The official acceptance of sign language is probably the most important event in the history of the deaf. Communication is vital in order to establish close relationships. Not all of the hearing impaired participate in the deaf community despite a common language and a common culture; i.e. they are psycho-socially isolated due to external factors and more internal (personal) ones. Isolation must be met with measures at different levels; information to and influence on society at large as to the deaf and their needs, support to families with deaf children and various forms of support to the deaf themselves. Preventive measures aimed at the parents of deaf are required to ensure optimal developmental conditions. Counselling for the deaf can profitably be aimed at psycho-social measures, thus psycho-social rehabilitation pre-supposes an active social involvement on the part of the counsellor. Four 'key concepts' of interest in the presented work model are described, namely identification, working through, reality testing, and acceptance. To ensure the deaf adequate support the following factors are important: sign language, positive attitudes to sign language and deafness, 'culture competence', relevant professional competence, active participation of the deaf in the rehabilitation process and an increase in the interpreter service for the deaf.