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
donnam@copdaz.org
Ann Ventola, Program Director
annv@copdaz.org
www.copdaz.org
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
Wanda.Thomas@arkansas.gov
www.arkansas.gov
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
KathyY@dhhsc.org
www.dhhsc.org
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
debies915@sbcglobal.net
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
LCDCdir@aol.com
www.arcbatonrouge.org
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
ndedual@dss.state.la.us
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)
carolstevens100@hotmail.com
www.deafshalomzone.org
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
educharme@deafinconline.org
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
caldwellc@michigan.gov
www.mcb1.org
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
lentschd@dbsm.org
www.dbsm.org
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
Jan.Radatz@state.mn.us
www.dhhsd.org
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
SUPPORT SERVICE PROVIDER (SSP) TRAINING OCTOBER 4,
2008
Helen
Keller National Center (HKNC)
141 Middle Neck Road
Sands Point, NY
11050
Kathy Anello,
Interpreter Supervisor
516-944-8900
ext 422 voice/TTY
hkcurlykat@aol.com
www.hknc.org
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
pharris@rochestercdr.org
www.rochestercdr.org
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
jbohrman@columbusspeech.org
www.columbusspeech.org
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
brittenhouse@kcdtn.org
www.kcdtn.org
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
kgwillia@utah.gov
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
ssp@seattledbsc.org
www.seattledbsc.org
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
pbartelt@deaf-blind.org
www.deaf-blind.org
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.