of operation, KCD has grown from a staff of two, part-time persons to a staff of eleven plus student interns and volunteers. In 2000, KCD moved into a 10,000 SF building in South Knoxville, the adopted home of the Deaf Community. Services have grown from interpreting for deaf and deaf-blind to include new programs for Deaf Youth, Senior Citizens and the Deaf-Blind. KCD program for deaf-blind persons has been heralded in a national publication; and at national conference. In 2002 a major remodeling effort was made and over a two and one-half year period with the help of volunteers from UT, Y12, First Baptist Church and the Deaf Community, the Center was transformed into a beautiful site that is truly the Home of the Deaf.

KCD believes in the worth of each person no matter his or her circumstance in life and treats each person with respect. No problem is ever discounted. Our purpose is to do whatever we can to make the world a better place.