Blind men and women learning how to walk through a busy intersection controlled by a traffic light

Communication Access Services (CAS)

ABL Communication Access Services' (CAS) mission is to provide services to the Deaf, Deaf-Blind & Hard of Hearing community in Lafayette and the surrounding areas, with tools that empower their rights to equal communications access.

Support Service Provider (SSP)

Support Service Provider (SSP)

What is an SSP?

An SSP is trained to communicate with someone who is Deaf-Blind to provide environmental information. SSP’s work 1-1 with a person who is Deaf-Blind to facilitate communication, provide visual and/or auditory information, and act as a human guide for consumer-directed activities in the community. With the provision of SSP services, the Deaf-Blind are able to fully participate in activities of daily living while no longer being socially isolated.

How do you qualify for SSP services?

  • Consumer must provide documentation of combined hearing and visual loss or Usher Syndrome
  • Adults (over the age of 18)
  • Independent
  • Be a resident of Louisiana and have a valid identification card

For more information, contact:

Christine Scott

V/VP: (337) 446-4648

Email: christines@affiliatedblind.org

Click here to visit the Helen Keller National Center website 

Telecommunication Access Loan Program


Affiliated Blind of Louisiana Training Center is a regional service center for Louisiana Commission for the Deaf. The Telecommunication Equipment Program is a state funded program that provides telecommunications equipment and alert systems at no cost to Louisiana residents who are D/deaf, Deaf-Blind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disorder. The equipment can improve the quality of daily communication by allowing users to communicate over the phone and receive alerts through vibration.

The following are required to receive equipment:

  • Documentation of hearing diagnosis, combined hearing and vision diagnosis, or a speech disorder (i.e. an audiogram or a note from your doctor, audiologist, etc.)
  • Proof of Louisiana residency
  • Social security card

    For more information, please contact:

    Stacy Charles
    Phone: 337.234.6492 Ext 188
    Email: stacyc@affiliatedblind.org

Hearing Aid Program

To receive hearing aids from this program, you must meet the following criteria:

Be 50 years of age or older

Have proof of Louisiana residency

Have hearing loss with pure tone average of 40dB or worse in one ear (1,000, 2,000, 3,000 & 4,000 hertz) documented by an audiologist or instrument specialist.

Meet the income requirements listed below, which are based on the federal poverty level:

picture shows a chart: Chart read 1 Person in House hold Maximum Annual Household income $30,150.00 2 people in household maximum annual household income $40,600.00 Add $4,180.00 per year for each additional person residing in household.

For more information, please contact:

Stacy Charles

Phone: 337.234.6492 Ext 188

Email: stacyc@affiliatedblind.org

Sign Language Interpreting Services

ABL provides certified and qualified sign language interpreters.

ABL offers interpreting services in medical, legal, educational, religious, and vocational settings.

To schedule an Interpreter or for more information, contact:

Christine Scott

V/VP: (337) 446-4648

Email: christines@affiliatedblind.org

Individuals who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate have the right to have an accommodation of a qualified sign language interpreter under 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, Titles II and III.

Click the following link for the ADA website: www.ada.gov.

Contact the following regarding more information about the ADA and equal communication accessibility:

U.S. Department of Justice: (202) 514-0301

The Advocacy Center: 1-800-960-7705

Lafayette office: (337) 237-7380

Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Specialist: 800-514-0301

 

How Can You Help?

To help in any way, please contact us here at the ABL Training Center by giving us a call, making a donation, or just stopping by.