Undergraduate programs in social work have been in existence at Gallaudet University and at The National Technical Institute of the Deaf since 1972.

Twenty years ago, in 1979, a number of deaf social workers formed the American Society of Deaf Social Workers (ASDSW). This organization was formed primarily to assist deaf and hard of hearing social workers.

In 1989, the Master's of Social Work program, specializing in work with Deaf and Hard of Hearing people, was established at Gallaudet University. It quickly became the largest and only accredited graduate social work program focusing solely on this population. Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education(CSWE), this graduate program in social work provided deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing students with the opportunity to become professional social workers specializing in clinical and community work with people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

In 1999, The Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Hearing Social Workers (DHHHSW) site was established. DHHHSW is the effort of each year's graduate students in the social work program at Gallaudet University to assist all deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing social workers in the field of deafness. The students became aware of a need for continued support of all topics related to social work with deaf and hard of hearing people. The students have set-up two primary means for accomplishing this goal:

** A Web Page : http://academic.gallaudet.edu/prof/dhhhswweb.nsf

** A Discussion Forum: http://academic.gallaudet.edu/dhhhswforum

Our hope is that the web page would be a source of information as well as a connection to resources specifically focused on deaf and hard of hearing issues. The discussion forum is designed with the intention of promoting all participants to post topics for discussion among other social workers and professionals interested in the field of deafness.