The Seattle Lighthouse is a private, not-for-profit agency providing employment, support, and training opportunities for people who are blind, Deaf-Blind, and blind with other disabilities. We are the foremost employer of Deaf-Blind people in the United States with a comprehensive Deaf-Blind program serving our employees and the larger Deaf-Blind community.

Deaf-Blind Community Class Statement of Purpose

-- to create a forum where members of the Deaf-Blind community can explore a wide variety of topics, learn leadership and presentation skills, spend time with peers, and help both Deaf and hearing sign language interpreters develop interpreting skills with Deaf-Blind people --

Our Commitment to the Deaf-Blind Community
All Deaf-Blind program services offer a safe, supportive, and respectful environment; linguistically and culturally appropriate services; and consumer involvement and input. Our goal is to ensure maximum respect, independence, choice, and control over matters impacting each participant.

Deaf-Blind Community Classes Program and Services Our community classes take place every other week throughout the academic year. Community classes cover a wide range of subjects of interest to the Deaf-Blind community within a totally accessible environment. Deaf-Blind individuals play leadership roles in planning, facilitating, and leading community classes. Community class offers an environment to American Sign Language and interpreting students to come and learn about and participate in the Deaf-Blind community.

Accessibility features:

• Communication paced to accommodate individual needs.
• Culturally relevant presentation of information
• One-on-one sign language interpretation in each individual’s preferred language and mode
  • American Sign Language (ASL)
  • Pidgin Signed English (PSE)
  • Signed Exact English (SEE)
  • Tactile interpretation
  • Close interpretation
  • Vocal interpretation
• FM Systems
• All materials available in large print or Braille

Eligibility
Participants must be Deaf-Blind: legally blind and either Deaf, significantly hard of hearing, or late deafened. Services are open to all community members and are not limited to Seattle Lighthouse employees.

Deaf and hearing volunteer sign language interpreters may be professionals, interpreting students, or community members. All volunteer interpreters must be competent in American Sign Language; in addition, volunteer interpreters must possess an appropriate level of interpreting skill and experience working with Deaf-Blind people.

Funding
Deaf-Blind programs are funded primarily through community support. Community support includes financial contributions from local corporations, foundations, service organizations, and individuals. Community funding for the Deaf-Blind program may be augmented by government grants or income from manufacturing and sale of Lighthouse products.

All community support for Lighthouse programs is channeled through the Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind Foundation, whose sole purpose is to gather community support for fulfillment of the Seattle Lighthouse mission. Tuition is free for participants.

Date and Time
Every other Wednesday, October through June.
5:30 - 7:00 pm

Information Contact
Karen Park
DB Community Class Coordinator
kpark@seattlelh.org
206-436-2282 VP/TTY
www.deafblindlh.org
www.seattlelighthouse.org

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