Search

Deaf-Blind Service Center 

Description

The Deaf-Blind Service Center (DBSC) was founded in 1986 and has been a strong and stable non-profit organization for those past 26 years. DBSC is a unique organization in that we provide services specifically for the Deaf-Blind community, from managing simple day-to-day tasks to being active in the community. We believe that communication is the primary roadblock for deaf-blind (DB) individuals seeking to obtain quality services or becoming an active participant in the community. Our core mission is to provide communication services that are both skilled and reliable. All information is provided to the deaf-blind individual in their preferred mode of communication; whether that is Braille, close-vision sign language, or tactile sign language. This helps ensure the clarity and usability of the information. 

Mission Statement
The Deaf-Blind Service Center is committed to assisting Deaf-Blind people in reaching and maintaining their highest possible quality of life and degree of personal autonomy.
Donate Now
Deaf-Blind Service Center
1620 18th Ave Ste 200 
Seattle 
WA
98122 
(206) 455-7932 

Angela Theriault 
Executive Director 

Programs

Deaf-Blind Service Center Programs

We obtain the services of qualified interpreters for large meetings or when the communication needs of the deaf-blind person cannot be met within DBSC's in-house resources.    

We conduct all advocacy and case planning with the fullest possible participation of the deaf-blind individual. DBSC believes that information leads to educated choices and aims to provide opportunities for the deaf-blind community to become more fully informed and involved in the choices that affect their lives and their community.

Advocacy
Our Advocacy Specialists partner with professional and other agencies to ensure that deaf-blind individuals have a voice in events that impact their lives, are able to successfully navigate social/government/healthcare systems, as well as, learn how to advocate for themselves.

Service Support Providers
Support Service Providers (SSPs) are trained, sighted guides, and providers of visual and environmental information who support DB people as they go about their banking, shopping, and essential errands independently. The SSP provides this visual and environmental information so that the DB person can make informed choices and decisions, as well as, participate in the wider (mainstream) community.

Communication Facilitators
A Communication Facilitator (CF) is a skilled signer who provides access for deaf-blind people to Video Relay Services, as well as, to other signers. A CF copies sign language from the screen of a videophone and relays it to the deaf-blind person using tactile sign language (a signing process that is understood via touch, not vision). With the advent of devices such as the iPad, these services can occur here at DBSC, out in the community, or at the DB’s home.

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

Presently, our Support Service Provider (SSP) Program is going strong and is in high demand. We currently have 80 deaf-blind individuals regularly receiving SSP services on a monthly basis. This program greatly enhances their lives and their independence. As more people move to the Seattle area and as our current population ages, the need for more service hours will only increase.

The challenge: Our ability to expand this program and offer more service hours and serve more people is directly dependent on the partnerships and financial support of our community.

Evaluation

Deaf Blind Service Center (DBSC) hopes to change deaf-blind people’s lives by helping them gain or maintain their independence, personal autonomy and access to community resources.

Proven Success
Staff members possess a complimentary set of language and communication skills to meet the broad spectrum of language and communication needs. Services are offered at no cost to clients. A key program of DBSC is the Support Service Providers (SSP) Program. DBSC received funding from the Department of Education to develop a curriculum to train Support Service Providers and deaf-blind people on how to use SSP’s. Currently there is enough funding to provide 4 hours a month of SSP services to each deaf-blind client in the SSP Program.

There is a very small pool of American Sign Language Interpreters trained to work with deaf-blind people. Interpreting for a deaf-blind person can be different than interpreting for a deaf person who has sight and therefore the Interpreter needs additional training to effectively interpret for a deaf-blind person. In general, it takes up to two weeks to schedule an interpreter. Providing interpreters for deaf-blind people is costly because each deaf-blind person needs their own two interpreters. Two interpreters are used because interpreting is very exhausting to both the brain and the hands and interpreters need to rest for 15 minutes, every 30 minutes of interpreting.

Financial Health
The Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) recently underwent budget cuts, which resulted in a loss of funding for DBSC. The Office of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (ODHH) was able to step-in and cover the lost funding, as well as, give an extra $10,000 for the Community Facilitator program due to the high demand for these services.

DBSC has three stable sources of funding (the City of Seattle and two separate project allocations from Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing) and annually hosts two traditional fund raising events (Walk-A-Thon and Bail-N-Jail). They are working on grants and additional fundrasing events.

Sustainability
The SSP program has been very successful in regards to Deaf-Blind participation. They receive more requests for service than they can meet. They are also challenged to meet the request from current clients seeking an increase in the number of hours they receive.

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
12/10/2012 $10,000.00provide general operating support.
12/10/2009 $15,000.00support general operating expenses.
6/16/2005 $15,000.00support general operating expenses and the purchase of computer equipment.
6/12/2003 $20,000.00support operating expenses for the relocation of offices and rent.

Financials

Similar Organizations

Give broadly to Health & Wellness
If you care about increasing access to healthcare, ensuring everyone has basic health coverage, and promoting healthy lifestyles, then make a difference by giving to the Grantmaking Program.
Questions or comments about this organization?
Contact us to learn more.