We are changing the conversation on Deaf people away from misconceptions, and towards authenticity.

With a $15,000 grant in 1975, CSD began providing sign language services in Sioux Falls, SD, from a broom closet.

CSD quickly expanded to multiple programs and services designed to provide communication and access points for Deaf people. Programs and services included job placement and training, adult basic education classes, and domestic violence support, along with telecommunication relay services, video relay services, and then video remote interpreting. Today, CSD continues this influential ambition of ensuring equality among all people — in One World.

By creating innovative tools and resources that empower, promote, and encourage One World where everyone is valued with opportunities for everyone, we are actualizing the future. CSD invests in the community by sparking the inner light of each individual, bringing them together to create a bright future.

Founder’s Story

CSD started out of a broom closet more than 40 years ago. It is now an international multimillion-dollar organization — all because no bank would give a deaf farmer a loan.

FOUNDER OF CSD: THE STORY

Founder’s Story

CSD started out of a broom closet more than 40 years ago. It is now an international multimillion-dollar organization — all because no bank would give a deaf farmer a loan.

FOUNDER OF CSD: THE STORY

Community Investments

CSD has historically supported numerous initiatives for the Deaf community. These initiatives, or investments, are created with the goal of maximum impact and reach. CSD is always looking for new ways to support people in our community.

LOOKING FOR CSD TO INVEST IN YOU?

Community Investments

CSD has historically supported numerous initiatives for the Deaf community. These initiatives, or investments, are created with the goal of maximum impact and reach. CSD is always looking for new ways to support people in our community.

LOOKING FOR CSD TO INVEST IN YOU?

Finding Solutions

Technology is solving obstacles and bringing people together, especially through universal design. The CSD technology team continually designs pioneering platforms to provide solutions.

Creating Opportunity

By ensuring that opportunities are created, CSD sees people bring to light the possibilities within them. CSD is committed to driving this reality, and invite you to join us.

Investing in the Future

CSD works to reframe our reality by rewriting policies and engineering new technologies that have an impact on Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. By promoting universal design that is visual and tactile-centric and developing services to leverage Deaf people, CSD is leading the way to One World.

Finding Solutions

Technology is solving obstacles and bringing people together, especially through universal design. The CSD technology team continually designs pioneering platforms to provide solutions.

Creating Opportunity

By ensuring that opportunities are created, CSD sees people bring to light what possibilities exist within them. CSD is committed to driving this reality, and invite you to join us.

Investing in the Future

The People Behind CSD

Together we are greater than the sum of our parts. We work together to create a future where everyone self-actualizes.

MEET THE BOARD LEADERS MEET THE LEADERSHIP

The People Behind CSD

Together we are greater than the sum of our parts. We work together to create a future where everyone self-actualizes.

MEET THE BOARD MEMBERS MEET THE LEADERSHIP

Timeline: 40+ Years of CSD

Who We Are

We are changing the conversation on Deaf people away from misconceptions, and towards authenticity.

With a $15,000 grant in 1975, CSD began providing sign language services in Sioux Falls, SD, from a broom closet.

Founder’s Story

Founder’s Story

Community Investments

CSD has historically supported numerous initiatives for the Deaf community. These initiatives, or investments, are created with the goal of maximum impact and reach. CSD is always looking for new ways to support people in our community.

Community Investments

CSD has historically supported numerous initiatives for the Deaf community. These initiatives, or investments, are created with the goal of maximum impact and reach. CSD is always looking for new ways to support people in our community.

Finding Solutions

Creating Opportunity

Investing in the Future

Finding Solutions

Creating Opportunity

Investing in the Future

The People Behind CSD

The People Behind CSD

CSD first opened its doors in November, providing sign language interpreting services that continue to this day.

24-hour Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) service provided in Sioux Falls, S.D., well before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law.

Community Education Program established, emphasizing independent living, as well as employment services, drug/alcohol education and advocacy.

Job Training Program established.

Statewide toll-free TTY relay services established in South Dakota, made possible by Ben Soukup’s work in the South Dakota legislature.

Statewide Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program established, funded by South Dakota HB1234, which became the model for Title IV of the ADA.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) signed.

Sprint and CSD begin Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) partnership that continues to this day.

CSD initiates full-scale Video Relay Service (VRS) and Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) trials in South Dakota. California Telephone Access Program (CTAP) established.

Domestic Violence Program/Hotline established in Minnesota.

CSD offers an inter-operable VRS platform, compliant with existing FCC standards. Through this effort, the first direct service contact center is established for customer service calls

CSD and America Online (AOL) join forces to provide deaf-friendly customer support to AOL members. CSD awarded Global Call Center of the Year award by International Customer Management Institute (ICMI).

CSD awarded $1.1 million FCC grant to implement national awareness campaign about the country’s transition to digital television (DTV).

US Dept. of Commerce- National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) awards CSD with a $14.9 million contract for nationwide broadband and equipment deployment. CSD accomplishes this through Direct Services.

CSD launches services nationwide in New Zealand to provide TRS, CapTel, VRS, VRI and equipment distribution services.

CSD relocates to Austin, Texas and implements Technology+Design Studio to innovate next-generation solutions for the deaf community.

Vineya, the first online marketplace for onsite or remote sign language interpreters is launched.

#WhoWillAnswer campaign launched by CSD National Programs to create a 24/7 Domestic Violence Hotline for the deaf and hard of hearing. CSD initiates Project Access in Shanghai, China.

CSD Launches its Creative Agency to offer customers a full-stack of digital marketing to effectively market their services to the deaf and hard of hearing community.

CSD launches CSD Works and CSD Learns, initiatives designed to address high un/underemployment in the deaf community.

CSD sets up the CSD Social Venture Fund, the first-ever impact fund to cultivate and grow Deaf-owned or Deaf-led social enterprises

CSD becomes a fully virtual organization

CSD first opened its doors in November, providing sign language interpreting services that continue to this day.

24-hour Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) service provided in Sioux Falls, S.D., well before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law.

Community Education Program established, emphasizing independent living, as well as employment services, drug/alcohol education and advocacy.

Job Training Program established.

Statewide toll-free TTY relay services established in South Dakota, made possible by Ben Soukup’s work in the South Dakota legislature.

Statewide Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program established, funded by South Dakota HB1234, which became the model for Title IV of the ADA.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) signed.

Sprint and CSD begin Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) partnership that continues to this day.

CSD initiates full-scale Video Relay Service (VRS) and Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) trials in South Dakota. California Telephone Access Program (CTAP) established.

Domestic Violence Program/Hotline established in Minnesota.

CSD offers an inter-operable VRS platform, compliant with existing FCC standards. Through this effort, the first direct service contact center is established for customer service calls

CSD and America Online (AOL) join forces to provide deaf-friendly customer support to AOL members. CSD awarded Global Call Center of the Year award by International Customer Management Institute (ICMI).

CSD awarded $1.1 million FCC grant to implement national awareness campaign about the country’s transition to digital television (DTV).

US Dept. of Commerce- National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) awards CSD with a $14.9 million contract for nationwide broadband and equipment deployment. CSD accomplishes this through Direct Services.

CSD launches services nationwide in New Zealand to provide TRS, CapTel, VRS, VRI and equipment distribution services.

CSD relocates to Austin, Texas and implements Technology+Design Studio to innovate next-generation solutions for the deaf community.

Vineya, the first online marketplace for onsite or remote sign language interpreters is launched.

#WhoWillAnswer campaign launched by CSD National Programs to create a 24/7 Domestic Violence Hotline for the deaf and hard of hearing. CSD initiates Project Access in Shanghai, China.

CSD Launches its Creative Agency to offer customers a full-stack of digital marketing to effectively market their services to the deaf and hard of hearing community.

CSD launches CSD Works and CSD Learns, initiatives designed to address high un/underemployment in the deaf community.

CSD sets up the CSD Social Venture Fund, the first-ever impact fund to cultivate and grow Deaf-owned or Deaf-led social enterprises

CSD becomes a fully virtual organization