HARTFORD, CT — More than 2,000 Deaf individuals attending the World Deaf Expo in Hartford are expected to have access to free health screenings, counseling and wellness services during a daylong health initiative on Saturday, June 6.
DEAF (Deaf Everywhere Are Family) is partnering with Bethesda Medical Mission, ArC Wellness, Wellspring Health Ministries, Three Angels Deaf Ministries and the Health Ministries of the Southern New England Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to host Community DEAF Health Day at the Connecticut Convention Center, 100 Columbus Blvd., Hartford.
The event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is being held in conjunction with the World Deaf Expo, which organizers say is expected to attract between 2,000 and 4,000 deaf attendees from across New England and around the world.
According to organizers, a team of approximately 50 medical professionals and volunteers — including doctors, nurses, dentists, mental health counselors, massage therapists, American Sign Language interpreters and DEAF members — will provide a range of free services.
Available screenings will include blood pressure, glucose, A1C, triglycerides, body mass index, Health Age assessments, oral cancer screenings and dental evaluations.
Attendees will also have access to massage therapy, health counseling, mental health counseling and health-related workshops.
Organizers said the initiative is designed to address health disparities that exist within the deaf community because of language barriers and limited access to health education resources.
"This event brings together partners who can help raise health awareness in the Deaf community and teach people how to care for their health," organizers said in a statement. "We believe lives will be changed because of this event."
The World Deaf Expo serves as the culmination of a four-day gathering celebrating deaf history and culture through tours, performances, a gala and educational exhibits.
Organizers said this year's event marks the first time a deaf expo of this size has been held in New England and the first time a medical outreach effort of this scale has been organized specifically for the Deaf community in conjunction with the event.
Founded in 1992, DEAF is a Christian organization serving people who are culturally Deaf, Deaf-Blind or hard of hearing and use American Sign Language as their primary language. The organization hosts camps, conferences, monthly gatherings and interpreted worship services throughout the Northeastern United States.
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