Program Established: 1986 (SSP Service established in 1996)
Funding Sources: Minnesota State Dept of Human Services–Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division
Eligibility: Deafblind adults (age 22 or older, 18 if no longer covered by an IEP-Individualized Education Plan) must have a medically verifiable combined hearing loss and vision loss which interferes with individual’s ability to independently maintain their independence or access their community. The SSP program provides an average of 20 hours a month to participants, may vary based on available funding and program size. The Adult Intervener program provides an average number of hours to participants consistent with the Children, Youth and Family Services (CYFS) Intervener program. All participants must demonstrate no other funding sources available for SSP or Intervener supports.
Number of Individuals Served: approximately 55 deafblind adults with the majority residing in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Approximately 10 deafblind adults receive DBSM services in greater, outstate Minnesota.
Preferred Terminology: SSP and Adult Intervener
Certification/Endorsement: The program does not provide any certification or training CEUs at this time.
Types of Service Requests: SSP: grocery shopping, Post Office, reading mail, assisting with online work, errands of daily living, guiding to health appointments, community events access and communication assistance for community groups such as beading craft class. Adult Intervener: provide consistent Deafblind Intervener services to adults who benefit from assistance with: language or concept development; planning or initiating activities; socialization or strengthening peer networks; integrating into their home or community; personal autonomy and independence; and/or successful transition to adulthood.
Training Requirements: DBSM employs staff with or without ASL skills. DBSM currently employs around 30 part-time, hourly SSP and Adult Intervener staff—around 25% of staff are Deaf or hard-of-hearing. Staff receive paid training on the basics of deaf-blindness, including simulation activities, sighted-guide techniques, and the basics of Protactile communication. Adult Intervener staff receive additional training on Deafblind Intervention strategies and techniques. New hires are also trained to use the DBSM online time reporting system and work email. When possible, new staff are offered “on-the-job” training (mentoring) and they shadow an experienced SSP or Adult Intervener before taking assignments.
Transportation: Staff may drive clients into the community as part of their SSP or Intervener work together but cannot give rides only.
SSP Pay Rate: SSP staff starting pay is $16 to $17 per hour depending on education and experience. Adult Intervener staff starting pay is $18 to $19 per hour depending on education and experience. Experience working as an Intervener or having completed a formal Intervener training course is required to be hired as an Adult Intervener. For full time SSP or Adult Intervener positions staff earn an additional $2 per hour plus benefits. SSPs and Adult Interveners also earn mileage reimbursement at the Minnesota DHS rate, currently $0.67 per mile (year 2024) for mileage driven while working with participants or driving long distances to meet participants.
Other: the program was designed to provide support for Deafblind people to live as independently as possible. The SSP model works well for self-directed, proficient-communicating Deafblind adults. DBSM’s Children, Youth and Family Services (CYFS) Program provides Deafblind Intervention in the home and community to Deafblind children and youth from birth to age 18, age 22 if still covered by an IEP-Individualized Education Plan. The intervener assists Deafblind children to develop age-appropriate independence, communication and social skills. The Children, Youth and Family Services Program Manager is Kim Johnson at 612-843-3401 voice; kjohnson@dbsm.org.
Minnesota Department of Human Services - Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division funds the DeafBlind Consumer Directed Services Grant Program, administered by A New Direction, Inc.
Funding Sources: The DeafBlind Consumer Directed Services program is funded by the Minnesota Department of Human Services – Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division. The program’s purpose is to enable DeafBlind Minnesotans to access supports and services to live independently, interact with their families and communities, and develop knowledge and skills.
Eligibility: Minnesotans of any age who have a medically verifiable hearing loss and vision loss that interferes with acquiring information or interacting in the environment.
Number of Individuals Served: 36 annually
Preferred Terminology: SSP, CoNavigator, Intervener – consumers determine which terminology best suits the service they need, then train their staff appropriately.
Certification/Endorsement: not at this time
Types of Service Requests: The program’s purpose is to provide funding for ongoing support services such as SSPs, CoNavigators, interpreters or transportation. (Note: this funding allows the consumer to determine which services they need.)
Training Requirements: Each DeafBlind consumer decides what kind and how much training they want their SSP or other service provider to have.
Program Coordination: full-time; coordinator oversees a related state grant program that provides training, equipment, and communication skills instruction to individuals who are DeafBlind.
Transportation: SSPs are allowed to provide transportation.
Pay Rate: As a consumer-directed program, each consumer is responsible for determining the appropriate rate of pay for their Access Provider. Rates of pay vary from $15.00 (typically for family members) to $30/hour for CN. It is up to each consumer to determine if they will pay their SSP/CN a mileage reimbursement. Those who do pay mileage may not exceed the state reimbursement rate, but it can be less than that. On average, consumers who do reimburse for mileage pay between $0.55 -$0.60 cents/mile.
Other: The program also allows individuals to purchase services or goods (training, 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.