The Hearing, Speech & Deafness Center and United Way of King County Partner to Provide Free Tax Assistance for the Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing

Seattle, Washington – February 28, 2009 - The Hearing, Speech & Deafness Center (HSDC) will host ten IRS certified volunteers from the United Way of King County (UWKC) to provide low and fixed income Deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing individuals and families with free tax preparation and electronic filing assistance at HSDC Seattle on Saturday, February 28th.

The free tax assistance for basic tax returns will be provided at the offices of the Hearing, Speech & Deafness Center with HSDC staff, interpreters, and the UWKC volunteers from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Appointments are necessary.

HSDC and UWKC have partnered to provide this valuable service together for four years, and UWKC has been helping low and fixed income individuals with tax preparation for seven years throughout the community.

As a nonprofit agency serving thousands of individuals and families each year – through clinical services, therapy, education, advocacy and technology – the Hearing, Speech & Deafness Center strengthens community by promoting effective communication. HSDC’s vision is that all people realize their full communication potential, and achieves this by joining direct services with systemic change to create an inclusive and accessible community. Agency services span the life cycle from infants through seniors, and include Audiology & Hearing Aids, Speech, Language & Literacy (Ned Behnke Speech Language Preschool and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation Literacy Lab), Early Childhood Education (Parent-Infant Program and the Rosen Family Preschool),  Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services, and Assistive Listening and Signaling Technology. HSDC has been serving the Puget Sound area for over 70 years.