DEAFNET ASSOCIATION INC

What DEAFNET ASSOCIATION INC does

DEAFNET ASSOCIATION INC is a private 501(c) non-profit organization founded in 1987 and headquartered in Hagerstown, Maryland. It provides sign language interpreting services, sign language instruction, and ADA compliance training to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals and to the organizations that serve them across a four-state region spanning Western Maryland, the Northern and Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, Southern Pennsylvania, and Northwestern Virginia. The organization also maintains a specialized deaf interpreter capability, a scarce sub-discipline within the interpreting field, and operates 24/7 on-call coverage.

The organization operates on a small scale with approximately nine staff and does not run a software platform, mobile application, or any technology-mediated service delivery mechanism; all services are delivered in person by staff and contracted interpreters. There is no disclosed use of video remote interpreting infrastructure, AI-assisted scheduling, or any digital tooling beyond a web presence that appears dated to 2019.

Revenue is generated through three channels: fees collected for interpreting services, tuition from sign language classes, and donations and fundraising proceeds. DEAFNET explicitly does not receive federal or state government funding, making it entirely dependent on community contributions and earned service revenue. The organization's decades-long operational presence and family-led governance (co-founder Harold Bible and successor Matt Bible) indicate a stable, community-embedded operation rather than a growth-oriented enterprise.

Name

DEAFNET ASSOCIATION INC

Legal name

Deafnet Association, Inc.

Website

https://deafnetmd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DEAFNET ASSOCIATION INC is a 501(c) non-profit founded in 1987 in Hagerstown, Maryland, providing sign language interpreting, instruction, and ADA compliance training across Western Maryland, the Virginias, and Southern Pennsylvania. It operates with ~9 staff and no government funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sign Language Interpreting Services

NAICS

Translation and Interpretation Services (541930), Language Schools (611630)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sign Language Learning Programs (ASL/BSL, etc.) (EDAMAFAM), Assistive Hearing & Communication Access (Captioning, Hearing Support, Transcription) (EDAFAKAC)

Keywords

• Sign language interpreting
• Deaf community services
• ADA compliance training
• Sign language education
• Accessibility services

Headquarters

HQ city

HAGERSTOWN, Maryland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Interpreting Fees: Fees charged for sign language interpreting services provided to organizations and individuals. Services available 24/7.
2. Donations: Individual and organization donations support operations. Deafnet receives no federal or state funding.
3. Fundraising Events: Revenue generated from fundraising events to support services for deaf and hard of hearing community.
4. Sign Language Classes: Sign language classes ranging from beginner through advanced interpreting classes, with average class length of 12-15 weeks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Deafnet provides sign language interpreting services (ASL, SEE, PSE, tactile for deaf-blind) available 24/7 across medical, legal, counseling, and workplace settings, including specialized deaf interpreter services. It also delivers structured sign language classes from beginner through interpreting levels, ADA compliance and deaf awareness training, and auxiliary aids (strobe smoke detectors, signaling devices). The organization is a non-profit funded by interpreting fees, donations, and fundraising events with no federal or state funding.

Product overview

Deafnet Association, Inc. is a non-profit community services organization that provides a coordinated suite of services for the deaf and hard of hearing community. The organization's core offerings center on sign language interpreting services (both standard and specialized deaf interpreter services), professional interpreter training and workshops, and structured sign language education programs (Basic through Conversational/Interpreting levels). Supporting services include ADA compliance and deaf awareness training, auxiliary accessibility devices (strobe smoke detectors, signaling devices), and community programs such as the Deafnet Softball team. These services are designed to promote accessibility, communication, and community engagement for deaf and hard of hearing individuals across the four-state service area of Western Maryland, Northern/Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, Southern Pennsylvania, and Northwestern Virginia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sign Language Interpreter Services Professional sign language interpreting services available 24/7 across medical, legal, counseling, staff meetings, and other settings, supporting ASL, Signed Exact English (SEE), Pigeon Signed English (PSE), ESL, minimal language skills, and tactile interpreting for deaf-blind individuals. Targeted at deaf and hard of hearing individuals and organizations needing ADA-compliant interpreters.
• Deaf Interpreter Services Specialized services where deaf interpreters assist hearing sign language interpreters by facilitating communication when deaf individuals need additional support, using gesture, mime, props, and drawings and translating from standardized ASL to non-standard forms. Targeted at deaf individuals who do not use standard sign language or require additional cultural context.
• Sign Language Classes Structured sign language education programs ranging from beginner (Basic 1-3) through advanced interpreting classes, covering ASL, Signed Exact English (SEE), and Pigeon Signed English (PSE), with class lengths of 8-15 weeks per session. Targeted at adult learners, family members of deaf individuals, and aspiring interpreters.
• ADA Compliance Training Training services helping organizations comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including deaf awareness training and instruction on how to effectively work with interpreters. Targeted at businesses, healthcare providers, government agencies, and educational institutions.
• Auxiliary Aids and Devices Accessibility equipment including smoke detectors with strobe lights and signaling devices for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Targeted at deaf and hard of hearing individuals seeking in-home accessibility devices.
• Deafnet Softball Program Community sports program offering deaf and hard of hearing individuals opportunities to participate in organized softball activities at the Pinesburg Softball Complex. Targeted at deaf and hard of hearing community members in the four-state region.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• National Association of the DeafminorOthersListed as an educational resource on Deafnet's Resources page. Provides advocacy and resources for the deaf community.
• Registry of Interpreters for the DeafminorOthersListed as an educational resource. Professional organization for sign language interpreters.
• Gallaudet UniversityminorOthersListed as an educational resource on Resources page. Premier university for deaf and hard of hearing students.
• National Technical Institute for the DeafminorOthersListed as an educational resource on Resources page. Technical education institution for deaf students.
• Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (Maryland)minorOthersListed as a resource partner. State government office for deaf and hard of hearing services in Maryland.
• Maryland Association of the DeafminorOthersListed as a resource. State advocacy organization for deaf residents of Maryland.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Broad incumbents

• LanguageLine Solutions: LanguageLine Solutions is the largest interpretation services provider in the world, offering on-site, video, and phone interpreting across hundreds of languages including ASL. Comparable as an interpreting services competitor, though its scale and language breadth dwarf Deafnet's regional focus.
• Purple Communications: Purple Communications provides VRS, on-site interpreting, and video remote interpreting nationwide. Directly competes for the same medical/legal interpreting contracts that Deafnet serves in its four-state region, but with broader technology-enabled delivery.
• Sorenson Communications: Sorenson is a leading provider of video relay services (VRS), interpreting, and assistive communication for the deaf and hard of hearing. Comparable as the dominant national interpreting/accessibility provider, but operates as a for-profit incumbent at vastly greater scale than Deafnet.

Direct peers

• Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD): CSD is a large non-profit providing sign language interpreting, deaf advocacy, and community programs nationally. Most comparable as a mission-driven non-profit competing for the same deaf/hard of hearing customer base and donor pool, though at significantly larger scale.
• Deaf Action Center: Deaf Action Center is a regional non-profit serving deaf and hard of hearing communities with interpreting, advocacy, and education programs. Closely comparable in mission, non-profit structure, and community-services model, though operating in a different geography.

Others

• National Association of the Deaf (NAD): NAD is a national advocacy non-profit for the deaf community. While not a direct competitor for interpreting services, Deafnet lists NAD as a resource partner and the organizations share overlapping audiences, mission, and donor ecosystems.
• Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID): RID is the national professional credentialing body for sign language interpreters. Comparable as an ecosystem partner that Deafnet references for standards and certifications; not a competitor but tightly linked to Deafnet's interpreter supply.

Regional players

• The Sign Language Company: A regional sign language interpreting and training provider offering on-site interpreting, VRI, and ASL classes. Comparable in service offering and customer segments, though typically operating in different state markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deafnet-association-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DEAFNET ASSOCIATION INC