Priority is given to people with the most severe disabilities.
A 1992 report on underserved populations found that hard of hearing people, who represent one of the highest incidence of disability groups, are significantly unserved and underserved by the current VR system. This finding is buttressed by extensive anecdotal experience among people with hearing loss. SHHH believes this inadequate record of service to hard of hearing people is due primarily to two factors. First, few VR counselors have been appropriately trained in the unique needs of hard of hearing people. Often, they fail to make the crucial distinction between being hard of hearing and being deaf, and thus inadequately consider the unique needs of each group.