The purpose of this study is to provide a profile of youths with hearing loss admitted to substance abuse treatment facilities. Intake data on 4,167 youths (28% female; 3% reporting a hearing loss) collected via the Global Appraisal of Individual Need-I assessment was used for the analyses. Information on demographics, environmental characteristics, substance use behaviors, and symptoms of co-occurring psychological problems for youths with and without a hearing loss was analyzed via Pearson chi-square tests and effect sizes. The groups reported similar backgrounds and comparable rates of marijuana and alcohol use. However, youths in the hearing loss group reported substance use behaviors indicative of a more severe level of involvement. Across all measures of co-occurring symptoms, youths with hearing loss reported greater levels of distress and were more often victims of abuse. Results of this study will help inform treatment needs of youths with hearing loss and define a baseline for future research.

When I was asked to serve as chair of the American Chemical Society Committee on Chemists with Disabilities (CWD), my gut reaction was “Wow, that’s a lot of work!” After a bit of reflection, I began to think about the impact that our committee could have on the culture and atmosphere within ACS. When I was 18 years old, I had a traumatic accident that resulted in the loss of my left arm and right leg. During my rehabilitation, I struggled to feel comfortable with a career path that would fit with my newly acquired disability. Fortunately, I had role models who had successfully adapted to life “after.” This was a critical juncture in my development because it showed me that any excuse for not moving forward was invalid and that it was possible to achieve success in my college courses and subsequently the workplace. This is an example of