SEATTLE
DEAF-BLIND
SERVICE CENTER
Volume 64 - Spring 2008
Inside this issue:
- Desk of the Director
- From the Board
- DBSC Staff and Programs
- Events and News
- Staff Contacts
- Board of Directors
- Volunteer Thanks and List of Donors
- Donation Form
From the Executive Director's Desk
DBSC is doing well with all kinds of changes, challenges, and supports. We have several new team members joining us. (See the introduction to Waylon, Terra, Allie, and Kelly in this newsletter.) We have a new strategic plan for the coming year. We are doing more outreach communication through our publications: the Pro Tactile E-News, the annual report and through fun events to help both raise money for the agency and to share time with the members of our community.
Legislature
Alert to all community members!!! This summer we all need to approach our legislators in person to educate them about the need for more adequate support for DB people. We get our money through the Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) which comes from the state legislature. The amount DBSC is given has not increased in the last 20 years but our community has grown.
Through the years the legislature has given us little increases bit by little bit, but it has not kept up with inflation and rising costs. This year we got $240,000 for our operating budget, but if that amount had kept up with inflation we should get $294,000. In 1987 there were about 20 DB people regularly served by DBSC. Now, 21 years later, DBSC regularly serves almost 80 clients. This is four times the number of clients. We must educate our legislators about this so they will vote to increase our funds. This will have a big influence on our state funds for the year 2009 to 2011. DBSC will set up a class on talking to our legislators this summer. Contact DBSC to sign up for this class.
Moving
You all may be aware that our lease in our current building at 1620 18th Ave. Suite 200 will expire this fall on Sept. 30, 2008. The Board is currently discussing what will happen once the lease has expired and will decided if the lease will be extended for a few more years or if DBSC will buy a new office space. In the event we move to a new office space, DBSC will have to raise more money.
Fundraising
This spring and summer we will be hosting two fundraising events: Fashion Show in June and 5th Annual Walk-a-Thon on Sept. 27th. Hope to see you all there!
Warm regards,
Jelica Nuccio
Greetings from the DBSC Board
To our great supporters, DB community members, family, interpreters and friends,
Can you believe that spring is really HERE and that daylight savings time has just begun? Today, as I see all the flowers in bloom, I am reminded of all the wonderful support there is for DBSC and of how much it is appreciated. On behalf of the DBSC Board of Directors, I would like to thank our Senator, Patty Murray, for getting behind us and seeing through the
passage of a budget that included the Statewide SSP Project. DBSC will be overseeing this $335,000 grant, which will leave a lasting impression on the DB community, thanks to Senator Murray.
As it has grown, DBSC has become a shining star in the DB sky. We are all very excited to be a part of it. More and more people are hearing about us thanks in large part to our wonderful leader, Jelica Nuccio, and the many accomplishments of the DBSC staff.
DBSC's projects are more exciting and more demanding than ever. We currently have five seats on the board needing to be filled before we can manage these projects as effectively as possible. We are especially interested in recruiting people with strong financial and legal skills so if you have these skills, please let me know ASAP.
A special thank you goes out to Jacki Christl, Jennifer Moore and Karen Stueland for their hard work and many contributions in volunteering their time to the DBSC board. They will be missed and deserve a round of applause from everyone in our community.
I would also like to extend a warm welcome to our new board members, Holly Delcambre and Patrick Cave. Holly is very active in many areas, especially fundraising events, (such as hosting a party with Theresa Smith last January). Patrick has a wealth of knowledge in real estate and will help us as we move forward in securing a space for DBSC.
Yes, it is true; DBSC is looking into purchasing our own place. This means we will need to set up a capital campaign team with a goal of raising more than five hundred thousand dollars. If you know anyone interested in donating to our capital campaign or in being a part of the team, please let me know.
I am very proud of the DBSC board and I am looking forward to us growing and becoming an even stronger support for all the good work DBSC does. Come join us! We work hard but we also have fun doing it together.
Have a wonderful and enjoyable spring.
Very best regards,
Adam Novsam
President
Jackie Engler-Morris, Project Coordinator
Jackie became Project Coordinator in July 2007. Her primary duties are:
• Outreaching to the general public,
• Coordinating Interpreters for DBSC business,
• Coordinating Communication Facilitators (CFs),
• Teaching Braille classes, and
• Coordinating Professional SSPs for Professional Services.
Currently, the most important projects Jackie is working on is updating a list of preferred interpreters for DB participants making sure they have an access for communication for their medical/dental appointments and meetings. She it working with Waylon Mathern on a major makeover on all brochures and fact sheets of DBSC's programs and services.
As a representative of the DBSC's outreach program, Jackie has been attending the 9-1-1 Deaf Advisory Committee meetings to ensure that DB people have an access to communication during emergency situations. DBSC and the 9-1-1 Deaf Advisory Committee are currently working together on developing cards with various emergency situations printed on them that also include pictures of ASL signs and Braille, so that police and firemen can communicate with Deaf and DB. Also, a script is being written for a documentary (movie) for police to learn how to work with people who are Deaf and DB.
Jackie became a member at large with Sound Transit Citizens Accessibility Advisory Committee (CAAC) this past fall, to ensure that DB riders are able to access and travel independently using public transportation (bus, light rail and commuter train). If you have problems and/or want to give feedback about Sound Transit's public transportation, please contact Jackie.
Sandy Sallee, SSP Program Coordinator
Hello everyone!
I would like to thank all our SSP Contractors for their commitment to our DB Community. Our SSP Program could not be the example and the model it is without all of your support!
We have some exciting news regarding Support Service Providers Pilot Project bill. It has been passed with Senator Patty Murray's help so that we can expand our services to Deaf-Blind people on a statewide level. Therefore we would like to extend a big welcome to Terra Edwards who is our Statewide SSP Pilot Project Coordinator! This is a very exciting role as she will be working on material for SSP training.
Our 5th annual Walk for DBSC is just a few months away so please save the date! Let us know if you are interested in volunteering as an SSP!
We are currently looking for new SSPs. If you are interested (or know anyone who may be interested) in becoming an SSP please contact me.
Hope you have a very happy spring!
Jean Healy, Contracted DB Senior Citizens Program
The DB seniors group has been gathering once a month on Friday from 1pm to 4 pm. Usually 10 seniors join. Since last summer the seniors have taken turns planning an activity and leading the group with assistance from the program coordinator. The group has gone to the Pike Place Market, Alki Beach, Community Services for the Blind Store, Marie Callander's restaurant, Seattle Center and the Space Needle. The senior leading the monthly activity decided where to go and worked with the program coordinator to plan the details. If more than one activity or date was suggested, a vote was taken by all the DB seniors. Having the seniors take turns and voting for an activity are good ways to involve everyone in their group and take on some leadership skills. Most of the seniors enjoy the occasional leadership role.
There have been many wonderful SSPs who volunteer their time to support the seniors who want to attend an activity. Many thanks to all of you great SSPs!!
Welcome Back, aj!
aj granda returned to DBSC on February 12th this year after being gone on maternity leave. She is now the proud mom of Sawyer (pictured next page, with aj). We are pleased to have her back as our Community Development Educator. Please read her article about our DB Youth Program.
(Picture of aj granda and Sawyer)
aj granda, Community Development Educator
Hi folks, what do you think about DB youth? I think that DB youth are our future leaders! I asked several DB adults their opinions and many of them said they did not identify as DB until later in life. They also said that when they looked back they realized they had been DB since a young age. I found out I had Ushers when I was 16 years old. It was not until I moved to Seattle that I started to identify myself as a DB person. Looking back I wish I had more DB adult role models growing up and I wish I knew the pride of identifying as a DB person when I was younger.
That is why we here at DBSC are very excited to start a new Youth DB project! The idea is to bring DB youth together with other DB adults so they can share and learn about DB pride. We started with a youth DB picnic last summer. It was small but very successful. This year, we are very excited to have a DB Youth weekend project. Thanks in advance to Washington Sensory Disabilities Services for collaborating with us to make this event happen. Dates have not been confirmed yet but it will be some time in June. We are going to round up DB youth from all over Washington state for a weekend of exciting events. About eight DB youth will be staying with DB adults here in Seattle for the weekend. There will be an icebreaker party on Friday night, a fashion show fundraiser on Saturday, a BBQ party on Saturday night, and then the youth DB picnic on Sunday that is open to all DB people and their families, friends and allies. Stay tuned for announcements in the near future.
If you are a DB youth and are interested in participating in our weekend project, please contact us! If you know a DB youth, please share the news with them. We look forward to expanding our community.
Communication Facilitator (CF) Program
In these past nine months, DBSC has been busy spreading the awareness about our CF program and how to use the service at DBSC and the Lighthouse for the Blind. The number of DB people using the CF services is increasing in small amounts each month.
We are aiming to provide more DB people access to VRS and Direct calls through Videophone (VP), but these services are not limited to the Seattle area. After sending out a survey to all Regional Centers in the state of Washington, we learned that there is no more than 8 DB people residing in each region (Spokane, Bellingham, Vancouver, Pasco, Yakima and Tacoma). (It was a challenge to choose the first two sites to establish CF services, Yakima and Vancouver.) We chose them based on two criteria: more resources within the area, such as number of potential CFs, and DB's access to the center. Currently, we are working closely with those two centers to contact DB people directly about the service and recruiting CFs before the site is set up officially. This would happen within the next two months (May 2008). We encourage you to please share this news with the community outside of Seattle.
New DBSC Staff
Over the past few months DBSC has acquired several new team members for various positions. We are pleased to have all these new faces!
Kelly Ballard is our new Administrative Assistant and began working the first week of March. She has been involved with the DB community for 3 years and graduated from Seattle Central Community College's Interpreter Training Program in June 2007.
Waylon Mathern has been the new Bookkeeper here at DBSC since January 22nd, 2008. Waylon is originally from Wyoming and Montana, and has recently moved to the Seattle area, a place he has always loved. He attended the Rochester Institute of Technology in upper state New York where he graduated with Bachelors of Science in Business Management with focus on Finance.
Allie Joiner is our new DB Senior Citizen Advocate. Allie is a part time contractor. Allie retired from ADWAS last year thinking she'd stay retired. Wrong! She is back working because she likes to stay busy (and crazy). Fun fact: did you know she used to work as a vocational counselor in the 70's in the basement of the same building where DBSC is now?!!
Terra Edwards is our newest addition, she started in mid March and is our contractual Statewide Support Service Providers (SSPs) Pilot Project coordinator to implement SSP curriculum/training for both SSPs and DB people in the state of Washington. She has been involved with the Seattle Deaf and Deaf-Blind communities since 1998 as an SSP and in other roles. In 2003, she moved to Texas to study anthropology and linguistics at the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned her MA. In July, 2008, she will go back to graduate school at the University of California at Berkeley to study for her PhD in anthropology, but will return to the Seattle Deaf-Blind community often.
Please stop by DBSC to meet all of our new team!
Good Bye, Good Luck!
We would like to take the time to thank Steve Kennedy for his dedication to DBSC as our Advocacy Specialist. Even though you were with us for only 17 months you did a remarkable job.
We are currently seeking our next full time Advocacy Specialist. If you are interested in applying for the position please visit our website for more information.
Independent Living Services for Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing People
By Jean Healy
For the first time, the Washington State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) includes, specifically, the independent living (IL) needs of the Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing communities! This success happened after more than 3 years of hard work. A team of people from DBSC, Division of Services for the Blind (DSB), Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), Helen Keller National Center (HKNC), Hearing Loss Association of Washington (HLA-WA), Hearing Speech and Deafness Center (HSDC), Lighthouse for the Blind (LH) and Washington State Association of the Deaf (WSAD) came together to create a plan for more services with communication access and support recommendations to the Washington State Independent Living Council (SILC). The council oversees implementation of the SPIL. In October of 2006 DBSC, HKNC, HSDC, HLA-WA did a presentation about the IL needs of Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing individuals.
Now, the team is working with SILC to provide more education about the different communication needs of the Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing individuals who may be seeking ways to improve their IL skills. Centers for Independent Living (CIL) provide IL skills training, but most do not have the resources for communication access needed by Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing individuals. If Deaf person wants to improve skills with using the computer program Excel or plan a budget, CIL staff know how to teach this but do not know ASL. The plan is to have the team of Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing service agencies and CILs work together so everyone seeking IL services in Washington state will have their needs satisfied with the right communication access.
DBSC Annual Walk-a-Thon
Please SAVE this date on your calendar! The Walk for DBSC (5th Annual Walk A Thon) will be on Saturday September 27, 2008 from 9 am to 3 pm. The walk will take place at Green Lake Park, located about eight miles north of downtown, it is a cherished lake-park that is used at all times of the year, at all hours. Runners, in-line skaters, cyclists and walkers love the 2.8-mile paved path that circles the lake. Feel free to bring the kids and your dog for this great social event.
If you are interested in being a volunteer for this years Walk-a-Thon please contact Angela Theriault at angelatheriault@comcast.net. There are various positions to be filled! More details coming soon on our website.
DB to DB Classes
This year DBSC is excited to offer multiple classes that are for Deaf-Blind taught by Deaf-Blind.
We will be continuing yoga classes, taught by Jenné Chalfant. Ken Sting will be teaching woodcarving during April and we will also be offering a class on how to steam cook food. There will be a class this summer about how to approach our Legislators in order to educate them about the DB community.
If you have any questions or would like to sign up for a class please contact aj granda at fancycane@gmail.com.
Deaf-Blind Awareness Week
DB Awareness week will be June 22nd –28th this year. We plan on having events that weekend beginning with a party on Friday, DB Fashion Show and BBQ on Saturday and our second annual DB Youth Picnic. Please look for more details in our upcoming monthly newsletter!
`Wrong Game` Show
DBSC and Northwest Rainbow Association for the Deaf (NWRAD) have been selected to work together as hosts for the "Wrong Game" show. The tentative dates are:
- Tacoma- April 26th (Saturday) at Stadium HS Auditorium- 2 pm
- Seattle- April 27th (Sunday) Two showings at Broadway Performance Hall (SCCC).1 pm and 4pm.
Deaf-Blind Retreat 2008
This year will mark the 30th year anniversary of the Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind's annual Deaf-Blind Retreat! It is for Deaf-Blind adults and takes place at the Seabeck Conference Center August 24th through August 30th.
For more information please visit www.deafblindlh.org or email at DBReatreat@seattlelh.org.
Deaf-Blind Community Classes
The Lighthouse for the Blind is continuing to hold Deaf-Blind Community classes at Seattle Central Community College in room BE1110. The doors open at 4:30pm and class is from 5:30 to 7pm. They feature a variety of topics and speakers. The class schedule begins April 2nd, every other Wednesday until May 28th.
If you have any questions please contact Karen Park at kpark@seattlelh.org.
Royal Caribbean Cruises
Recently a DBSC Board Member discovered that Royal Caribbean Cruise Line offers interpreters on their cruises, if requested. They also have other amenities for those who are Deaf and DB such as TTY's, vibrating alarms and Closed-captioned TV's. You must request interpreting services 60 days prior to voyage to ensure an interpreter will be available for the trip. For more information you can visit the Royal Caribbean website at royalcaribbean.com, call them directly about requesting an interpreter at (866) 592-7225 or email at special_needs@rccl.com.
How to contact DBSC Staff
Jelica Nuccio, Executive Director
jnuccio@seattledbsc.org
Kelly Ballard, Administrative Assistant
206-323-9178 V/TTY/VP
info@seattledbsc.org
Jackie Engler–Morris, Project Coordinator
206-323-5463 TTY
jengler@seattledbsc.org
terp@seattledbsc.org
Terra Edwards, Statewide SSP Pilot Project Coordinator
terraedwards@gmail.com
aj granda, Community Development Educator
206-328-0613 TTY
fancycane@gmail.com
Allie Joiner, Senior Citizen Advocate
206-323-3644 TTY/VP
advocacy@seattledbsc.org
Waylon Mathern, Bookkeeper
206-726-1950 TTY
wmathern@seattledbsc.org
Sandy Sallee, SSP Coordinator
206-323-9178 V/TTY/VP
ssp@seattledbsc.org
Dave Scotton, Part-time DB Advocate
206-323-3644 TTY/VP
advocacy@seattledbsc.org
DBSC Board of Directors
President: Adam Novsam (anovsam@gmail.com)
Vice President: Angela Theriault (angelatheriault@comcast.net)
Treasurer: position open
Secretary: position open
Members: Merrilee Avila, Patrick Cave, Holly Delcambre
Open Board Positions
If you are interested in becoming a DBSC Board Member please contact President Adam Novsam.
Thank to all of our Volunteers
Alves, Amanda
Avila, Marrilee
Ballard, Kelly
Barrus, Monica
Bernstein, Peg
Bland, Cassie
Best, Suzy
Cameau, Nora
Chin, Chanelle
Clark, Tracy
Daverso, Tony
Dockter, Terry
Douthit, Dawnell
Durfee, Judy
Edensword, Jeanine
Ellis, Catherine
Fetig, Ronn
Flowers, Misty
Frantz, Richelle
Furtado, Cherie
Glaser, Paul
Graff, Joey
Griffin, Erin
Hawley, Nina
Healy, Jean
Homad, Elena
Jones, Beth
Keller, Danni
Kelley, Lee
Lutz, Janet
Lyles, Christopher
Machalski, Linda
Maine, Allison
Mannucci, Valerie
Marcus, Cliff
Martin, Chani
Marumoto, Kazuyo
Moore, Jennifer
Mould, Lisa
Nelson, Sharleen
Nixon, Molly
Nuccio, Vince
Perkins, Cole
Peterson, Johnnie
Plecher, John
Powicke, Elinor
Rosen, Salwa
Rowedder, Robin
Sakai, Karissa
Scotton, Dave
Smith, Theresa
Stueland, Karen
Swicker, Ray
VanWinkle, Connie
Wheeler, Patricia
Thank you to all of our Donors
Adams, Kirk
Anda, Jacqueline Van
Arcamo, Elizabeth
Aristizabal, Jorge & Doris
Bateh, Raymond and Heather
Bayliss, Robert & Bonnie
Belo, Ariele
Berg, John
Bernstein, Peg
Bernstein, Richard
Blondin, John
Booth, Barry
Bouton, Cathi & Jeff
Brown, Carol
Brown, Don & Tina
Brown, Stephen & Jacqueline
Burk, Connie & Jacob Fawcett
Burns, Mary & Richard
Cave, Pat and Joan
Chase, Lynn
Claar, Shauna
Clark, Heather
Collins, Karen Carlson & M.
Crombie, Diana
Cunningham, Elizabeth
Cutler, Kathryn
Del Vecchio, Anne
Delcambre, Holly
Devereux, Deborah
Dice, Julie
Durfee, Judy & Dan
Edwards, Terra
Eng, Delia Margarita
Engler, William
Fankhauser, Marcia
Fisher, Selene
Fletcher, Paul
Flowers, Misty
Floyd, Jenifer
Foster, Jeff
Frantz, Richelle
Furtado, Frank & Sarah
Golden, Terence
Halperin, Liz
Halseth, Tom and Rebekka
Hartling, Anita
Hawkes, Steven & Sherri
Hawk Relay
Healy, Jean
Helsel, Don
Hicks, Kendal
Hoffman, Paula
Hofheimer, Leigh & Jon Nachman
Holleran, Kimberly
Hoshi, Kristy & Mark
Johnson, Meg
Joiner, Allie & Estie Provow
Jordan, Kimberley & Philip
Jorgensen, Tony
Klarman, Lindsay Skinner
Klein, Jennifer
Kong, Deng
Kosier, Dale & Euda
Ladner, Richard & Ann Sauer
Landreneau, Mark
Landsberg, Carol
Ledray, Sandra
Leto, Nancy
Lintz, Cathy & Craig Russell
Lyles, Christopher
Mac Lean, Polly
Mannucci, Valerie
Mansfield, Pauline
Marcus, Robert
Margolin, Susan
Martin, Kim & David
Martin, Kim & Glen
Martinez, Lynn & Gabby
Marvin William Lax
Masters, Sandie & Steve
Matthews, Jackie
McAdams, Ragen "Wright"
McCully, Glenn
McDevitt, Paul & John Sabol
McGee, Bobbie
McQuire, Molly
Mead, Eric
Meske, Lillian
Meyer, Don
Miller, Sylvia & George
Miner, Ilene
Minkin, Marlyn
Moore, Jennifer
Nasman, Therese
Noel, Lorie
Novsam, Adam
Novsam, David
Novsam, Helen
Novsam, Ira
Nuccio, Phillip & Margaret
Nuccio, Vince
Ozmun, Karen
Pancho, Nelly & Bonifacio III
Pinder, Gay Lloyd
Powicke, Elinor
Provatikas, Clements
Raff, Eric & Lauren
Rasmussen, John
Reyes, Juan
Richard Jacobs
Richmond, Steven & Olivia
Rodgers, Gregg
Rosen, Salwa
Roth, Robert
Sasser, Jeremy
Scheir, Robert & Harriet
Schreiber, Joseph
Seago, Howie & Lori
Shaman, Donna
Silvero, Josie
Simon, Joseph
Simon, Rachel
Slader, Norm
Smith, Theresa
Sommer, Catherine
Sommer, Debbie
Sommer, Nancy
Steiner, Katherine
Steppler, Robert J.
Sting, Annie and Ken
Stoyanoff, Dawn
Stueland, Karen and Sam
Taylor, Bernadette
Theriault, Angela
Thomas, Laura
Thomsen, Brogan
Tom, Suelene & Rick Bourns
Troudt, Barbara & Donald
Vinson, Mary Ellen
Visser, Bruce & Christine
Walt, Dorothy
Wheeler, Patricia
White, Tom & Joan
Wickward, Gordon & Kathryn
Wickward, Nancy
Wildenstein, Jeff
Williams, Adam
Williamson, Jefferey
Companies:
BECU
Citi Global Impact Funding Trust, Inc.
City Critters, LLC
Employee's Community Fund of Boeing
Griffin Commercial
Key Foundation
Lighthouse Employees
Local Independent Charities
Microsoft Giving Campaign
Seattle Foundation
Seattle Police Employees Charity Fund
Sprint
St. Anthony Parish
United Way of Snohomish County
For a PDF version of our donation form please click here
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.
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