DEAF-BLIND SERVICE CENTER

DBSC BULLETIN

Volume 58 Fall 2004

Table of Contents

Program Updates __________________________ 2

Staff News __________________________________ 6

Announcements ___________________________ 7

Community Information _______________________ 8

DBSC Office and Staff _______________________ 9

DBSC Board of Directors _______________________ 10

Memorial Donors ___________________________ 11

Community Donors ____________________________ 12

Donation Form ______________________________ 13


DBSC Newsletter Abbreviation Information

In order to save space here, we will often abbreviate "DB" for Deaf-Blind.

Program Updates

Advocacy and Case Management Program
By Liz Halperin

Community Information

Toll-Free Hotline for airline travelers with disabilities:
1-800-778-4838 (voice) or 1-800-455-9880 (TTY).
Most travelers are allowed to bring one carry-on and one personal item like a purse or backpack on the plane. However, if you have a disability, you can bring extra items that are medical or related to your disability. These could be braille books, braille notetaker, TTY, Telebraille, vibrating alarm clocks, small CCTV, magnifiers, hearing aid FM system, etc.

Rural Housing Repair Loans and Grants: The Rural Housing Service (part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture) offers up to $7,500 to make dwellings accessible for household members with disabilities in rural areas. Find out how to apply call 202-720-4323 or at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/sfh/brief_repairgrant.htm.

Free Computers: The Jim Mullen Foundation provides free computers for people with disabilities. The organization specializes in providing computers for anyone especially for those who think they are unable to use one. You can get more info and find out how to apply at: www.jimmullen.com/ZoomSeq.asp?id=7948

STATE INFORMATION

Washington Assistive Technology Foundation (WATF)
WATF has some new programs. They used to only loan money to blind and deaf-blind people for blind-related technology. Now they can loan money to anyone with a disability for any technology. If you want a low-interest loan for hearing aids or a vibrating home signal system, etc., you can apply. They also have a new contract with DVR (Voc Rehab) and DSB (Services for the Blind). If a blind or DB person is a DVR or DSB client, they can rent a CCTV from WATF. The CCTVs are 14-inch color and 17-inch black and white models. If not enough DVR/DSB clients rent the machines, WATF may rent them to other people. You can contact WATF, Frances Pennell, at WATF's website (http://www.watf.org) or call WATF at (206) 826-1038.

ODHH - Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services: Web link is http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/hrsa/odhh You can check this to see what's happening.

DSB and DVR: Department of Services for the Blind and Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. This information is from a class that DSB staff gave at the DB Community Classes on April 7th in Seattle. In the past, clients had to choose one agency for services. Now DSB and DVR are working together. You can have a case open in both agencies. The counselors will work together. You have to apply for both agency services. For example: if you are a DVR client, but want to check the DSB technology services and training programs, you can apply for DSB services. They have their own eligibility requirements.



Program Director
By Jackie Engler-Morris

I have some news to share with you. I've been promoted to Program Director in July 2004. I'm excited to learn more challenging tasks. I'm the supervisor of all DBSC staff. I work with all the programs and assist with the management of DBSC. I'm still coordinating DB Interpreting Mentorship and Senior Citizen Project.

Senior Citizens Project
We had five DB Seniors taking monthly classes on various topics relating to Medication last spring. DB seniors had a fun trip to Seattle Center for lunch and shopped at Center House. Several DB Seniors played games while one DB Senior bravely rode on wild rides! We will continue the classes this fall. Hopefully in the near future, we will get more money and be able to invite more DB Seniors.

DB Interpreting Mentorship Project
Thank you to all wonderful & energetic mentors who have worked so hard and spent 222 hours of mentoring with mentees during the fiscal year of 2004!

There will be an all-day workshop here in Seattle on January 8, 2005! Julie Simon who is the program coordinator for Interpreting Education Center at Western Oregon University (WOU) will present the workshop. It's called "Understanding and Revisiting the Mentoring Process".

If you would like to gain interpreting skills and experiences working with DB consumers or you want to become mentor, please contact me and I will send you an application. If you need more information about the mentorship, please don't hesitate to contact me.

SSP Program
By Dawn Howes, Manager

I'm the temporary SSP manager and am excited to be working on the SSP Program. There are many changes and improvements we are making. DBSC plans to open the position of SSP Manager again in June 2005 and hire a permanent person. Until then, your SSP questions can be directed to me.

Great news! There are only 3 DB people on the waiting list to get SSP services. By figuring out and giving everyone their average monthly use of SSP hours, we were able to give almost everyone SSP services! We are hoping to get more money for the SSP program and once we do, everyone will get SSP services, and we may be able to increase everyone's hours again. If you feel like you do not have enough hours to get your needs met, please let me know and we might be able to increase your paid SSP time.

Some of you may be aware that DBSC has suspended our volunteer SSP coordination, which means DBSC can not contact volunteer SSPs to fill DB people's requests. We hope that this will be resolved soon and we can continue that service. We are researching legal possibilities to protect DBSC from liability in case of an accident or injury. We will keep the community informed with information about these changes. Until we can set up a volunteer matching service, please be creative in getting your recreational needs met. Maybe your paid SSP can volunteer, or maybe you know other students who might need volunteer hours for school requirements. Meeting students at DB class and asking them to volunteer is also an option as well as asking SSPs at WSDBC meetings and other social gatherings. DBSC will still be coordinating volunteer SSPs for DBSC events, like the annual Picnic and Walk-a-Thon. We can do this because DBSC staff is present at these events.

DBSC is now also requiring ALL paid SSPs to have a Washington State Business License. These requirements were enacted to protect DBSC from different types of liability and to also make it clear that paid SSPs are independent contractors, not employees of DBSC. SSPs who wanted to continue paid SSPing through DBSC have signed 6 month contracts to work a maximum number of hours a month. We also have increased SSPs pay which we have not been able to do in a few years. We are expecting that these contracts, business license requirements and rate increases will mean less turnover in paid SSPs and consistent services in 6 month blocks of time. We want to thank ALL of our SSPs, past and present, for the hard work and dedication they have given DBSC and the DB community through so many years.

Staff News

Salwa Rosen: As you may know, I've been the bookkeeper for DBSC since December 2003. After graduation from Seattle Central's Interpreter Training Program in June 2004, I added a new role of the Staff Interpreter/Coordinator for DBSC. Mary Bauer is mentoring me in this new position and I'm learning a lot! I'm busy working both positions but enjoying the experience.

Johnnie Peterson: I am DBSC's staff SSP and started work on October 16, 2004. I come from a wonderful loving Deaf family. I graduated from Alabama School for the Deaf, and lived on the east coast for a while. I've been here in Seattle for 4 years, and started attending DB classes last year. I am thrilled to work with DBSC and looking forward to work with DB Community!

Announcements

DBSC will be closed on November 22 to 26, 2004, and will open on November 29, 2004. Again, they will be closed on December 27 to 31, 2004, and will open on January 3, 2005.

AADB announced the next conference will be in June 17-23, 2006 at Towson University in Maryland. Go to www.aadb.org to read more about it.

The new Trader Joe's store opened across from DBSC on 17th and Madison. The store design is the same as other Trader Joe's, so if you're familiar with one store, you will be able to find things in this one. The sidewalk is open again and there is a signal - but it is NOT a vibrating signal. Please be careful!

Jeannie McComb now is an Independent Travel Consultant. If you have plans to go on vacation or business trips, contact Jeannie at traveljeannie@comcast.net, call 206-772-3126 V/TTY, fax 206-772-1448, or webcam by appointment. She has ASL and tactile fluency.

Correction: We regret these errors.

Our recent newsletter said you can contact Ken Sting to see his vibrating watch. I typed in the old email address, oops! The correct address for email is kenstingbee@comcast.net

Seattle Fabrics (store) In our last newsletter, we talked about reflective ribbons and where to buy those. We typed in the wrong number - oops. The correct phone number is (206) 525-0670 Voice.
Thank You!! Thank You!! Thank You!!

We, the DBSC staff, want to say Thank you for donation of time and skills from Brent Anderson and Dawn McKenna for computer programming and training! We hope you can continue to work with us!

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

Washington State 9-1-1/TTY Education Program
By Donna Platt

Winter is coming soon! That means bad rain, windstorms, and snow may happen. Maybe we will have floods, power outages, snow and other weather conditions that will cause problems.

How can you get warning and/or information about the weather? There are several ways you can get information.

" Watch TV for news
" Subscribe to receive alerts sent to your text pager and/or email (some are free) - http://www.cscdhh.org/911/en1.htm
" Check websites - http://www.cscdhh.org/911/en2.htm
" Check News Flash in Washington State 9-1-1/TTY Education Program website - http://www.cscdhh.org/911/
" Use weather radio - http://www.cscdhh.org/911/en6.htm
" Talk with your friends, family members and/or co-workers - make agreement on plans (what to do and where to go) when the disaster is about to happen or after the disaster

For more information, contact Washington State 9-1-1/TTY Education Program at (206) 322-4996 TTY/V, (206) 720-3251 FAX or WA911TTY@cscdhh.org. Also you can check the website at http://www.cscdhh.org/911/emergency.htm to learn more information about other emergency notification.

USED EQUIPMENT

The Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) has some used equipment that they are willing to give away. These items were given to them by a DB person who no longer needs them, but the items are in good working condition. HKNC is willing to give them to a DB person or to someone who can not afford them. Please contact HKNC by e-mail at hkncnw@aol.com or by calling 206-324-9120 V/TTY if you are interested in the following items:

- LVD includes both power & serial cords, Robard Ind.

- TTY has adaptor cord and no printer function, Superprint by Ultractec, Inc.

- TTY has adaptor cord and no printer function, American Communication Corporation.

- Bed Shaker is "L'll Ben", Model 500.

- Phone Cord has length about 4 feet and goes from wall to phone.

- Battery Charger Cord allows for plugging in 2 charger units. Comtek, NBC 9-2R, Electro-Mech Co.

DBSC Office And Staff
DBSC Phone: (206) 323 - 9178 TTY
DBSC Fax: (206) 328 - 8497

Gail Ploman, Executive Director
Phone: (206) 325 - 7241 TTY
Email: gploman@seattledbsc.org

Dawn Howes, SSP Program Manager
Phone: (206) 323 - 3644 V/TTY
Email: dhowes@seattledbsc.org & ssp@seattledbsc.org

Johnnie Peterson, SSP Staff
Phone: (206) 323 - 3644 TTY
Email: jpeterson@seattledbsc.org

Deanna Donaldson, Office Manager
Phone: (206) 323 - 9178 TTY
Email: info@seattledbsc.org & ddonaldson@seattledbsc.org

Liz Halperin, Advocacy Program Manager/Advocacy Specialist
Phone: (206) 323 - 9217 TTY
Email: lhalperin@seattledbsc.org

Dave Scotton, Advocacy Specialist
Phone: (206) 328 - 0613 TTY
Email: dscotton@seattledbsc.org

Jackie Engler-Morris, Program Director
Phone: (206) 323 - 5463 TTY
Email: jengler@seattledbsc.org

Salwa Rosen, Interpreter Coordinator/Bookkeeper
Phone: (206) 726 - 1950 V/TTY
Email: srosen@seattledbsc.org & terp@seattledbsc.org

DBSC Board of Directors

Caryn Tenin - President Jeremy Sasser - Member
Jeff Foster - Vice President Kathy Steiner - Member

Alex Lee - Treasurer Robert Steppler - Member

Adam Novsam - Member Karen Stueland - Member

Memorial of Gerald H. Blumenau

Thank you for those people who generously donated to DBSC to honor Gerald H. Blumenau. For more information, visit the website to read the notice: http://www.legacy.com/Link.asp?Id=LS02565086X


Douglas & Renee Adams
Rod & Jacqueline Adams
John & Margaret Arbour
Anne Bates
Bay City Country Club
Donna Beattie
Jack Bullis
Geraldine Carolan
Steven & Dianne Carolan
Thomas & Beth Conway
Roberto & Elena Cordoba
James Drenan
James Falvey
Elizabeth Fitzhugh
Devere & Elizabeth Games
Ted Grocholski
H. Hirschfield Sons' Co.
Don & Jane Harris
Ronald & Jean Heinlein
Betty Horner
Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Isackson
Martin & Ruth Jaffe
Bonnie Johnson
Patrick & Nancy Johnson
Raymond & Betty Johnson
Chris & Elizabeth Jones
John & Susan Joseph
Enrique & Susana Kaufman
Esther Kessler
Eleanor Klarides
Ed & Kathryn Langenburg
Law & Mediation Office of
Adelman, P.L.C.
William & Diana Leser
Glenn & Lin Lesperance
Mr. & Mrs. Milton London
Dick & Carol Lounsberry
Gertrude Martin
Earl & Elise Mast
James & Jean McCue
Robert & Jean McIntosh
Esther Murphy
John & Gladean Nichols
John & Gussie Nichols
Betty Peet
Ed Perlberg
Shirley Pescouitz
Ramon Peterson
Frank & Helen Presty
John & Judy Randall
Joanne Rehmus
Mr. & Mrs. James
Richardson
Harold & Norine Rupp
Joseph Simon
Margie Simon
William & Shirley Stange
Bill & Pat Stapish
John & Marilyn Stein
William & Patricia Trahan
John Van Laan
Jeff & Linda Weisenauer
Jerry & Sharon Weisenauer
Judi Wlodarczak
Women's Diversified Inv.
of Bay City
Marie Ziegler
Richard & Judith Zielinski

Community Donors to DBSC

March 2003 to October 2004


Steven Allan
Pat Brunzell
C.P.I. Veneers Inc.
Robert & Lynn Chase
Nikki Ekle
Margarita Eng
Laura Engler
William & Carol Engler
Jeff Foster*
Mildred Frankel
Griffin Commercial Parts,
Inc.
Mr. & Mrs. Earl Griffith
Scott & Dana Linn
Valerie Mannucci
Robert & Emily Marcus
Lavena Meske
Larry & Cheryl McNulty
Shiela Mohnani
Les & Lorna Molenaar
Lorie Noel
Gay-Lloyd Pinder
Steve & Cindy Plancic
Chuck & Phyllis Pyle
Jeff & Huda Rosen
James & Colleen Rozmaryn
Mr. & Mrs. Jerome Schwehr
Cecily Seabourn
Seattle Foundation
Donna Shaman
D.D. Sidebottom
Catherine Sommer
Debbie Sommer
Elizabeth Spiers
Frances Steppler
Ken & Annie Sting
Troy & Angie Tate
Caryn Tenin*
Gerald & Diane Warren
Charlotte Whitacre
Robert & Hilary White
Teri Wood



*Indicates DBSC Board Member
DONATION FORM

The Deaf-Blind Service Center is a non-profit organization. We are funded through government contracts and individual donations. All contributions are tax deductible within the rules and regulations set by the IRS.

Your support means a lot to us.

Yes! I would like to make a donation to DBSC. Enclosed is a contribution of:

$25.00_____ $50.00_____ $100.00_____
$250.00_____ $500.00_____ $1000.00_____
Other amount________

I want this donation to be anonymous.________

Name: _____________________________________

Address: ___________________________________

City/State/Zip: _______________________________

Phone: _____________________________________

Email: ______________________________________

Yes, the company I work for has a Matching Gifts program