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Services for People Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

DORS Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services(DHHS) are for people whose primary disability is deafness or hearing loss.

DHHS counselors are specially trained to work with people who are deaf/hard of hearing. Many people in the Deaf community refer to DORS rehabilitation counselors for the deaf (RCDs) as VR (vocational rehabilitation) counselors. RCDs use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate with consumers who are deaf and use ASL.

Services For Deaf Individuals Looking for Employment Services

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For Employers Looking for Qualified Employees Who Are Deaf

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​June 29, 2021

A Message from Derick Serra, DORS' Office of Field Services Program Manager, Technical Assistance Branch:

Please join me in welcoming Mr. Noe Turcios to DORS, as the new Statewide Coordinator for Deaf Services. This position falls under the Technical Assistance Branch of the Office of Field Services.

Noe (pronounced No-ee) was born in El Salvador. He was raised in Long Island, NY, until he was eleven years old, when he moved to Frederick, MD. He graduated from the Maryland School for the Deaf.

He obtained a BS degree in Biotechnology and Molecular Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology and earned a MA degree in Sign Language Education at Gallaudet University. He was a lecturer in the Deaf Studies program at Towson University for more than three years. In addition, he worked for more than a year as an American Sign Language Education Specialist in the “ASL Connect” program, run by Gallaudet University. Currently, he is in the Doctor of Education (EdD) program, in the Higher Education and Adult Learning at Walden University.

He is interested in inclusive practices and the intersectionality of Deaf and multiple identities. His goal is to provide accessibility for all Deaf plus multiple identities, and contribute back to the Deaf community. 

Currently, he lives in Baltimore with his partner, two dogs (one is deaf), and one cat.

Congratulations to Noe!

Noe can be reached at noe.turcios@maryland.gov​, or video phone 410-405-7054​