In the Fall of 2013, DeafCAN! began providing the first professional SSP (Sensory Support Provider) services in Pennsylvania. These services grew out of two years of teaming with DeafBlind community members to better understand who these various individuals were and what they and/or their families needed/wanted. With a large pool of committed volunteer SSPs and critical seed funding, we all learned together and established a DeafBlind Advisory Committee.
Each year DeafCAN! provides SSPs to an average of 30 DeafBlind individuals in six different counties. DeafCAN! currently has 10 paid SSP staff and more than 20 SSP volunteers. DeafBlind consumers who qualify can receive up to ten hours of SSP services per month. All of these services are managed by our SSP Coordinator, Scott Stoffel, who is DeafBlind himself.
In order to qualify for free SSP services, an applicant must:
- Provide documentation from a medical provider of their hearing & vision loss.
- Live in one of the following six counties: Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery, Chester, Bucks, or Lancaster. We may consider applicants from other counties but, more often, refer to the PA State Program, run by StepUp, that provides services throughout PA. Many of our SE PA DeafBlind consumers receive services from both DeafCAN! and StepUp so are more fortunate.
- Be able to independently direct the services of an SSP.
SSPs assist DB individuals in doing things that they need/want to do:
- Navigation and communication for shopping, medical appointments, banking, meeting with friends & family, and other tasks.
- Helping to handle and understand email and mail, assist with paying bills, phone calls, and other communication.
- Supporting during travel, pursuit of employment, and community participation.
SSPs do not “do things for” DB people. For example, they do not provide maintenance, cooking, or cleaning, but they can assist the DB consumer in doing all of these things themselves.
DeafCAN! holds regular SSP training.
If you have questions about eligibility, or need clarification on how an SSP might work with individuals who are DeafBlind, please contact us at Office@deafcanpa.org, or call voice or videophone at 484-284-3081.