About Us
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Originally founded in 1986 as an incorporated non-profit, DeafBlind Services Minnesota is dedicated to serving deafblind children, adults and their families throughout the state of Minnesota to achieve their highest level of independence. DBSM serves over 100 DeafBlind children, adults and their families each year. For information about the services and supports we provide, click on the "Program Services" link on the left.
In December 2004, DeafBlind Services Minnesota, Inc. was dissolved and the program was re-established as DeafBlind Services Minnesota, LLC, a limited liability corporation of Vision Loss Resources (VLR). VLR provides rehabilitation training, adjustment to blindness training, community support services and a Community Center (Center and community-based activities).
DBSM provides similar services to children and adults who have a significant dual sensory loss of vision and hearing ("deafblindness"). We also provide independent living skills training and supports to deaf and hard of hearing consumers referred through Hennepin County.
NEWS RELEASES: DBSM DEAFBLIND SUPPORT GROUP PROJECT FUNDED FOR SECOND YEAR [News release; August 7 2007] DeafBlind Services Minnesota (DBSM) has received funding from the Minnesota Dept. of Human Services’ Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division (DHHSD) to continue providing support groups to deafblind adults age 18 or older. Paul Deeming, DBSM Program Manager and the coordinator for this project, explains, “The DeafBlind community has been asking for support groups for years. We are very happy to be able to meet this very important need with the support of grant funding from the Dept. of Human Services.”
Laurie Lee Johnson, Ph.D., L.P., a licensed psychologist in the Twin Cities who is experienced working with the Deaf and DeafBlind communities, will continue to work with DBSM to facilitate this project.
Deafblind adults ages 18 and above who are interested must fill out an application to be considered (applications will be mailed out to deafblind people on DBSM’s mailing list in mid-August or can be requested by contacting Mr. Deeming). The project will have two separate groups: one for signing deafblind members and a second for oral/hard-of-hearing deafblind members. Each group will have up to six people and address members’ unique communication needs. Support group members will discuss their life experiences as deafblind people and learn skills for adjustment to positive mental and emotional health. Members will gain support from each other related to each month’s topic.
The groups will begin in October 2007 and continue through May 2008, meeting on the third Thursday of each month: the signing group from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and the oral/hard of hearing group from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The groups will take place at DeafBlind Services Minnesota, 1936 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Project contact:
Paul Deeming, M.S., C.I.
DBSM Program Manager
612-362-8454 v, 612-362-8422 tty, 612-362-8433 vp
pauld@dbsm.org
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