Active Support
Service Provider (SSP) Programs
April, 2008
Note: Services listed do not imply
endorsement by HKNC. This partial
listing is provided for informational purposes only. These are the known SSP programs. Any updates will be made at the HKNC web-site:
Approximately 10 other states/metropolitan
areas have active committees or task forces investigating the possibility of
establishing SSP services.
ARIZONA
Community Outreach Program for the Deaf (COPD)
268 West Adams
Tucson, AZ 85705
Donna Martin, Program Coordinator III
520-792-1906 voice/TTY
Ann Ventola, Program Director
Service Area: Tucson, Arizona
Program Established: 2000
Funding Sources: private donations and community dollars; the program is operated on a voucher system
Eligibility: Consumers receive up to 12 hours/month
Number of Consumers Served: average 10-15 consumers
Types of Service Requests: shopping, recreation, reading mail, errands, craft classes, civic involvement, and to support participation in the Arizona Association of the Deaf-Blind meetings/events.
Training Requirements: 8-hour training provided by COPD; six hours of simulation training with individuals who are deaf-blind is also provided, and a 20-hour internship working as an SSP paired with a mentor is the final training component.
Program Coordination: part-time
Other: Strong consumer advocacy and community established the program.
ARKANSAS
Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS)
26 Corporate Hill Drive
Little Rock, AR 72205
Wanda Thomas, Rehabilitation Instructor/Supervisor
501-686-9680 voice/TTY
Service Area: Little Rock, Arkansas
Program Established: The DB Program was established in 1989 through a grant. It became a part of ARS in 1991.
Funding Sources: Arkansas Rehabilitation Services funds the program which pays for SSPs who work on contract with the state program.
Eligibility: allowed up to 10 hours/week; have an SSP plan with consumer goals identified. Primary goals are socialization, independent living, and access to the community.
Number of Consumers Served: 30 consumers
Types of Service Requests: reading mail, shopping, errands (drug store), exercise classes, monthly social group, and occasionally weddings
Training Requirements: Many of the SSPs attend classes at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, interpreting program; SSP workshops are also provided with collaboration with UALR interpreting instructors and local consumers; an annual training/workshop is provided to allow SSPs to brush up on their skills
Program Coordination: part-time, but to adequately provide training, recruitment, advertisement, and education, it could be a full-time position
Other: Arkansas has developed a SSP guidelines document
CALIFORNIA
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Center (DHHSC)
5340 N. Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93710
Kathy Yoshida, Director of Interpreter Services
559-334-5001 TTY
559-225-3382 voice
Service Area: an 8 county region in Central California
Program Established: in May, 2000 as a Deaf-Blind consumer support group
Funding Sources: The program received a one-year non-renewable grant from the Department of Rehabilitation. The program is currently a volunteer program. DHHSC would welcome the opportunity to hire a Deaf-Blind Specialist. SSPs are recruited from several sources: the interpreter program at Fresno State University where they work as interns for DHHSC; certified deaf interpreters, and other interested people. Tools used for recruitment include the agency newsletter, the support group, and word-of-mouth.
Eligibility: There are no set criteria. The program serves children and adults.
Number of Consumers Served: average 10-15 consumers
Types of Service Requests: transportation, shopping, reading mail, making phone calls, exercising, travel out-of-town to DB events, and computer assistance
Training Requirements: Training is provided for seasoned interpreters and people new to the deaf-blind field. Training opportunities occur in workshop format. Topics include causes of deaf-blindness, safe guiding, etiquette, communication techniques and protocol.
Program Coordination: part-time for this volunteer SSP program but to provide the type of services/support needed for the local db population, a full-time position is needed.
Other: A monthly deaf-blind support group meets the second Tuesday of each month which includes lunch. Many of the consumer participants have been an integral part of the development of DHHSC’s SSP services.
KANSAS
(no agency affiliation)
P.O. Box 521
Olathe, KS 66051
Debie Seiler, Volunteer SSP Coordinator
913-231-9589 voice or use Relay
no website
Service Area: Johnson and Wyandotte Counties
Program Established: August, 2006
Funding Sources: This is a volunteer program that is unfunded at this time
Eligibility: there are no formal eligibility requirements
Number of Consumers Served: 1 - 10 consumers
Types of Service Requests: assist with shopping and other errands; assistance with appointments; help to facilitate communication at occasional deaf-blind social events
Training Requirements: Half-day and full-day awareness training sessions required to SSPs to improve their safe guiding skills, expand their understanding of deaf-blindness, and increase their capacity to provide vision/environmental information. SSPs are recruited from the Deaf community, interpreter education programs, and other interested people in the Kansas City community.
Program Coordination: on a part-time, volunteer basis
Other: It is anticipated that once the need for SSP services can be demonstrated in the community, the data will be used to seek funding for a more formal program with paid SSPs and a paid coordinator position.
LOUISIANA
Louisiana Career Development Center (LCDC)
121 Convention Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70801-1602
Carole Montgomery, Director
225-387-0889 V
Service Area: Baton Rouge, Louisiana and surrounding communities with new SSP service being developed for Lafayette, Louisiana in partnership with Affiliated Blind of Louisiana (ABL)
Program Established: 1992
Funding Sources: Initially, the program was established under the Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC). LCDC is a United Way agency but the program is self-sufficient and does not rely on the United Way funding. Additional funding is available through Vocational Rehabilitation as a fee-for-service contract. Soon additional people will be eligible through Developmental Disabilities (using waiver services).
Eligibility: up to 20 hours/month, but will reduce to 10 hours (found more hours were not needed)
Number of Consumers Served: 40
Types of Service Requests: SSP services specifically for the camp held each fall
Training Requirements: 4 hour workshop provided quarterly, mentors provided during first few outings for new SSPs.
Program Coordination: part-time
Other: The program began using volunteers. Now LCDC has 15 people on staff who can provide SSP services. Many of these staff people are deaf or deaf-blind themselves. LCDC has strong support from the Deaf and Deaf-Blind communities.
Louisiana Commission for the Deaf (LCD)
P.O. Box 91297
Baton
Rouge, LA 70821-9297
225-219-2404 voice/TTY
800-256-1523 voice/TTY
Naomi DeDual, Executive Director
http://www.dss.state.la.us/departments/lrs/Deaf_-_Hard_of_Hearing.html
Service
Area: Lafayette, Lake Charles and Baton Rouge parishes
Program
Established: 2008
Funding Sources: state general fund
Eligibility:
Deaf-Blind
Number of Consumers Served: undetermined – pilot program
Types of Service Requests: shopping, church and related religious
events, medical, recreational and socialization (depends on program
availability -limited)
Training Requirements: knowledge, skills and abilities to provide
services to DB plus 2-week training session
Program
Coordination: full-time
Other:
MARYLAND
Deaf Shalom Zone, Inc. (DSZ)
c/o Christ United Methodist Church of the Deaf
1040 S. Beechfield Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21229
Carol Stevens, Coordinator
410-566-6662 voice
410-247-5045 voice/TTY (Church)
Service Area: Baltimore, Maryland and the five surrounding counties
Program Established: in 2000 as a mission of Christ United Methodist Church, DSZ
Funding Sources: $2,000 annual grant from Advocates for Communication Technology for Deafblind People, Inc. (ACT, Inc.) and donations
Eligibility: hours provided as needed for consumers
Number of Consumers Served: 25 people who reside in the community plus approximately 40 adult consumers who attend the Deafblind Camp
Types of Service Requests: transportation, religious services, shopping, recreation/vacations, bi-monthly support group, and errands/appointments
Training Requirements: training for SSPs is offered in conjunction with preparation for Deafblind Camp each summer (provided through the Church)
Program Coordination: part-time, but if funding were available, a coordinator/advocate/case manager could be busy full-time
Other: some SSPs work as volunteers, others are paid $10/hr; use an email volunteer listserv to advertise incoming needs
MASSACHUSETTS
DeafBlind Community Access Network (DBCAN)
c/o D.E.A.F. Inc.
215 Brighton Avenue
Allston, MA 02134
Elaine Ducharme, Director of Consumer Services
800-886-5195 voice/TTY
617-254-4041 voice/TTY
www.deafinconline.org/services/dbcan.html
Service Area: Massachusetts statewide
Program Established: 2001 as an Act of the Massachusetts State legislature. It was a result of intensive lobbying efforts on behalf of the Deafblind Interpreter Alliance (DBIA) as well as members of the Deafblind & Deaf community, Disability Policy Consortium, D.E.A.F. Inc., and MA Commission for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (MCDHH).
Funding Sources: The program is funded by a $450,000 annual contract overseen by Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) and MCDHH and operated by D.E.A.F. Inc. The (new) Shapiro Grant serves older adults age 55 and up. Additional funding is received from the United Way of Massachusetts Bay.
Eligibility: up to 16 hours/month
Number of Consumers Served: 54 consumers
Types
of Service Requests: errands/appointments, reading mail, clothes or food
shopping, recreational activities
Training Requirements: Providers must complete a 45-hour training program
Program Coordination: full-time director, full-time asst director and a part-time administrative assistant
Other: Services are provided by DBCAN Providers, the term used instead of SSPs.
MICHIGAN
Michigan
Commission for the Blind (MCB)
DeafBlind Unit–Intervenor Program
201 N. Washington Square, 2nd Floor
P.O.
Box 30652
Lansing, MI 48909
Cindy Caldwell, Deafblind Specialist
517-335-7124 voice/TTY
Service Area: Michigan statewide
Program Established: 1994
Funding Sources: cash-match agreement between MCB and other entities including Community Mental Health and Intermediate School Districts as the situation dictates. The partner agency must use local (not federal) dollars and they pay approximately 25% of the total cost of the program. MCB covers the remaining 75% of the cost and can use the partner’s share to obtain matching federal dollars. The Intervenor is considered to be a vendor with the state; neither an employee of MCB nor the partner agency, and thus responsible for their own taxes, insurance, etc.
Eligibility: up to 20 hours/week for persons who are Deaf-Blind and also have a developmental disability
Number of Consumers Served: 1-13 consumers
Types of Service Requests: termed Intervenor services not SSP services include but are not limited to shopping, cooking, transportation, increasing communication and language skills, job coaching, and leisure time activities; the goal is to assist the consumer to become as independent as possible by facilitating communication with the end goal of achieving employment in the community
Training Requirements: 2-3 day orientation to skills of blindness and experiential sessions under blindfold at MCB’s residential training facility. On-going training/supervision provided by the Deafblind Specialist and other agency partners. Depending on the placement, training is also provided by various mental health agencies on topics including first aid, recipient rights, crisis intervention, confidentiality, etc.
Program Coordination: part-time coordination but to provide the type of services/support needed, a full-time position could be sustained
Other: Hours can be used in the home, work setting or community
MINNESOTA
DeafBlind Services Minnesota (DBSM)
Adult Community Services (SSP Program)
1936 Lyndale Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Diane Lentsch, Adult Community Services Director
612-362-8454 voice 612-362-8422 TTY
612-362-8454 videophone
Service Area: Minnesota statewide
Program Established: 1986 (SSP Service established in 1996)
Funding Sources: Minnesota State Dept of Human Services–Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division; Hennepin County through Human Services and Public Health--Children, Family and Adult Services Division (through property taxes); Medical Assistance Waiver Program–Community Alternatives for Disabled Individuals (CADI)
Eligibility: an average of 8 - 12 hours a month for adults (over age 21; 18 if no longer covered by an IEP-Individualized Education Plan)
Number of Consumers Served: approximately 30 people with most residing in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Types of Service Requests: grocery shopping, errands of daily living, note takers for health appointments and communication assistance for community groups such as fitness classes
Training Requirements: DBSM prefers to have SSPs who have sign language skills. However, not all of the consumers use sign language. Half of the SSPs are Deaf. SSPs must complete training about completing the paperwork and the basics of Deaf-Blindness including simulation activities, guiding techniques as well as how to complete the reporting paperwork. New SSPs are also offered “on-the-job” training (mentoring) by shadowing an experienced SSP before taking assignments.
Program Coordination: part-time; additionally the director is responsible for report writing to the various funding sources
Other: the program was designed to assist the DeafBlind person in living as independently as possible. This SSP model works well for self-directed, proficient communicating Deaf-Blind consumers. DBSM is also exploring the provision of DeafBlind intervention services for congenitally deafblind adults living in group homes and nursing homes. DBSM also has a Children’s Program that provides Community Intervention to DeafBlind children and youth from birth to age 22. The intervention assists DeafBlind kids to develop age-appropriate independence, communication and social skills. The contact person is John Filek, Director of Children, Youth and Family Services, 612-362-8454 voice, 612-362-8422 TTY,
Duluth Lighthouse for the Blind
4505 W. Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55807
Georgia Guite, Executive Director
Martha Hanson, Hearing and Vision Loss Specialist
800-422-0833 or 218-624-4828 voice, 218-624-8822 TTY
gguite@lighthousefortheblind-duluth.org or
mhanson@lighthousefortheblind-duluth.org
www.lighthousefortheblind-duluth.org
Service Area: Northern Minnesota (14 counties) for Intervenor/SSP Program and the Hearing and Vision Loss Outreach Program. Other services through the Lighthouse include several counties in Northwestern Wisconsin as well.
Program Established: Hearing and Vision Loss Outreach Program in July, 1990; Intervenor/SSP Program in 1997.
Funding Sources: State of Minnesota Department of Human Services, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services; Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Duluth, MN; Minnesota State Services for the Blind - fee for service; and donations.
Eligibility: Consumers of any age who have medically verifiable hearing and vision losses that interfere with receiving information or functioning in their environment. Individuals are considered deafblind if their vision cannot compensate for the hearing deficit and their residual hearing cannot compensate for their vision loss.
Number of Consumers Served: Average number served by SSP Program per month - 20; combined number of consumers in HVLOP and SSP programs - 80.
Types of Service Requests: Assistance with information and transportation during medical appointments, grocery and personal shopping, reading and sorting mail and bills, social and recreational events, transportation for activities, training in daily living skills.
Training Requirements: Intervenors/SSPs receive training in both vision loss and hearing loss related living skills, communication methods through the Lighthouse and other courses available through sources such as Helen Keller, George Brown College, and DeafBlind Services of Minnesota. Intervenors/SSPs are fluent in ASL and other deafblind communication methods.
Program Coordination: Intervenor/SSP Program is supervised by the Hearing and Vision Loss Specialist (HVLOP) who is employed full-time. One SSP is full-time and one is part-time.
Other: The goal of the Hearing and Vision Loss Outreach Program and Intervenor/SSP Program is to assist persons with dual sensory loss to maintain and improve their independent lifestyles as much as possible. Each consumer determines how much and which services they need from the SSPs and the HVLOP Program.
Minnesota
Department of Human Services - Deaf and Hard of Hearing Division
DeafBlind Consumer Directed Services Program
P.O. Box 64969
St. Paul, MN 55164-0969
Jan Radatz, Program Coordinator
651-431-2361 voice
888-206-6501 TTY
Service Area: Minnesota statewide
Program Established: 2002
Funding Sources: State of Minnesota grant money
Eligibility: Individuals of any age who have a medically verifiable hearing loss and vision loss that interferes with acquiring information or interacting in the environment; applicants are considered to be deafblind if their hearing cannot compensate for their vision loss and their vision loss cannot compensate for their hearing loss.
Number of Consumers Served: 14
Types of Service Requests: SSP, intervenors, transportation, communication skills instruction (Note: this funding allows the consumer to determine which service they need. Not all consumers accessing this program will need/desire SSP support, but that is one option.)
Training Requirements: Each DeafBlind consumer decides what kind and how much training they want their SSP or other service provider to have.
Program Coordination: part-time; coordinator oversees other state grant funding for services to individuals who are deafblind.
Other: The program allows individuals to purchase services or goods (equipment, technology, etc.) they need to remain independent, become more independent and integrated into their community. DeafBlind children and their families purchase goods and services to develop the child’s independence, communication skills, or ability to integrate into their family and community. Each program participant identifies outcomes they want to achieve and then designs a budget to purchase the goods and services they need to accomplish the outcomes.
NEW
YORK
Helen
Keller National Center (HKNC)
141 Middle Neck Road
Sands Point, NY 11050
Kathy Anello, Interpreter Supervisor
516-944-8900 ext 422 voice/TTY
Service Area: primarily for consumers who attend HKNC in Sands Point, New York and Deaf-Blind consumers who reside in the surrounding communities
Program Established: 1995
Funding Sources: volunteer program
Eligibility: hours provided as needed
Number of Consumers Served: 30-35
Types of Service Requests: food shopping, errands (vet appointments for guide dog), recreational activities (sightseeing in NYC), and religious services
Training Requirements: short-term training content is provided 2-3 times a year for all volunteers new to HKNC including SSPs (mobility training is mandatory)
Program Coordination: part-time currently, but the program could be full-time if it included training SSPs, recruiting, outreach, scheduling, etc.
Other: n/a
Center
for Disability Rights, Inc.
497 State Street
Rochester, NY 14608
Patrick Harris, Asst Coordinator of Deaf Services
585-546-7536 TTY
585-546-7503 VP
Service Area: Rochester, New York
Program Established: 2001 formerly run by RCIL (Regional Center for Independent Living); in 2007, run by the Center for Disability Rights, Inc.
Funding Sources: paid SSP staff; donations from private and public donors and received grant supports to operate the SSP program (still continuing to seek for additional funds).
Eligibility: hours of service provided based on need of participant and availability of staff for legally deaf-blind CDR consumers. (Ask for CDR’s SSP Guidelines for more information)
Number of Consumers Served: 5 consumers
Types of Service Requests: the majority of requests are for grocery shopping, appointments, and social events. “Once-a-week” SSP service is most commonly used by consumers.
Training Requirements: 2-hour training provided by CDR and encourage SSPs to attend training on the topic when provided in the community; 1-1 instruction and mentoring is also provided by experienced SSPs for new SSP personnel.
Program Coordination: as needed
Other: The mission is to assist people who are Deaf-Blind to lead fully independent lives.
OHIO
Ohio Deaf-Blind Outreach Program (ODBOP)
c/o Columbus Speech & Hearing Center
510 E. North Broadway
Columbus, OH 43214
Jeffrey Bohrman, PhD, Director
614-265-3279 TTY direct
614-263-5151 voice
Service Area: Columbus, Ohio (Franklin County)
Program Established: 1993 (SSP services in 2001)
Funding Sources: Senior Options is Franklin County’s tax-levy program for senior citizens. Funds support several programs that serve older adults including Meals -on-Wheels, hearing aids, transportation, and minor home improvements.
Eligibility: for adults 60 years and older who meet income guidelines through the tax-levy program and can receive between 10 - 20 hours/month. The SSP program is just one of many services provided by ODBOP. Each program has different eligibility requirements.
Number of Consumers Served: 15 consumers
Types of Service Requests: grocery shopping, trips to the bank eating out at restaurants, reading mail, making telephone calls, searching the web at the library, recreation, with some folks getting really creative such as using an SSP to watch sporting events on television or playing table games. Each consumer develops a routine and requests SSP support to achieve it.
Training Requirements: the coordinator provides informal training to new SSPs in sighted guide and some ASL (for those consumers who sign), however because the program has been running for several years, few new SSPs are needed. Formal training to experienced SSPs was recently provided about “empowerment.”
Program Coordination: 5-10 hours a week
Other: A separate Statewide Task Force on SSP Services is trying to establish statewide SSP services to be possibly managed by all Community Services for the Deaf with training provided by an agency not yet determined.
TENNESSEE
Knoxville
Center of the Deaf (KCD)
3731 Martin Mill
Pike
Knoxville, TN
37920
865-579-0832 voice
865-573-5640 TTY
Bob Rittenhouse, PhD, executive director
Service Area: Knoxville, Tennessee and surrounding
counties
Program Established: March 2006
Funding Sources: KCD is funded by the United Way and the Tennessee Dept of Human Services; the Tennessee Deaf Golfers Association TDGA-KCD Annual Golf Tournament provided the start-up funding and ongoing financial support for the SSP program; additional foundation/grant funding is also being pursued. Deaf-Blind persons receive monthly vouchers by which they are able to employ SSPs.
Eligibility: there are no formal eligibility guidelines; consumers are self-identified
Number of Consumers Served: approximately 10 consumers
Types of Service Requests: consumers receive vouchers which they can give to SSPs in exchange for SSP services such as shopping, and deaf senior citizen social group activities; assistance getting to/from doctor appointments where an interpreter is used for the actual appointment, but an SSP helps with transportation, guiding to and within the building, and provides environmental information while waiting for the appointment
Training Requirements: no requirements however training is provided to interested SSPs and interpreters; emphasis on self-advocacy by deaf-blind persons
Program Coordination: little or no coordination required
Other: deaf-blind consumers identified the need for the service and designed the program; almost all of the consumers use ASL as their primary language; almost all of the SSPs are Deaf
UTAH
Div.
of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DSBVI)
250 North 1950 West Suite B
Salt Lake City, UT 84116-7902
Kirsten Gwilliam, Deaf-Blind Specialist
801-323-4345 V/TTY direct line
800-284-1823 voice
no website
Service Area: Utah statewide
Program Established: July, 2001 through strong consumer advocacy seeking assistance through the Legislature
Funding Sources: DSVBI is allocated $360,000 each fiscal year by the state of Utah
Eligibility: adults out of the public school system; consumers must be able to independently make choices and give directions to SSPs; no services are available yet for individuals requiring additional help or who need Intervener-type services. Persons receive approximately 40 hours/month for a variety of activities with additional hours provided when available.
Number of Consumers Served: approximately 40 consumers
Types of Service Requests: shopping, recreation (such as scrapbooking, gardening, skiing), vacationing, mail reading, legislative advocacy, religious activities, meetings, writing Christmas cards, exercising, budgeting, socialization, and searching the Internet. Involvement in the community is encouraged. No personal medical or self-care services are provided (e.g., help with blood testing for diabetics, medication maintenance or bathing), however, help to and at a facility providing those services such as at a doctor’s appointment is allowed.
Training Requirements: provided as needed; not formalized; however, state of Utah driver and sexual harassment training videos much be watched and reviews completed before an SSP may begin working with consumers.
Program Coordination: part-time with additional secretarial support provided by DSBVI
Other: Consumers are allowed to identify their own SSPs through natural resources or are recruited from the community. Consumers are encouraged to have access to at least two SSPs. Deaf individuals often recruit Deaf SSPs. SSPs cannot “be” family members. Consumers are responsible for entrance fees and parking fees to activities. SSPs become state employees and therefore cannot already be employed full-time by the state of Utah. SSP positions are at-will, have no benefits (annual and sick leave) and SSPs drive their own vehicles. The state provides workman’s compensation and additional car insurance for SSPs and consumers.
WASHINGTON
Deaf-Blind Service Center
(DBSC)
1620 18th Avenue, Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98122
Sandy Sallee, SSP Coordinator
206-323-9178 voice/TTY/VP
Service Area: Seattle, Washington
(King County)
Program Established: 1985
Funding Sources: State and city funds,
private donations, fundraising events and foundation grants.
Eligibility: Deaf-Blind people, age 18 to 65 receive up to
9 hours a month. Deaf-Blind senior
citizens over age 65 may receive 11 SSP hours a month. Guidelines are reviewed with all new
consumers.
Number of Consumers Served: approximately 70 consumers
Types of Service Requests: shopping, recreation,
reading mail, errands
Training Requirements: 6 hours of training
required to become an SSP; new SSPs come to the program already trained in ASL
and Deaf/Deaf-Blind communication methods from various settings in
Seattle. DBSC provides training on safe
guiding, deaf-blind culture, and how to relay visual and environmental information.
Program Coordination: 30 hours a week is ideal
for this program
Other: Some SSP Services are both
paid and volunteer. SSPs are required to have a WA state business license,
driver’s license, and auto insurance which are kept on file. They are employed as independent,
self-employed contractors. Mentoring is
offered to new SSPs to gain skills and confidence. During those mentoring hours, the mentor is
paid while the new SSP volunteers the time.
WISCONSIN
The Center for Deaf-Blind
Persons, Inc.
3195 South Superior Street
Milwaukee, WI 53207
Paulette Bartelt, Executive
Director
414-481-7477 voice/TTY
Service Area: Metro Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Program Established: Center established in 1985;
SSP program in 1997 with a local grant
Funding Sources: foundation and civic
organization grants; Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR); Department on
Aging (DOA); Community Options Program (COP); Community Integration Program
(CIP)
Eligibility: youth and adults (of any
age) with combined hearing-vision impairments
Number of Consumers Served: 10-15 by paid SSPs; 35-40
by interpreter students/other volunteers assisting primarily in the support and
social groups
Types of Service Requests: includes but is not limited
to: mail reading, bill paying, apartment
search, labeling, home organization, medical appointments, airport assistance,
visiting shut-ins, and clothing/grocery/gift shopping. Primarily, interpreter students and other
volunteers provide interpreting, guiding and other assistance at the support
and social groups under the supervision of paid Center interpreters.
Training Requirements: paid staff participate in
ongoing staff development sessions. For
interpreter student volunteers, we offer in-service training and workshops on
etiquette, safe guide techniques, communication methods, relaying visual
information, eye diseases, use of assistive listening devices, and simulation
experiences.
Program Coordination: part-time
Other: SSP and consumer guidelines
are discussed with new consumers. The
goal of the SSP program is to empower – not to create dependence.