This volume reports on the forum held to probe the needs of the hearing-impaired in Alabama at the 1986 convention of the Council of Organizations Serving Deaf Alabamians (COSDA). The first chapter describes the council, its executive committee and the conference planning committee. The second chapter details the purpose, development, and format of the forum. Chapter 3 summarizes 111 needs explored in the forum and recommendations for addressing these needs in the areas of: trends in education of deaf children, postsecondary education, public awareness, interpreting services, accessibility, networking and service centers, parents' needs, and legal issues. Six major recommendations were identified. They include: (1) establishment of a COSDA Task Force; (2) establishment of a Bureau of Services for the Deaf; (3) conducting of a statewide needs assessment; (4) development of a Directory of Services for Deaf Alabamians; (5) implementation of a statewide effort to increase public awareness; and (6) spearheading of a statewide effort to increase the availability of interpreters for the deaf. Chapter 4 consists of written briefs on these subjects and chapter 5 consists of the final reports from forum panels. The remainder of the book consists of verbatim transcripts of panel discussions and five appendices, including correspondence and information about forum participants. (PB)