DeafBlind Service Center (DBSC)
1620 18^th Avenue, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98122-7007

Jessica Phillips, SSP Coordinator

206-452-0062 videophone

ssp@seattledbsc.org

www.seattledbsc.org

Service Area: Washington Statewide

Program Established: 1985

Funding Sources: Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing, City of Seattle, private donations, fundraising events and foundation grants

Eligibility:  DeafBlind Washington residents, ages 18 and older receive up to 20 hours a month.  New DeafBlind persons must be a Washington resident before receiving any SSP services and once s/he becomes a resident, the person will then go through intake screening to determine eligibility.  Guidelines are reviewed with all new consumers.  New DeafBlind participants with no experience of using a SSP are required to take “How to Use SSP Service” training.

Number of Individuals Served: 65

Preferred Terminology:  SSP

Certification/Endorsement:  We do not have training CEUs but have created a professional development team to look into options. 

Types of Service Requests: grocery shopping, errands, material reading, basic banking, self-care activities such as exercise and attending social activities, and transportation to airport, train or bus station.

Training Requirements: SSPs - (10-15, depending on experience) 15 hours of training and must already be fluent in ASL (minimum ASL 3).  Exemption from ASL skills depends on the need for hearing SSPs to work with non-ASL hard of hearing consumers preferring oral communication.  DBSC provides training on guiding, how to convey visual and environmental information to DeafBlind participants, and includes some basic Protactile techniques.  DBSC also provides workshops about DeafBlind culture and other workshops.

Program Coordination: 20 hours per month is ideal for the program of this size 

Transportation:  SSPs provide transportation.

SSP Pay Rate:  The program pays SSPs $25/hour.  The DeafBlind client is responsible to pay for mileage.  If the assignment takes over one hour to get to and from home, then we add travel time but that only occurs occasionally.

Other:  Some SSP services are paid and some are volunteered.  SSPs are required to have driver’s license and auto insurance to be copied and filed. A background check is also required.  SSP mentorships are also offered to SSPs to gain skills and confidence.  During mentorship, the mentor is paid while the SSP volunteers their time.

Center for Deaf-Blind Persons, Inc.

8306 West Lincoln Avenue, West Allis, WI 53219-1763

Adrian Klenz, Executive Director

414-481-7477 voice

The videophone is a public phone, so please call the voice line and ask to be called back via videophone

aklenz@deaf-blind.org

Lisa Crissey, Program Coordinator

Lcrissey@deaf-blind.org

www.deaf-blind.org

Service Area: Metropolitan Milwaukee; attempting to address SSP needs statewide

Program Established: Center established in 1985; SSP program in 1997 with a local grant

Funding Sources: Foundations, civic organizations, churches, businesses, individuals, memorials and service agreements:  DVR, county adult service and county older adult services.  In 2016, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing made Universal Service Funds available to cover costs of some SSP services.

Eligibility: Youth and adults (of any age) with combined hearing-vision impairments.

Number of Individuals Served: 12 by paid SSPs.

Preferred Terminology: SSP

Certification/Endorsement: CDBP offers a certificate of completion; in collaboration with ODHH, CEUs are available.

Types of Service Requests: Mail reading, bill paying, copy signing videophone calls, social events, exercising, apartment search, labeling, home organization, medical appointments, airport assistance, and clothing/grocery/gift shopping. 

Training Requirements: Paid staff members participate in ongoing staff development sessions.  The Center offers 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 to individuals interested in providing SSP services. 

Program Coordination: Part-time

Transportation:  The consumer is responsible for transportation.  The SSP can meet the consumer at the home and ride to and from a location.  The SSP coordinating agency or SSP can provide information to locate public transportation services.

SSP Pay Rate:  SSPs bill portal to portal at $15/hour.  The program does not pay mileage.  Travel time is paid the same rate of pay as SSP hours. 

Other: SSP and consumer guidelines are discussed with new consumers and SSP providers.  The goal of the SSP program is to empower – not to create dependence.