Keeping Pace 

Mid-Missouri DeafLine crisis call volume increases dramatically.

DeafLEAD is a Deaf-run and Deaf-led nonprofit organization offering 24/7 crisis intervention, advocacy, case management, interpreting, and mental health support services to victims of crime who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, and Late-Deafened individuals and their families. The name of the organization is an acronym for Leadership through Education and Advocacy for the Deaf. It was derived to express that the organization is a culmination of Deaf people leading. Dr. Stephanie Logan, CEO at DeafLEAD, was the organization’s first employee twenty-nine years ago.  

“The focus and mission of the organization are to provide victim services. In my earliest time with the organization, I always wanted to provide a crisis line for the Deaf community in particular,” Dr. Logan signed.  

Dr. Logan is responsible for bringing the crisis line to mid-Missouri after doing research about the needs of the Deaf community and connecting with DeafLine Chicago for input on establishing a crisis line. As a result, a similar crisis line was established in Missouri, called DeafLine Missouri. Established more than twenty-five years ago, the crisis line was run mainly by volunteers, with only a few staff members.  

Shortly after DeafLine Missouri was established, Dr. Logan said it became clear that services for a hearing crisis line were also needed, and that led to creating the Mid-Missouri Crisis Line. That service helped DeafLine Missouri recruit more volunteers, and those volunteers helped run the crisis line. That’s how DeafLine ran for several years until July 1, 2024.  

With the 988 crisis line established two years ago, the Mid-Missouri Crisis Line was no longer needed. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 for call, chat, text, or videophone for people who are in crisis or needing emotional support or resources. Once the Mid-Missouri Crisis Line was disbanded, DeafLEAD transitioned to a fully paid staff model with more than 400 employees. Previously, DeafLEAD was supported by about fifteen employees and a small army of volunteers.  

“I started as a volunteer in 2016 and that was how we were able to function,” said Tyler Hannsz, director of crisis chat services for DeafLEAD. “Our volunteers were the bread and butter. It has changed pretty radically since then.”  

The chat and text program at DeafLEAD, directed by Hannsz, serves as a national backup center to the 988 Lifeline. It is one of many 988 chat and text centers across the country — and the sole designated 988 chat and text center for Missouri.  

In October, the center responded to 15,000 contacts; the total for the past twelve months is 133,000 contacts. When it was started in 2020, the center received a thousand contacts. The service provided is less specialized than videophone, requiring only the individual to enter their zip code to be routed to the nearest center, which sometimes includes individuals not in the state of Missouri.  

“Often people will perceive [Deaf individuals] as less educated, less knowledgeable — especially when it comes to our English abilities and language abilities,” signed Olivia Stein, director of videophone crisis line services. “On the chat and text line, we do have Deaf individuals who work that line and answer chat and text in English. Whenever some people learn that, we get a quizzical look, like, ‘Can they handle that? Can they communicate well?’”  

That level of doubt also adds to the stigma about a Deaf individual’s abilities, she signed.  

“It forces us to educate whoever we’re working with,” she signed. “There’s also ongoing education of terminology. ‘Hearing impaired’ is considered an insult to those of us in the community.”  

Stein reported that there are two lines in use. The 988 Videophone (VP), which has been in operation for a year, has had over 37,000 calls. The average monthly volume ranges from 1,200 to 6,000 calls. For the nationwide Deaf Crisis Line, which is a smaller program, the call volume has hit 35,000 in the last seven years. That line averages just over 300 calls each month.  

In a typical phone call or traditional crisis call, the Video Relay Service (VRS) involves a third party to facilitate a three-way conversation between an interpreter, a Deaf individual, and a hearing individual. This allows individuals of the Deaf community to communicate in their native language, American Sign Language (ASL), which is then interpreted for the hearing individual. In contrast, the VP crisis line is a two-way conversation between a crisis counselor and a Deaf community member or ASL user, where both participants communicate directly in ASL, without the need for an interpreter.  

“What’s unique about our organization is that we are a Deaf-run organization. Many, if not most organizations, that provide Deaf services, are run by hearing individuals and intended for the Deaf community,” Dr. Logan signed.  

That means there are Deaf individuals making decisions about community needs, “based on the lived experience we have,” she added. “It is such an important piece to us that we are Deaf-run and Deaf-led. It’s cool to see Deaf and hearing individuals collaborating and working together.”  

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DeafLEAD 

Address: 2505 West Ash 

Voice Phone: (573) 445-5005 

Video Phone: (573) 303-5604 

Text: Text HAND to 839863 

Website: deaflead.org 

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A History DeafLEAD 

1994 

Youth L.E.A.D. Foundation was formed. 

1995 

Dr. Logan became the CEO of Youth L.E.A.D. Foundation and changed the name to DeafLEAD. 

1996 

DeafLEAD Victim Services began. 

1997 

Deafline Missouri (TTY) and Missouri Crisis Line (MCL) established for victims of crime. 

2012 

Missouri Crisis Text Line was established. 

2017 

Deaf Crisis Line Videophone was established. 

Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) and National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL – now known as 988) contracted with DeafLEAD for TTY Services. 

2018 

DeafLEAD becomes the first “for Deaf, by Deaf” organization to receive accreditation through the American Associate of Suicidology. 

2020 

The Disaster Distress Helpline contracts with DeafLEAD to establish the first national disaster-related videophone hotline; DDH-VP. 

DeafLEAD is selected as a National Chat and Text Center for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 

2022 

DeafLEAD is selected as a National Chat and Text backup center for the NSPL transitioning to 988.  

988 Launched and DeafLEAD became the statewide provider of Missouri 988 Chat and Text Services.