Eligibility: adults 18 and
older who are deafblind and can provide leadership, direction and
decision-making regarding services/activities
Number of Individuals
Served:
approximately 25 annually
Preferred Terminology: Access Provider
Certification/Endorsement: No CEUs or
certification provided at this time
Types of Service
Requests:
Educational, daily living, recreational, training, community service/education,
social and shopping programs sponsored by DB CAN NJ
Training Requirements
– Access Providers/SSPs: A minimum of two references from the deafblind community are
required. Each candidate is evaluated as to their knowledge and experience.
Individual, online and small group trainings are provided by DB CAN NJ as
needed. Content includes roles/responsibilities of the provider and deafblind
person, cultural identity, historical implications and evolution of the SSP
role, communication, human guide, skills of touch, defining and identifying
environmental information, transportation (our providers do not drive
consumers), confidentiality/ethics, recognizing/respecting deafblind person’s
autonomy, recognizing personal limitations, and respecting/maintaining personal
and professional boundaries. All candidates undergo a 1:1 training in community
settings and skills evaluation by deafblind trainers. All must sign an
agreement regarding the provision and use of services.
Training Requirements
– Deafblind: 1:1 training content includes roles/responsibilities of the provider
and deafblind person; sharing preferences for communication, information access
and guiding; confidentiality/ethics and boundaries. All must sign an agreement
regarding the provision and use of services.
Transportation: During an
assignment, Access Providers/SSPs do not drive deafblind people; everyone is
trained that the risks are just too high in our highly litigious state. In
addition to walking, APs/SSPs may ride with deafblind people on ride services
such as Uber and Lyft, taxis, paratransit and any mode of public
transportation.
Other: DB CAN NJ is a nonprofit
that prides itself on being responsive to the needs of the entire deafblind
community, not just deafblind people, but also interpreters, APs/SSPs, VR
counselors, organizations, social workers, job coaches, family, friends –
everyone who cares about and believes in this vibrant community. Our services
are separate from SSPNJ, and eligible consumers can use the services of both
programs. Our providers are independent contractors; deafblind people select
their AP/SSP from our approved list.
Support
Service Providers of New Jersey (SSPNJ) Shore Consulting Training and
Equipment
Service Area: New Jersey Statewide Program Established: April, 2010 Funding Sources: NJ Department of Human Services, Commission for
the Blind and Visually Impaired Eligibility: must be a client of the NJ Commission for the Blind
and Visually Impaired with a vocational rehabilitation or independent living
goal Number of Individuals Served: 58
Number of SSPs: 41
Preferred Terminology: SSPs Certification/Endorsement: No formal certification provided at this
time, however a certificate of completion is provided to SSPs who complete the
training and required background check. We are currently in the process of
developing professional development for SSPs to hold in the future.
Types of Service Requests: Our Approved Activities list includes the following
categories: post-secondary education/training, employment, health/well-being,
household management, community integration.
Training Requirements –
SSPs: A minimum of two references
from the deafblind community are required. Each candidate is evaluated as to
their knowledge and experience. Individual, online and small group trainings
are provided as needed. Content includes roles/responsibilities of the provider
and deafblind person, cultural identity, historical implications and evolution
of the SSP role, communication, human guide, skills of touch, defining and
identifying environmental information, transportation (our providers do not
drive consumers), confidentiality/ethics, recognizing/respecting deafblind
person’s autonomy, recognizing personal limitations, and respecting/maintaining
personal and professional boundaries. All candidates undergo a 1:1 training in
community settings and skills evaluation by deafblind trainers. All must sign
an agreement regarding the provision and use of services.
Training Requirements –
Deafblind: 1:1 training content
includes roles/responsibilities of the provider and deafblind person; sharing
preferences for communication, information access and guiding;
confidentiality/ethics and boundaries.
Program Coordination: Two Full-time staff members
Transportation: SSPs are not able to provide transportation. However, SSPs can support consumers utilizing
public transportation. The consumers is
responsible for arranging their transportation but they can opt to have the SSP
meet them at home and accompany them using public transportation.
SSP
Pay Rate: SSPs are paid varying
rates: $27.50/hour - assignments for consumers who do not use any
type of sign language. $30.00/hour for our consumers who need visual ASL SSPs
and $32.50 for our consumers who need Tactile ASL SSPs
Other: DeafBlind individuals have 10 hours of
services/month. No minimum or maximum hours required, as long as the DeafBlind
consumer and SSP are in agreement. Two-hour minimum assignments are encouraged.