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Dec 29, 09
Dangerous Decibels Workshop in Orlando - Feb. 28 and March 1

Jun 24, 09
DSCA Meeting Scheduled For January 8, 2010 in Crystal River

May 15, 09
Heaing Impairment Epidemic

Oct 03, 06
National Hearing Loss Statistics BY HHS National Center for Health Statistics

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About FLDSCA

mission - code of ethical principles - standards of professional practice - roster

The Deaf Service Center Association, Inc. of Florida is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization incorporated in the State of Florida. The DSCA is composed of thirteen (13) member not for profit hearing loss service providers across the state. The DSCA was created to:

perform activities to improve the quality of life of Deaf and Hard of Hearing people by promoting the well being of the service delivery system for Deaf and Hard of Hearing persons in the State of Florida.
promote the development of and continued service capabilities of Deaf Service Centers (DSCs) in the State of Florida.
advocate for specific legislative proposals and regulations that will assist Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in obtaining equal access to all Federal, State, County, and local services that are available to Hearing persons in the State of Florida.
educate the various communities in Florida about Deaf Service Centers.

To this end the DSCA hold bi-monthly meeting at which time the membership addresses issues critical to the well being of the members of the hearing loss community. The corporate headquarters of the DSCA are at the offices of the President of the association.

Code of Ethical Principles
Adopted: April 7, 2000

The mission of the Deaf Service Center Association, Inc. (DSCA) is to foster the development, improvement and growth of services for deaf, hard of hearing and late deafened people in Florida. Furthermore, the DSCA strives to preserve, enhance and promote high ethical standards among the membership of the DSCA.

To these ends, this following Code of Ethics declares the ethical values and standards of professional practice which DSCA members embrace and that they strive to uphold in their responsibilities as service providers.

In doing so, the DSCA members are committed to improve quality of life, to inspire others and to maintain ongoing professional development. Such members, individually and organizationally, practice their profession with integrity and honesty.

Furthermore, DSCA members

Apply the RID Code of Ethics to all interpreting situations;
Recognize and respect cultural differences;
Treat all people with dignity and respect;
Affirm a commitment to human services and its role in society;
Adhere to the spirit as well as the letter of all applicable laws and regulations;
Demonstrate behaviors that bring credit to all professionals in the field of deafness;
Recognize individual and organizational competency and capability;
State professional qualifications and credentials accurately;
Value the privacy, the right to choose, and the variety of interests of members and those persons served;
Encourage all colleagues to endorse and practice these ethical principles;
Adhere to the following standards of professional practice.

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Standards of Professional Practice
Adopted: April 7, 2000

Members shall act according to the highest standards and visions of the DSCA, the individual member organization, profession and conscience.
Members shall avoid even the appearance of any criminal offense or professional misconduct.
Members shall be responsible for advocating, within their own organizations, adherence to all applicable laws and regulations.
Members shall work, in their respective member organizations for a salary.
Members shall effectively disclose all relationships which might constitute, or appear to constitute, a conflict of interest: such disclosure does not preclude or imply ethical impropriety.
Members shall accurately state their professional experience, qualifications, and expertise.
Members shall not disclose privileged information, such as client identification and personal information about association members, to unauthorized parties. Members shall consider all minutes as drafts and thereby privileged information, until they have been reviewed, revised and accepted by the DSCA.
Members shall keep constituent information confidential.
Members shall abide by all decisions of the DSCA.
Members= actions shall reflect concern for the interests and well being of individuals affected by those actions. Members shall not exploit any relationship with another DSCA member, volunteer, employee, to the benefit of the member or the member=s organization.
Members alleging violations of Ethical Principles and Professional Practices must site a specific violation and deliver such allegation to the Executive Board of the DSCA for an appointment of an Ethics Committee for investigation and a recommended resolution.
All of the above notwithstanding, members shall comply with all applicable local, state and federal civil and criminal laws.