Program
Established: July 2001 through strong consumer advocacy seeking
assistance through the Legislature
Funding
Sources: DSVBI is allocated $325,000 each fiscal year by the State
of Utah legislature.
Eligibility: Adults out
of the public school system; consumers must be able to independently make
choices and give directions to SSPs; visually impaired at 20/70 or less in the
best eye with correction, or progressive vision loss at 20/50 or less in the
best eye, or field loss of 20 degrees or less in the best eye or legally blind
20/200 or less and Pure Tone Average (PTA) of 50 decibels or worse in the best
ear.
Number of Individuals
Served: approximately 130 served; DeafBlind individuals
receive 10 hours per week for a variety of activities to assist them with their
vocational rehabilitation case, independent living goals, and/or inclusion in
the community. Each DeafBlind client is
allocated up to 40 miles per week of mileage for the SSP to drive. If the client and SSP use a state-provided
vehicle, there is no mileage limit.
Preferred
Terminology: SSP
Certification/Endorsement: The
training is not tied to certification/endorsement at this time.
Types of
Service Requests: shopping, reading mail, paying
bills, legislative participation, looking for jobs/filling out job
applications, personal activities (attending a child's school activity,
scrapbooking, gardening, skiing, going to the bank, going to doctor
appointments), navigating public transportation, religious activities,
meetings, writing email messages or letter correspondence, exercising,
socialization, keeping up to date with local and national news, searching the
Internet, using social media, navigating smartphones and other assistive
technology. Involvement in the community is encouraged. No personal
medical or self-care services are provided (e.g., help with blood testing for
diabetics, bathing). However, help
getting to an appointment and during an appointment at a facility providing
those services is allowed (i.e. doctor’s appointment). Each client is allocated up to 10 hours per
week of SSP services.
Training
Requirements: provided at hire and throughout the year. Required state employee training such as State of Utah safe driving and Employee Conduct in
the Workplace must be completed before an SSP may begin working with consumers
and are required again at two-year intervals. Background checks are
required before hire, with random drug testing happening any time.
Program
Coordination: full-time with additional secretarial support
provided by DSBVI
Transportation: SSPs can
provide transportation, drive clients’ cars or schedule and use a
state-provided vehicle. (Transportation
is only for the client)
SSP Pay Rate: The pay rate is one rate for
all. $19.78/hour. Since it is a part time job, it is not a contractor
rate. This is the base rate and starting
rate for new hires. SSPs who work over 500 hours in a year are eligible for
merit pay increases depending on the state budget. Each SSP being a part-time employee is
limited to a max of 29 hours per week of work.
Mileage: the SSP is paid mileage of up to 40 miles per
week per client at the state reimbursement rate, for 2026 is 46 cents a mile.
Mileage starts the same time the hourly pay starts- which is usually at the
client’s home as the starting place then mileage is tracked and paid for
driving the client to the places they want to go to and have the SSP of course
guide them at the destination.
Other: Consumers are allowed to identify their own SSPs
through natural resources or are recruited from the community. SSP's are
all encouraged to work with at least 2 consumers. The 10 weekly hours cannot be
carried over from week to week. Consumers are responsible for entrance
fees and parking fees to activities.
SSPs are not volunteers, they become state employees and therefore
cannot already be employed full-time by the state of Utah. SSP positions are at-will, paid hourly at the
approved rate determined by the State of Utah HR department, have no benefits (annual and sick leave) and SSPs drive their
own vehicles and must show proof of auto insurance. SSPs are reimbursed
mileage at the State-approved rate when using their personal cars for
transportation within mileage limits set by the agency each year. There is no cost to the DeafBlind client to
receive the SSP service. Both Deaf and
hearing SSPs are employed to meet the diverse client needs.