Breaking Barriers. Building Access. Healing Together.

HearTogether is TendWell’s initiative to make holistic care truly accessible for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) community in Portland.

The Challenge

In the greater Portland region, Deaf and HoH community members face significant barriers to healthcare — the most critical being language access. Without professional, certified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, Deaf patients are routinely excluded from essential care. This leads to missed diagnoses, untreated illness, and preventable suffering.

Deaf people experience illness, injury, and depression just like hearing people. But when providers cannot communicate, urgent health issues may never be identified or addressed. The result? Inequitable outcomes and unnecessary harm.

Why Interpreters Matter

Professional ASL medical interpreters are not optional — they are essential. They ensure that Deaf and HoH patients:

• Can communicate symptoms clearly.

• Understand their treatment options.

• Receive the same quality of care as hearing patients.
  

  Interpreter support transforms appointments from isolating and unsafe into equitable, culturally respectful, and healing experiences.

Our Initiative

TendWell is partnering with Be Well Holistic Health to provide professional certified ASL medical interpreters for acupuncture and integrative care.

We are the only holistic medical clinic in Portland dedicated to this work. With your support, Deaf and HoH patients can access safe, trauma-aware, and culturally competent care — without communication barriers.

Our 2026 Goal

• 10 interpreter-supported acupuncture sessions per month for the Deaf/HoH community.

• Average interpreter cost: $97.50 per session.

• Annual goal: $11,700 to cover interpreter costs throughout 2026.

This funding ensures Deaf and HoH community members can receive the care they deserve, without being excluded by language barriers.