Deaf-Blind Service Center

The support Service provider (ssp) program is the cornerstone of dbsc. Ssps are trained, sighted guided, fluent in american sign language and providers of visual and enviromental information so that Deaf-Blind people can do their banking, shop, pay bills and perform other essential errands independently. The ssps provides this visual and environmental information enabling the Deaf-Blind person to make informed choices and decisions and so they can participate in the mainstream community. Dbsc trains and matches ssps with Deaf-Blind individuals at no cost to the Deaf-Blind person. Dbsc is also contracted with office of deaf and hearing (odhh) and city of seattle.

Interpreting services. It's critical that deafblind individuals have access to qualified db interpreters who are proficient in using ptasl or protactile asl and tactile communication. The organization is responsible for recruiting highly qualified ptasl interpreters to meet the communication needs of their client so they can successfully access information. Dbsc is committed to facilitating high quality communication access for both deafblind and hearing consumers. The deafblind interpreter Service focuses on people with both vision loss and hearing loss only.

At dbsc, we believe it is our responsibility to ensure Deaf-Blind individual have a choice at the community, state and federal government. For instance, being unable to secure a proper sign language interpreter, a qualified ssp, and/or accessing technology are only a few of many major barriers. There are many different types of advocacy that enable Deaf-Blind people to improve their ability to interact with society: self-advocacy and private policy advocacy.

'professional to professional' services for Deaf-Blind (db) include professional support Service providers (pssp) and professional communication facilitators (pcf). A pssp provides transportation, guiding, and visual/environmental information. A pcf copies sign language from a videophone caller to a Deaf-Blind person through close vision or tactile sign language. A pcf also shares the visual and environmental information seen on the video screen.