Program Established: 1986 (SSP Service established in 1996; CN service established in 2025)
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
and CoNavigator (CN) 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, CN or Intervener supports.
Number of Individuals Served: approximately 5o 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, CN and Adult Intervener
Certification/Endorsement: The program does not provide any certification or
training CEUs at this time.
Types of Service Requests: SSP and CN: grocery shopping, Post Office, reading
mail, assisting with online work, errands of daily living, guiding or
co-navigating 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, CN and Adult Intervener staff—around 15% of staff are Deaf or
hard-of-hearing. Staff receive paid
training on the basics of deaf-blindness, including simulation activities, human
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, CN or
Adult Intervener before taking assignments.
Transportation:
Staff may drive clients into the community as part of their work together but
cannot give rides only.
SSP Pay Rate:
SSP and CN staff starting pay is $20 per hour. Adult Intervener staff starting
pay is commensurate with CYFS program Intervener starting pay rates. Experience
working as an Intervener or having completed a formal Intervener training
course is required to begin working as an Adult Intervener. SSPs, CNs and Adult
Interveners also earn mileage reimbursement at the Minnesota DHS rate, 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 and CN 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 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.