About the Support Service Provider Program

The State of Hawaiʻi, Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) has selected Knowledge Services as its Managed Service Provider to oversee the Support Service Provider (SSP) Program under Contract DHS-23-VR-0057. Under this contract, the Knowledge Services MSP Program will be referred to as HISSP.

The SSP Program is intended to serve as a connection between individuals who have a combination of vision and hearing loss with the surrounding environment to support the independence of Deaf-Blind Consumer.

The SSP Program consists of the following:

1. Provide access to visual and environmental information
2. Serve as a human guide and orientation to the environment
3. Facilitate communication of spoken or signed conversations.

Activities under the SSP Program may include the following:

1. Health and Well Being: Doctors’ appointments/therapies, Hospital or outpatient clinic for appointments, pharmacy, exercise/fitness activities, etc.
2. Social: Social events (weddings, funerals), family holidays/events, etc.
3. Household Management with Deaf-Blind Consumer: Read mail, scribe to complete forms, facilitate phone calls, accompany to laundromat, personal finance and banking (reader and/or scribe support), shopping (in store and online), etc.
4. Community Integration: Public meetings, events, community seminars, civic organizations, assist in voting, volunteering in community organizations, peer support groups, etc.

Eligible Deaf-Blind individuals can apply for Support Service Provider Program services if they meet the following requirements:

1. Be eighteen (18) years of age or older
2. Reside in the State of Hawaiʻi
3. Have the decision-making skills related to their SSP services
4. Possess verification of Deaf-Blind status
5. Agree to pay any incidental expenses and/or activity expenses (e.g. parking meters, bus fare, entrance fees, and event tickets).