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Support Service Providers

Support Service Providers (SSPs) are individuals specially trained to assist the deaf-blind. The Support Service Provider's duty is to provide deaf-blind clients with access to communication, environmental information, and safe and effective travel through the community. Each support service provider is matched with deaf-blind clients according to client needs and preferences and the SSP's skills, training, and experience.

A deaf-blind individual may request an SSP for survival purposes (such as grocery shopping and doctor visits), recreational activities and outings, civic involvement, etc.

SSPs focus on empowering deaf-blind individuals; an SSP will not generally do that which deaf-blind individuals are capable of doing themselves.  For instance, an SSP does not do a client's grocery shopping for them; rather, the SSP guides the deaf-blind client through the store and describes the different options that are available. Thus, the deaf-blind individual is enabled to make a purchase decision based on their own preferences of price, brand, size, color, etc.

Support services are usually provided at volunteer or para-professional levels to help minimize the costs of service provision. Volunteers apply for their positions through AzADB, whereas para-professional SSPs are offered to AzADB through the Community Outreach Program for the Deaf. 

Funding and resources for support services in Tucson and Phoenix is generally low.  In most areas of Arizona, funds are non-existent.  In such situations, deaf-blind individuals must rely on the assistance of those not adequately trained, or, as is often the case, remain isolated and deprived of community inclusion.  Please consider joining with AzADB in accomplishing its mission to enrich the lives of the deaf-blind.

I want to support AzADB

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