Our Services
Adult Education
ThinkSelf offers free classes all year for adults who want to learn in an ASL-friendly space. You can improve your reading, writing, and sign language. We also help with math, budgeting, computer skills, and preparing for a drivers license.
If you don’t know what to do next for work or school, our Navigator can help. They will work with you to set goals, make a plan, and find the right classes or programs. If you have trouble with transportation, technology, or money, we will help you find solutions and connect with other support services.
We’re here to help you learn. Contact us to get started!
Advocacy & Support
ThinkSelf supports Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing, and Late Deafened people who have faced harm, like abuse, stalking or crime.
Our advocates are here to listen and help. If you feel unsafe, have problems in a relationship, or have been a victim of a crime, we will support you. If you are a friend or family member trying to help someone, we can give you information and guidance.
If you need support, reach out to us today. We are here for you.
Have you gotten support from an advocate? Please fill out our anonymous survey!
Learn With Us
English
Computers
Sign Language
Driver's Ed
ThinkSelf’s Adult Education program works with adults who have little or no educational experience by creating an engaging, supportive, ASL-rich classroom environment designed for adult learners.
Our free classes are open year-round and can help you improve your English reading and writing, sign language, basic math and budgeting, computer skills, and driving.
Advocacy for ThinkSelf Learners
Not sure what you want to do for work or school? Our Learner Advocates can guide you in figuring out your next steps! They will help you set goals, create a plan, and find the right courses and certifications for success.
If you face challenges like transportation, technology access, or money, our advocates will help you overcome them. They’ll also assist you in identifying goals and referring you to other support services you might need.
Get Help
Advocacy for Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing, & Late Deafened Minnesotans
Resources
Safety
Support
Justice
Empowerment
Resources, language access, and peer support for Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing, and Late Deafened Minnesotans experiencing domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, harassment, and crime
Advocacy Services
Advocates can talk with you about any concerns you have for your safety or about your relationships with friends, family or partners. We can also support you if you have experienced a crime like robbery, harassment or identity theft.
If you are a concerned friend, family member or witness to abuse or a crime, we can guide you in finding information and resources, as well as ideas for how to support your loved one.
Co-Advocacy Services
ThinkSelf and Day One of Cornerstone have partnered since 2014 to work towards more equitable access to services for individuals with disabilities and communication needs, including those who identify as Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, hard of hearing and late deafened.
Our collaboration uses a co-advocacy approach, which means that Cornerstone and ThinkSelf can work as partners with you through advocacy offered simultaneously by a Deaf advocate and a hearing advocate. You may choose to work with a Deaf advocate only, a hearing advocate only, or with both – the choice is yours. ThinkSelf and Cornerstone will work together to ensure that your needs are met including having good ASL interpreters, access to assistive devices, and other accommodations you may request.
Safety Planning
One way that advocates can support you is to work with you on developing an individualized safety plan. A safety plan is a term often used to describe a plan of actions that can help keep you safer from a person or persons who may be causing you to experience emotional, physical, financial, or other types of harm. Your safety plan may include how to keep yourself and your children safer while you’re still living with someone who is hurting you, preparing to leave, best practices for documenting incidents of stalking, harassment or bullying.
It’s important to know that not all suggestions for safety work for everyone, and some might even put you at greater risk. We encourage you to take time to consider what will work best for your situation – your family and support system, your culture, resources in your community, and other considerations.
National Deaf Hotline
The Deaf Hotline is a 24/7 hotline formed by a partnership between ADWAS (Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services) and NDVH (National Domestic Violence Hotline). They offer 24/7 support for the national deaf community. Deaf Hotline staff can offer culturally-adept advocacy in ASL or also through email (hotline@adwas.org) and live chat.
