CAIRS Community Support

Since 1990, CAIRS has been professionally serving the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community in greater metropolitan Chicago and Illinois. Of the approximately 400,000 Deaf or Hard of Hearing individuals estimated to be residing in the state by the Illinois Department of Health (IDPH), almost half live in the Chicagoland area.

CAIRS understands that it has a responsibility to directly support the Deal and Hard of Hearing community in the form educational support and focused charitable giving. At present, CAIRS is evaluating how to best ensure that its support generates the maximum benefit for its core partner community. However, one need is clear, and that is the need for education!

CAIRS Establishes Illinois Deaf and Interpreter Alliance (IDIA)

CAIRS is pleased to announce the recent establishment of the Illinois Deaf and Interpreter Alliance (IDIA) as a non-profit organization dedicated to serving both the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and interpreter communities in Illinois. The primary purpose of the IDIA is to serve as a charitable giving organization for the long term support of educational activities. Specifically, annual IDIA educational grants will assist eligible Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals with post secondary education, as well as student interpreters with scholarship support for interpreter training programs.

In addition, the IDIA will collaborate with core partner communities to engage in needs assessments, information sharing, community programs development and grant writing activities. The IDIA will engage in annual fund raising efforts to sustain its long term mission of charitable giving in Illinois. The IDIA will operate as a distinct entity with a Board of Directors and receive administrative support from CAIRS. It is planned that IDIA will officially begin operations July 1st, 2010. More information will be provided regarding the IDIA Fall 2010 grant cycle. Please forward all questions and inquires regarding IDIA to Nikki Montgomery at nicole@cairs.net.