DEAF-BLIND SERVICE CENTER

DBSC BULLETIN

Volume 54 April 2002

Table of Contents

Newsletter Concerns and Survey

Staff Changes

DB Interpreter Mentorship Project

DBSC Advocacy Program: The Interpreter Preference
List Project

Wash. Assistive Technology Foundation Loans

Dept. of Services for the Blind Technology Day

DBSC Board of Trustees

DBSC Staff

Donors

DBSC Summer Picnic Date

Donation Form

DBSC NEWSLETTER ABBREVIATION INFORMATION

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


NEWSLETTER CONCERNS AND SURVEY

With rising costs of paper, printing, and postage, we are looking at ways to keep our newsletter cost down. We currently send out over 1,000 copies of each issue!

With this issue, we are trying a new idea. In the past, we have printed all copies in large print. DB people get it printed on one side only for ease of reading, and sighted people get it printed on two sides. With this issue, we are reducing the print to a smaller font for sighted readers. This will immediately cut the paper needs for over 800 readers.

Another option to save paper and postage is to receive the newsletter through your e-mail. If you want this service please send an e-mail message to DBSC@speakeasy.net.

We also plan to update our mailing list before the next newsletter issue. You will automatically stay on our newsletter mailing list if you are a: Client, Interpreter, Support Service Provider, Donor, or Deaf/Deaf-Blind/Hard-of-Hearing person we know. If you don't fit in one of these groups or you aren't sure, you will need to re-subscribe. The newsletter is free but we need you to let us know if you want to keep getting it. You may contact us by phone, fax, email, or traditional mail.

As a final request to our community, we ask that you respond to the following questions. You can send us an e-mail or fax with your responses, or send them via traditional mail to our office.

1. Would you be willing to pay a small fee for the newsletter?


2. We have reduced the frequency of the newsletter to 3 times per year by dropping the summer issue. How often would you like to have a newsletter?


3. Would you be willing to receive it in e-mail format only?


4. Do you think we should only print DBSC news to save space or should we include news submitted by other agencies?


DBSC says THANK YOU to Christine Gilbrough for her design and technical assistance with our newsletter!


STAFF CHANGES

Angelina Arellano left DBSC in mid-December, 2001. We wish her well in her future work. We will be hiring a new full-time Deaf-Blind Advocacy Specialist.

DEAF-BLIND INTERPRETER MENTORSHIP PROJECT -- by Marie Massena

I want to give you an update on the DB Interpreter Mentorship Project. I wear two hats at DBSC. I am the Administrative Assistant. I am also the Coordinator for the DB Interpreter Mentorship Project. This is my second year as the Coordinator.

First let me explain the words we use. A MENTOR is the person who has more experience and helps teach. A MENTEE is the person with less experience who is trying to improve and learn. A MENTORSHIP TEAM is a mentor and a mentee working together. In our program, the mentor is more experienced with interpreting for DB people, knows more about DB culture, guiding or other aspects of DB life. The mentee must be a working interpreter who wants to improve their DB interpreting skills. The team works together interpreting for a DB person, and the mentor helps the mentee to improve. DB people can also be mentors if they take the training and learn how to give positive feedback.

We had 15 mentors working in the program in 2001. 5 are Deaf-Blind, 8 are Hearing and 2 are Deaf. 17 mentees were involved in different settings. We hope for all these numbers to increase in 2002. In addition we provided a workshop "Your Hands, My Eyes, Enhancing Your Comprehensive Visual Interpreting Skills." The workshop targeted working interpreters that already had a basic knowledge of Deaf-Blindness and interpreting for DB people. Jelica Nuccio presented the workshop and we had 12 participants. Our goal is to have another workshop this year but with a different focus.

The federal grant money through the Western Oregon University Region X Interpreter Education Center requires a total of 187 contact hours between mentors and mentees. We provided 217.5 contact hours last year. It is great to have so many interpreting situations for the mentorship teams to work in. Thank you to everyone who supports us.

There have been some changes in the program that I want to share with you. In the past, DBSC paid the mentors $30 an hour. The mentee also paid the mentor an extra $5.00 an hour. We decided to make a change. Now the mentee will pay an annual $15.00 fee to participate in the program. The program itself will pay the mentors $40.00 an hour. The mentors get a raise this year!

The program will also give each DB person who works with a mentorship team a gift certificate. The amount of the certificate will depend on the number of times the DB person participates.

I hope you find all these changes positive. I encourage you to be involved. If you want to be a mentor, mentee, if you have situations where mentorship teams can work, or have ideas for improvement, please contact me at 206-323-9178 or email MarieM@speakeasy.net.


DBSC ADVOCACY PROJECT: THE INTERPRETER PREFERENCE LIST PROJECT --by Liz Halperin

There are more referral agencies in the Seattle area than before. Now when a business or agency needs an interpreter, they usually contact CSCDHH-IRS, SignOn, ASL Interpreter Network, International Language Services (covers Group Health and Virginia Mason, but they get other calls for workshops etc. too), and Dynamic Language Services. Those places sometimes do not know who good interpreters for DB people are.

Many interpreters say "Oh yes, I work with DB!", but aren't experienced or skilled. Some are not good matches for their clients, wear wrong color clothing, etc. At DBSC we thought about this problem and realized one way to help is for DB people to have an interpreter preference list at each agency. It can increase the chances of getting interpreters we want. Maybe your doctor or boss already knows what interpreters you like, but suppose you decide to go to a public meeting? Or to a workshop? Or a lawyer? How will they get a good interpreter for you if they don't have a list of your preferred interpreters?

Of course, each DB person can make their own list and send it to each referral agency. But DBSC can help and support you if you want. We have a list of interpreters. We review the list with the DB person. The DB person can say YES, NO, or I don't care/I am willing to try, etc.

There are a few steps to send out Interpreter Preferred lists. First, we make your list of Preferred Interpreters. Second, DB people need to sign a Release of Information form for each of the five agencies. Third, we send your list to the interpreter agencies.

So far, this project has been helpful for everyone. The referral agencies say they appreciate knowing this list. The DB people are saying the interpreter services are improving for them. DB don't always get their favorite interpreter but they are getting preferred interpreters more often than before.

We plan to revise preferred interpreter lists yearly. You can add new interpreters to your list or take interpreters off your list.

If you are interested in participating in this project, please call our office and ask to meet with one of the staff advocates.


WASHINGTON ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION (WATF) LOANS

WATF has a new Assistive Technology Access Fund for loans to Blind and DB people. This money is from a grant from the WA Council of the Blind. You may borrow from $250 to $5,000 dollars for assistive technology. This could include computer with braille display, or screen enlargement software such as ZoomText, or vibrating home signal systems, CCTVs, or other equipment. The loans are processed through the Cascadia Revolving Fund at a low 6% interest rate. To qualify, you must fill out an application and provide other financial information. If you are interested in this program, please contact DBSC for further information. We can provide assistance to complete the forms.


DEPARTMENT OF SERVICES FOR THE BLIND (DSB) TECHNOLOGY DAY

DSB will offer its 2002 Seattle Technology Day on May 22 at the Alaska Street office. On this day, various vendors of technical equipment will provide exhibits and be available to answer questions. This exhibit day is open to the public. If you are interested in attending, please contact Marla Oughton at 206-721-6430, toll-free at 1-800-552-7103 or by email at maroughton@dsb.wa.gov to request an interpreter.


DBSC BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Danny Delcambre - President Diane Black - Member
Jeff Foster - Vice President Robert J. Steppler - Member
Alex Lee - Treasurer Leigh Golston - Member
Jennifer White - Member Lynn Martinez - Member
Caryn Tenin - Member-at-Large


DBSC OFFICE AND STAFF

DBSC Phone: (206) 323-9178 V/T Gail Ploman, Executive Director
DBSC Fax: (206) 328-8497 Phone: (206) 325-7241 TTY
Email: gaploman@speakeasy.net

Marie Massena, Administrative Assistant Nancy Wickward, Office Assistant
And Coordinator of Deaf-Blind Interpreter Phone: (206) 323-9178 V/T
Mentorship Project Email: dbsc@speakeasy.net
Phone: (206) 323-9178 V/T
Email: mariem@speakeasy.net

Nancy Sommer, SSP Program Coordinator Mary Bauer, Staff Interpreter
Phone: (206) 323-3644 TTY Phone: (206) 323-9178 V/T
Email: nancyssp@speakeasy.net Email: mlbauer@speakeasy.net

Jean Healy, Deaf-Blind Advocacy Liz Halperin, Advocacy Program Manager/
Specialist Advocacy Specialist
Phone: (206) 323-5463 TTY Phone: (206) 323-9217 TTY
Email: jahealy@speakeasy.net Email: halperin@speakeasy.net


THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS

Donald & Wendy Richardson Larry W Lambert Sue Bye
United Way of King County Debbie Laskey-Fink Frankie Snyder
Anne Del Vecchio D. D. Sidebottom Karen Chriest
Nancy & Karm Norris Bernadette Taylor Lara & Nick Currie
Jackie Engler-Morris Lorna & Les Molenaar Karen Ozmun
Sheila & Lachmi Mohnani Gregg Rodgers Nancy Leto
Mark & Susan Svancarek Working Assets Anne Cook
Laurie Reese-Reinhart Marlene Foster Peter Cook
Catherine Sommer Thomas & Joan White William & Kathy Harris
Jim & Gloria Paladichuk Alexander Lee Dorothy Foster
Gregory D. Smith T. L. Debauge Jr Lewis Merkin
Michael Dahl Anonymous Donors
Washington Women's Foundation

!!!!!! SAVE THE DAY !!!!!! JULY 27 !!!!!!

DBSC ANNUAL PICNIC

Saturday, July 27 at Ravenna Park in Seattle. We will send a flier with details about time, SSPs, bus routes, etc. For now, just mark your calendar. See you there!



DONATION FORM

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: _____________________________________

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

Send To:

DBSC
1620 18th Ave Suite 200
Seattle, Wa 98122