DeafBlind Service Center

What DeafBlind Service Center does

DeafBlind Service Center (DBSC) is a Seattle-based non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, established in 1986 and headquartered in Seattle's Central District, that serves deafblind residents of Washington State. The organization's core programs include the Support Service Provider/CoNavigator (SSP/CN) Program, which provides trained sighted guides for daily living activities such as grocery shopping, banking, and medical appointments; the Communication Facilitator (CF) Program, which is the first and only such program in the United States and enables deafblind clients to access videophones and video relay services via tactile or close vision sign language copying; an Advocacy Program staffed by case managers; the DeafBlind Interpreter Referral Service coordinating PTASL interpreters for professional situations; the NDBEDP national equipment distribution channel; and Professional-to-Professional Services billed to requesting agencies. Services are delivered in the client's preferred communication mode (Braille, close vision, or Pro-Tactile Sign Language), and the staff complement holds complementary language skills to span the full communication spectrum.

The underlying technology stack centers on accessible communications infrastructure: video relay services (VRS), videophones, Zoom and telemedicine platforms used to enable remote interpretation and CF-mediated calls. Pro-Tactile Sign Language (PTASL) is the technical communication methodology that differentiates DBSC's offering, paired with assistive software distribution (ZoomText, Jaws) through the NDBEDP channel. The organization's website and digital content (vLogs, Pro-Tactile News newsletter) function as both awareness and referral infrastructure.

DBSC's business model is a hybrid non-profit funding structure. Core services to deafblind Washington State residents are provided free of charge, funded primarily by government contracts from the City of Seattle and the Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH), supplemented by individual donations, charitable bequests, and grants routed through foundations including Seattle Foundation and corporate matching programs from Microsoft, Starbucks Foundation, and AmazonSmile. A separate Professional Services line generates fee revenue from agencies (DVR, DSB, courts, employers, schools) that require PTASL interpreters and Professional Support Service Providers for professional situations. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on case manager referrals, government partner referrals, and word-of-mouth within the deafblind community.

Name

DeafBlind Service Center

Legal name

Deaf-Blind Service Center

Website

https://seattledbsc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DeafBlind Service Center is a Seattle-based non-profit 501(c)(3) founded in 1986 that provides SSP/CoNavigator, Communication Facilitator, advocacy, interpreter referral, and equipment distribution services to deafblind residents of Washington State.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Translation and Interpretation Services (54193)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Assistive Technology (AT) Access & AAC Access Support (OT-Led) (EDAKAFAG)

Keywords

• Deafblind support services
• Interpreter referral services
• Disability advocacy programs
• Community network services
• Assistive technology distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts: Primary funding from City of Seattle and Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) contracts to provide SSP/CN, CF, and advocacy services to deafblind Washington State residents.
2. Donations & Grants: Individual donations, charitable bequests, and grants from foundations including Seattle Foundation and corporate matching programs (Microsoft, Starbucks, AmazonSmile).
3. Professional Services Fees: Fee-for-service arrangements where agencies (DVR, DSB, employers, courts, colleges) pay for Professional Support Service Providers (PSSP) and Professional Communication Facilitators (PCF) services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DeafBlind Service Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1986 and based in Seattle, Washington. It delivers support services to deafblind residents of Washington State, including Support Service Provider/Community Network (SSP/CN) services, case file support, advocacy, interpreter referral, telecommunications equipment distribution through the NDBEDP iCanConnect program, professional services, outreach, and braille classes.

Product overview

DeafBlind Service Center is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1986 that offers a coordinated suite of programs serving deafblind individuals in Washington State. The core portfolio includes the Interpreter Referral Service (recruiting qualified PTASL interpreters), Advocacy Program (case management and policy advocacy), SSP/CoNavigator Program (sighted guide and visual information services), CF Program (enabling videophone access through communication facilitation), NDBEDP (free equipment distribution for communication technology), Professional-to-Professional Services (workplace and professional situation support), Outreach (community education), and Braille Classes (one-on-one instruction). Additional offerings include vLogs (video narratives) and Pro-Tactile News (bi-annual newsletter). Services are provided in the client's preferred communication mode—Braille, close vision, or tactile sign language—with funding from City of Seattle, Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and donations/grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Support Service Provider / Community Network (SSP/CN) Program Provides trained Support Service Providers who assist deafblind individuals with communication and community access in Washington State.
• Case File (CF) Program Case file support service for deafblind individuals, managing individualized service records and coordination.
• Advocacy Program Advocacy services supporting deafblind individuals in navigating government, community, and service systems.
• Interpreter Referral Service Refers deafblind consumers to qualified sign language and tactile interpreters to enable communication access.
• NDBEDP iCanConnect Program Distributes telecommunications and assistive equipment to eligible deafblind individuals under the federal iCanConnect / NDBEDP program.
• Professional Services Professional services provided by DBSC, supporting deafblind individuals and partner organizations.
• Outreach Program Community outreach to raise awareness and connect deafblind residents with available services.
• Braille Classes Braille instruction classes for deafblind individuals and community members.

Quantifiable outcome

• Provides free SSP/CN services to deafblind Washington State residents, including grocery shopping, banking, medical appointments, mail reading, and airport transportation
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Seattle Lighthouse for the BlindcoreOthersCF services can be provided at the Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind location. Many deafblind individuals in Seattle are employed at the Lighthouse, and it sponsors the annual Deaf-Blind Retreat in Seabeck, WA.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Senses Australia: Australian nonprofit providing specialized services for people who are deafblind or have sensory impairment. Highly comparable mission and service mix (interpreter referral, advocacy, community support) but operates in a different geography.
• Deafblind UK: UK national charity providing specialist services and support to people living with deafblindness. Comparable in mission and program types (one-to-one support, advocacy, assistive technology) but UK-focused.
• Sense (UK disability charity): UK charity supporting people with complex disabilities including deafblindness. Comparable population served and service mix (advocacy, communication support, independent living) with broader disability scope and UK geography.

Direct peers

• LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired (San Francisco): California-based nonprofit providing rehabilitation, training, and adaptive services for blind and deafblind individuals. Comparable service portfolio and organizational structure, with broader geographic reach in Northern California.
• Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind: Regional organization serving blind and deafblind individuals in the Pacific Northwest with employment, training, and adaptive services. Direct service-delivery partner and co-sponsor of the annual Deaf-Blind Retreat in Seabeck, WA.
• Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults (HKNC): National federally funded center providing services to deafblind individuals across the U.S., including training, technical assistance, and advocacy. Closest direct peer to DBSC in mission, though operating at national rather than state scale.
• American Association of the DeafBlind (AADB): National consumer advocacy organization led by and for deafblind individuals. Comparable in mission (advocacy, information, community building) but functions as a membership/advocacy body rather than a direct service provider.

Broad incumbents

• Perkins School for the Blind: Historic, large-scale nonprofit serving blind and deafblind individuals primarily through education and rehabilitation programs. Broader incumbent with overlapping deafblind service lines but more focused on K-12 education and post-secondary programs.
• Washington State Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH): State government agency that contracts with DBSC to fund SSP/CN and CF programs. Operates a broader portfolio of services for deaf and hard of hearing Washington residents and is both a customer and an adjacent service provider.

Others

• Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID): National professional membership organization for sign language interpreters. Not a direct service competitor, but adjacent ecosystem player setting standards and credentialing interpreters that DBSC's Interpreter Referral Service relies upon.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DeafBlind Service Center