Communication Advocacy Network Corporation

Michelle Clark, Deaf Blind Consumer
September 10, 2011

Introduction

Hello! My name is Michelle Clark. I am deaf-blind all my whole life. I am very proud to be deaf-blind because CAN has promoted Deaf-Blind consumers to feel "alive" and be able to do like what most consumers do. I am very grateful that I have my SSP service with CAN which makes me more productive! Thanks to CAN for allowing Deaf-Blind community IN the society.

How do I start to get SSP service?

I know the Connecticut did not provide SSP services for Deaf-Blind for many years in the past until 2009. We, Deaf-Blind need "Support Service Provider" (SSP) to transport Deaf-Blind consumers to any place like doctor visits, shopping, events and etc. I asked the state agency, Board of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB) to help me to get grant for SSP service.

Now BESB found CAN as the one that this nonprofit agency is very willing to set up SSP services for Deaf-Blind CT residents and to help them for their needs. CAN is the right place to help Deaf-Blind consumers because people who work at CAN know how to communicate with Deaf-Blind consumers.

I feel strongly that CAN sets very good example to help Deaf-Blind consumers for SSP services better than any agency with hearing people who don't know about Deaf and Deaf-Blind communities. My goal is that SSP services at CAN keeps continuing to grow and spread to help more Deaf-Blind consumers and to receive more grants. CAN provides more education to Deaf community to understand about Deaf-blind people who need their support to make CAN Deaf-Blind services successful in the future.

What is Support Service Provider (SSP)?
SSP is like another person to help deaf-blind person to accompany with him or her whenever Deaf Blind consumers need SSP for their plans for transportation or to come to their homes to read and help with the bills including other else. CAN offers any SSP job available in hope to look and hire an qualified SSP for Deaf-Blind consumers. Deaf Blind consumers will not feel being left out, will not be lonely, or will not stay home all times. Deaf-Blind individual does not want to demand from their spouses, partners or family members because they want to be very independent and to be on their own with SSP. SSP is the way for Deaf-Blind individual would be able to go anywhere he or she wants to go. SSP would make Deaf-Blind individual to feel good and to have enjoyable experience. That is how SSP works with Deaf-Blind individual through being paid by grant. SSP person must be qualified to know how to work with Deaf-Blind people, must require training. Deaf-Blind individual prefers to match their communication skills with SSP's like tactile American Sign Language or American Sign Language (ASL) and/or other type of communication skills. It is very important for Deaf-Blind person to feel comfortable with SSP's understanding about Deaf-Blind. That is what SSP is all about.

I want SSP services to keep growing and continuing for some long time. I am very happy that in CT we have SSP services now just like some other several states that do. Deaf-Blind community needs Deaf/deaf community to help support Deaf-Blind’s SSP services. Please contact CAN if you are interested to become SSP. I appreciate it that CAN lets me choose any SSPs whom I want to work with. Also working with SSP is very flexible for Deaf-Blind consumers themselves to make their schedules.