20% of Minnesotans are deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing. 

People who are deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing often experience barriers to communication and the acquisition of information. These barriers can lead to missing pieces of information others may take for granted, such as how the world works, how systems work and effective ways to navigate them, how to manage and cope with life’s everyday challenges. --- Minnesota Human Services - DHH division

• Educational attainment 
• Economic impact 
• Health issues - Mental health, and chemical dependency