A few weeks ago, we attended a Metro Washington Association of the Deaf-Blind event. There, I saw for the first time how important Support Service Providers (SSPs) are in the lives of deaf-blind people. For instance, if you are deaf-blind, how do you know if someone is coming up to you and wants to talk to you? I noticed how one deaf-blind person who didn't have a SSP at their side, sat alone in the middle of the room doing nothing.
That wasn't the case for most of the deaf-blind people there. Several people had volunteered as SSPs, and one man ran around making sure those who needed SSPs had them. Even though the SSPs were there and ready to help, I discovered quickly that *I* was the one who had to make the effort to interact with deaf-blind people. A deaf-blind person who doesn't know you are standing next to them can't just say hello!
And that was just at a deaf-blind social event. I can't begin to imagine the challenges a deaf-blind person has trying to do normal things like going clothes shopping. As Stephanie Bretz points out, while a deaf-blind person might be able to use a subway, getting somewhere from the subway is another matter. How does a deaf-blind person get to a new place when they can not see street signs nor hear a sighted person giving directions?
No wonder the deaf-blind community is working to increase awareness of SSPs and their need for SSPs. The SSPs are facilitators providing visual and environmental information to deaf-blind people. Some of the deaf-blind people I saw had service dogs, but a service dog can not "talk." Without SSPs it is hard for a deaf-blind person to have a normal life. I saw that for myself.
Thanks for the post – I had never heard of SSP’s until this.
Off and On, I volunteered SSP for Deaf – Blind people in Seattle. They are so gifted people who accepted their vision. I often amazed with their living is much harder than Hearing with vision loss.
They are great service and educations in LightHouse often hired Blind with hearing and Deaf-Blind employee,too.
They always never complained about their vision loss with anything they can feeling.