What We Do and the Services We Offer

Our Beginning

In 2015, New Jersey’s deafblind community called for an organization grounded in the principle “For DeafBlind, By DeafBlind.”

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That November, a grassroots committee met in New Brunswick to envision what that organization could be. From the start — and still today — our guiding commitment is to respond to needs identified by the deafblind community: Deafblind individuals, their families and friends, and the professionals who support them, including interpreters, Access Providers/Support Service Providers, vocational rehabilitation counselors, social workers and others engaged in deafblind issues.

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DB CAN NJ was incorporated in July 2016 and received federal public charity status in March 2017. Our Board of Trustees is composed of individuals who are deafblind or have a personal connection to someone who is deafblind.​

What We Do

Through the dedication of our Board, volunteers, and community partners, we:

• Provide educational opportunities

• Expand social networks and reduce isolation

• Organize recreational and cultural activities

• Offer Access Provider/SSP training

• Connect individuals to regional and national deafblind organizations

Our goal is the highest possible quality of life.

Our Signature Activities
Culture Encounters of the DeafBlind Kind

Developed by DB CAN NJ, Culture Encounters encourages attendees to experience the variety of communication modes used by deafblind people, share cultural information between deafblind and non-deafblind people, and understand how similar we all are. This activity takes place in small groups led by deafblind mentors.​

Access Provider Services

Access Providers, also known as Support Service Providers (SSPs), serve as a vital link between individuals with combined vision and hearing loss and the surrounding environment. APs provide access to information, safe travel, and brief social communication while respecting the autonomy of the deafblind individual. With this support, people who are deafblind are better positioned to make informed choices and participate more fully in their communities.

Access Provider Training

Our experienced team provides AP/SSP training from both deafblind and provider perspectives. Training includes multiple modules and emphasizes practical skills, ethics, communication flexibility and safe travel.  Individuals who work with APs trained by our team consistently report respectful, skilled providers who meet their needs.

Cornhole DOMination & Chili Cook Off

This annual fundraiser honors Dominick “Dom” Leto, a deaf man who believed deeply in our mission. Each year, the community gathers for spirited games of cornhole, outstanding chili, and joyful connection — with champions crowned.

 

Explore our EVENTS, review our PUBLICATIONS and RESOURCES, or join our MAILING LIST. Thank you for your interest in the DeafBlind community.