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The Deaf Leading the Deaf-Blind - voiceofsandiego.org: Healthysandiego
When you are asked, "What is life like for someone who is both deaf and blind?" what is the first name pops in to your head? It's Helen Keller, of course, the most famous deaf-blind American.
Thinking back to your high school American history class, you probably remember learning about Helen Keller as a historical icon. As a toddler, a bout with scarlet fever left her both deaf and blind before she was old enough to acquire language. Believing their deaf-blind daughter could be educated, Keller's parents recruited 20-year-old Annie Sullivan to be Helen's private tutor, initiating a 49-year relationship. Annie used running water on Helen's hand to spell "W—A—T—E—R," and through that methodology Helen learned language, earned bachelor's degree from Radcliffe (Harvard's women's college) and went on to become a famous public figure.
What do contemporary deaf-blind people in San Diego think about Helen Keller? According to Cathy Kirscher, a Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) regional representative based here, they're not entirely fond of the organization's namesake because their lives are nothing like hers. While Helen Keller's affluent family could afford Annie Sullivan's round-the-clock support, the vast majority of deaf-blind people have very little help.
Not only is this niche disabled population difficult to serve, because they don't get out much, it has proven challenging just to count them. Based on academic estimators, the Helen Keller National Center believes there are 500 plus San Diego County residents with total deaf-blindness and perhaps another 10,000 with severe levels of both impairments.
If someone cannot hear and cannot see, how does one engage in activities of daily living like grocery shopping, banking, and going to restaurants? Generally, deaf-blind people would rely on family members to do these things on their behalves or to guide them. But, it's easy to see how such help would become sporadic over time. And what would a deaf-blind person do if his parents passed away or his siblings moved to another state?
In 1986, Seattle's Deaf-Blind Service Center founded the nation's first Support Service Provider (SSP) program to address this formerly unmet need. Support Service Providers communicate with their deaf-blind clients through tactile sign language (for the totally deaf-blind), modified visual sign language (for the partially sighted), and amplified speech (for clients with minimal hearing).
The San Diego office of the HKNC was recently awarded a grant to create a sighted guide program that will serve 45 to 60 deaf-blind San Diegans over the next three years. The $235,000 bequest which made this program possible came from the Adelaide Allen Fund at The San Diego Foundation. Sighted guides, known as Support Service Providers, were trained at the end of last year, and services to deaf-blind consumers began last month.
Support Service Providers give deaf-blind consumers unbiased descriptions of their visual surroundings. For example, on a shopping trip an SSP would share, "The suede shoes on the left are red and the price tag says they cost $50," without making judgments such as, "They look great!" or "They're a bargain!"
Support Service Providers are functionally distinct from translators. Deaf-blind people require word-for-word translations during formal appointments, like legal proceedings or medical visits, at great expense to any court or community clinic that has received federal funds, as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act. With less training and at a much lower cost,
SSPs provide weekly visual guidance and transportation so that deaf-blind people can get out and experience the world, the way Helen Keller did.
The sighted-deaf are often excellent Support Service Providers. The shared experience of deafness creates a bond between the SSP and the deaf-blind consumer. Also, a deaf SSP's proficiency in American Sign Language makes it easy for her to learn tactile signing, which is sign language performed while holding hands (shown in this 5 minute video).
Seattle's SSP program is still the largest in the United States, serving about 100 clients with three to five hours per week of SSP services. Following Seattle's grassroots SSP movement, the San Diego program is the 20th of its kind in the United States. Ten other regions are investigating the possibility of establishing such programs.
Sustainable funding continues to be the greatest challenge for the SSP programs. They are supported by a disparate mix of government and philanthropic funders. Sadly, funds for the SSP program in Fresno were exhausted, but it continues on a limited basis thanks to volunteer SSPs committed to its mission.
The San Diego office of the Helen Keller National Center is actively recruiting volunteers to serve as Support Service providers. Knowledge of sign language is not necessary to be an SSP. The HKNC is looking for people with good driving records willing to undergo a four-hour training, then provide two to four hours per week of transportation and guide service for deaf-blind San Diegans. Mileage expenses for volunteers are reimbursed. To learn more about this volunteer opportunity, please contact SSP Program Coordinator Ilona Mulvey.
When you are asked, "What is life like for someone who is both deaf and blind?" what is the first name pops in to your head? It's Helen Keller, of course, the most famous deaf-blind American.
Thinking back to your high school American history class, you probably remember learning about Helen Keller as a historical icon. As a toddler, a bout with scarlet fever left her both deaf and blind before she was old enough to acquire language. Believing their deaf-blind daughter could be educated, Keller's parents recruited 20-year-old Annie Sullivan to be Helen's private tutor, initiating a 49-year relationship. Annie used running water on Helen's hand to spell "W—A—T—E—R," and through that methodology Helen learned language, earned bachelor's degree from Radcliffe (Harvard's women's college) and went on to become a famous public figure.
What do contemporary deaf-blind people in San Diego think about Helen Keller? According to Cathy Kirscher, a Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) regional representative based here, they're not entirely fond of the organization's namesake because their lives are nothing like hers. While Helen Keller's affluent family could afford Annie Sullivan's round-the-clock support, the vast majority of deaf-blind people have very little help.
Not only is this niche disabled population difficult to serve, because they don't get out much, it has proven challenging just to count them. Based on academic estimators, the Helen Keller National Center believes there are 500 plus San Diego County residents with total deaf-blindness and perhaps another 10,000 with severe levels of both impairments.
If someone cannot hear and cannot see, how does one engage in activities of daily living like grocery shopping, banking, and going to restaurants? Generally, deaf-blind people would rely on family members to do these things on their behalves or to guide them. But, it's easy to see how such help would become sporadic over time. And what would a deaf-blind person do if his parents passed away or his siblings moved to another state?
In 1986, Seattle's Deaf-Blind Service Center founded the nation's first Support Service Provider (SSP) program to address this formerly unmet need. Support Service Providers communicate with their deaf-blind clients through tactile sign language (for the totally deaf-blind), modified visual sign language (for the partially sighted), and amplified speech (for clients with minimal hearing).
The San Diego office of the HKNC was recently awarded a grant to create a sighted guide program that will serve 45 to 60 deaf-blind San Diegans over the next three years. The $235,000 bequest which made this program possible came from the Adelaide Allen Fund at The San Diego Foundation. Sighted guides, known as Support Service Providers, were trained at the end of last year, and services to deaf-blind consumers began last month.
Support Service Providers give deaf-blind consumers unbiased descriptions of their visual surroundings. For example, on a shopping trip an SSP would share, "The suede shoes on the left are red and the price tag says they cost $50," without making judgments such as, "They look great!" or "They're a bargain!"
Support Service Providers are functionally distinct from translators. Deaf-blind people require word-for-word translations during formal appointments, like legal proceedings or medical visits, at great expense to any court or community clinic that has received federal funds, as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act. With less training and at a much lower cost,
SSPs provide weekly visual guidance and transportation so that deaf-blind people can get out and experience the world, the way Helen Keller did.
The sighted-deaf are often excellent Support Service Providers. The shared experience of deafness creates a bond between the SSP and the deaf-blind consumer. Also, a deaf SSP's proficiency in American Sign Language makes it easy for her to learn tactile signing, which is sign language performed while holding hands (shown in this 5 minute video).
Seattle's SSP program is still the largest in the United States, serving about 100 clients with three to five hours per week of SSP services. Following Seattle's grassroots SSP movement, the San Diego program is the 20th of its kind in the United States. Ten other regions are investigating the possibility of establishing such programs.
Sustainable funding continues to be the greatest challenge for the SSP programs. They are supported by a disparate mix of government and philanthropic funders. Sadly, funds for the SSP program in Fresno were exhausted, but it continues on a limited basis thanks to volunteer SSPs committed to its mission.
The San Diego office of the Helen Keller National Center is actively recruiting volunteers to serve as Support Service providers. Knowledge of sign language is not necessary to be an SSP. The HKNC is looking for people with good driving records willing to undergo a four-hour training, then provide two to four hours per week of transportation and guide service for deaf-blind San Diegans. Mileage expenses for volunteers are reimbursed. To learn more about this volunteer opportunity, please contact SSP Program Coordinator Ilona Mulvey.