[NFBWATlk] Deaf-Blind Service Center PT Newsletter - JUNE 2023!

Fri Jun 30 20:38:42 UTC 2023

            The available grant may be of interest to some on this list.

From: Heather Melendez - DBSC <Heather at seattledbsc.org>
Sent: Friday, June 30, 2023 1:00 PM
To: Heather Melendez - DBSC <Heather at seattledbsc.org>
Subject: PT Newsletter - JUNE 2023!

DEAFBLIND SERVICE CENTER
[cid:aa4b7d23-3831-4bf6-8f40-56ec1b790976]
June 2023

New DBSC Staff & Board Members
DBSC is excited to announce that we have new staff and board members! Camila Bruno, who is a sighted and hearing, works as the full-time Bookkeeper for DBSC. Nikk Bouteiller, who is DeafBlind, works as a full-time Client Advocate. Kimi Hager (DeafBlind) and Jennifer Hess (DeafBlind) are new board members. Please join me in welcoming them aboard!

Here is the current staff roster at DBSC:
Elizabeth Oesterling – Administrative Assistant
Heather Melendez – Administrative Support
Camila Bruno – Bookkeeper
Jessica Phillips – SSP/ CN & CF Coordinator
Cathy Hoog – Client Advocate
Nikki Bouteiller - Client Advocate
Jackie Engler-Morris – Interpreter Manager
JennyLynn Mason – Interpreting Scheduler
Angela Theriault- Executive Director

Client Flexible Spending Program
DBSC receives a small grant from the City of Seattle’s Community Living Connection Program. This grant helps to pay for items and services for our clients. For example, they may need a new microwave, a vibrating clock, Air Fryer, Vacuum cleaner, or new pots and pans. Assistance with services may include helping pay rent, electricity bill, internet bill, phone bill, etc. It is available once per year per client. If you qualify, DBSC can pay for one item up to approximately $1,000 for this current year.
After you are approved, you can pick one item you need. These may include;

  *   Adaptive equipment
  *   Household and Kitchen items
  *   Health & Safety items
  *   Technology for communication access

Who is Eligible and what are the General Terms?

  *   Any DB person, 60 years of age or older
  *   Must Live in Puget Sound (Seattle, South King County, North King County)
  *   Income dependent. Some DeafBlind persons will pay nothing. Others may receive a percentage off of the item or service
  *   Client can participate one time per year
  *   The deadline to apply for this program is December 31st.
If you would like more information, please contact Angela Theriault at: atheriault at seattledbsc.org<mailto:atheriault at seattledbsc.org>.

DBSC is looking For SSP/Co-Navigators!
NEEDED: CoNavigator who can communicate with Hard of Hearing/Blind with little to no signing experience.
The CN serves as the eyes and ears of the person who is DeafBlind.
DBSC recruits a CN to assist with food shopping, basic banking, mail reading, errands, exercise for health purposes, and providing rides to the airport.
Are you motivated to provide access to individuals with a variety of hearing and vision loss and signing skills?
Do you have some skills or are you interested to learn how to give visual environmental descriptions and guiding techniques?
Do you have some free time and want to earn some extra income?
If you answer yes to the above, WE NEED YOU!!
The DeafBlind Service Center (DBSC) is searching for a potential candidate to work as a sub-contracted CN in the following areas:
North Seattle, West Seattle, South Seattle, Marysville, Mount Vernon, and Bellingham, and Vancouver.
Training will be provided. You must have a car and provide auto insurance with Personal Injury Protection coverage included and be able to pass a background check. Need to have availability for daytime hours during the week. You are not required to be fluent at signing. If you are interested, please contact Jessica Phillips at: ssp at seattledbsc.org<mailto:ssp at seattledbsc.org> or call: 206-452-0062.

Support DBSC!
The DeafBlind Service Center provides a wide variety of necessary programs and services for the DeafBlind community such as our SSP Program and DeafBlind Interpreting. Due to these programs other services we provide, Seattle has one the largest independent DeafBlind communities in the United States. We depend on and value the financial support that we receive. If you would like to donate towards DBSC, please CLICK HERE<https://seattledbsc.org/donate/>.  We express our thanks to all who generously support our work!

Traffic and Road Closures near DBSC
For the next few months, we ask that you please use caution when walking near our office at DBSC. Major construction is happening on Madison Street in front of our building. They are working on a new Rapid Ride "G" bus line on Madison Street and hope to be finished for 2024.  The G line will go from the ferry dock all the way to MLK Way, every 10 minutes!
There are many street closures in the area, and it changes every day.  Please be alert when crossing as there are some deep holes near the crosswalks.

There will be many changes to transportation service for bus #10 and #11, and bus #47 will be cut completely. Check with Metro transit for information and alerts if you are planning to use the bus to come visit DBSC.

DBSC Conference Room
We at DBSC are sad to announce that we have given up the conference room in our building. The Hearing, Speech, and Deaf Center (HSDC) along with Yates, Wood & MacDonald, Inc. share ownership of the Non-Profit Building where DBSC leases. They decided to raise fees for the lease. The conference room will be missed because there were many memories such as meetings, events, and social gatherings.  If you are in need of a free conference room, The Seattle Public Library and King County Library offer this service. Please contact them for details.

DBSC and WSDBC Lunch Social
DBSC and Washington State DeafBlind Citizens (WSDBC) hosted a Lunch Social at Lincoln Park in Seattle on Saturday June 17th! We gathered to socialize and enjoy the beach together, despite the chilly weather.  It was great to get together again after the COVID pandemic.  Over 30 DeafBlind people attended.  We provided a delicious lunch. We would like to express our many thanks to those that volunteered for the event. We look forward to planning another Social Lunch next summer!

Save the Date

Deaf Thrive – Saturday, September 9th, 2023

DBSC PT Art Show – Saturday, September 16th, 2023

DBSC Fundraiser Move-a-Thon – Saturday, September 30th, 2023
13th Annual Vision Walk - Saturday, September 30th, 2023. Click here for more information:
2023 Vision Walk.

DBSC and ODHH Community Event – November 18th, 2023

DBSC will send out flyers for some of these events listed above. Stay tuned for updates on these exciting events!

Enjoy your summer!

PRO-TACTILE NEWS – JUNE 2023

Donate to DBSC!

If you would like to donate to DBSC’s programs & services, you can donate on our DBSC website! Click here to donate<http://seattledbsc.org/support/supportDonate.php>.

[cid:330343a9-85d2-4808-a136-153bcef14927]DBSC is on Facebook!
Click here to join<https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Deaf-Blind-Service-Center/307809821674> DBSC on FACEBOOK!
                                               [cid:da1eb40d-69de-4cd8-a190-6927de92ab4c]

DeafBlind Service Center
1620 18th Avenue, Suite 200, Seattle, WA  98122
VP (206) 455-7932 ● Voice Line: 206-323-9178
Toll Free: 833-235-5550
info at seattledbsc.org<mailto:info at seattledbsc.org> ● www.seattledbsc.org<http://www.seattledbsc.org>

To unsubscribe to the monthly Pro-Tactile E-News,
Please email: info at seattledbsc.org<mailto:info at seattledbsc.org>.

Heather Melendez

Administrative Support

DeafBlind Service Center

1620 18th Ave. Suite #200

Seattle, WA 98122

833.235.5550 (Toll Free - Voice)

206.323.9178 (Voice)

206.455.7932 (VP)

206.328.8497 (Fax)
info at seattledbsc.org<mailto:info at seattledbsc.org> (Email)
www.seattledbsc.org<http://www.seattledbsc.org/>
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