Western Oregon University Digital Commons@WOU Master's of Arts in Interpreting Studies (MAIS) Interpreting Studies Theses Winter 1-4-2018 Quality of life for deafblind individuals: Comparing the effect of living with and without support service providers Sheridan K. Lachney Western Oregon University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.wou.edu/theses Part of the Other Languages, Societies, and Cultures Commons Recommended Citation Lachney, S. K. (2018). Quality of life for deafblind individuals: Comparing the effect of living with and without support service providers (master's thesis). Western Oregon University, Monmouth, Oregon. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.wou.edu/theses/47 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Interpreting Studies at Digital Commons@WOU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's of Arts in Interpreting Studies (MAIS) Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@WOU. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. Quality of Life For DeafBlind Individuals: Comparing the Effect of Living With and Without Support Service Providers By Sheridan Lachney A thesis submitted to Western Oregon University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of: Master of Arts in Interpreting Studies January 2018 Signatures redacted for privacy ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the DeafBlind community for their willingness to share their thoughts and experiences in developing this research. Thank you to my fiancé, Tyler Whitworth, and my brother, Garrett Lachney, for helping with all of my technology needs. I would like to thank my teachers CM Hall, Amanda Smith, and Elisa Maroney for inspiring me to go further. Thank you to Jaime Wilson for introducing me to sign language and the Deaf community. I would like to give a special thanks to my mother, Ann Lachney, for editing not only this paper, but also every paper I have written throughout my educational career. I know I would not have made it this far without her and my father’s support. ii Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................. ii LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... iv ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... v CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 1 Background ..................................................................................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................ 2 Purpose of the Study ....................................................................................................... 5 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................... 6 Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs ........................................................................................ 6 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................... 9 Involvement in Society ................................................................................................... 9 Traveling ....................................................................................................................... 10 Daily Functioning ......................................................................................................... 11 Falling ........................................................................................................................... 18 Ontological Security and Independence ....................................................................... 20 Depression and Social Isolation .................................................................................... 25 SSP duties ..................................................................................................................... 35 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY ................................................................................ 46 Design of the Investigation ........................................................................................... 46 Population ..................................................................................................................... 47 Sample ........................................................................................................................... 49 Data Analysis Procedures ............................................................................................. 50 CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ............................................................ 51 Transportation ............................................................................................................... 52 Time .............................................................................................................................. 55 Family and Friends ....................................................................................................... 56 Emotional Health .......................................................................................................... 62 Health ............................................................................................................................ 65 Money ........................................................................................................................... 68 SSP Services ................................................................................................................. 70 Question 27 for DeafBlind individuals with SSPs ........................................................ 72 Discussion ..................................................................................................................... 74 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION, RECCOMENDATIONS, AND LIMITATIONS ... 82 Limitations of the Study and Suggestions for Future Research .................................... 84 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................ 86 APPENDIX A: Consent Form For Both Surveys ........................................................ 92 iii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Have you been able to go places when you want? ............................................ 52 Figure 2. Do you feel safe walking to your destinations? ................................................. 54 Figure 3. Do you feel you have enough access to transportation? .................................... 55 Figure 4. Have you been able to do all the things that you want in your free time? ........ 56 Figure 5. Has your family treated you fairly? ................................................................... 57 Figure 6. “Have you been able to talk to your parents when you wanted?” ..................... 58 Figure 7. Have you spent enough time with your friends? ............................................... 59 Figure 8. Have you had fun with your friends? ................................................................ 59 Figure 9. Have you and your friends helped each other? ................................................. 61 Figure 10. Have you been able to rely on your friends? ................................................... 61 Figure 11. Has your life been enjoyable? ......................................................................... 62 Figure 12. Have you felt sad? ........................................................................................... 63 Figure 13. Have you felt so bad that you didn't want to do anything? ............................. 64 Figure 14. Have you been happy with the way you are? .................................................. 65 Figure 15. In general, how would you say your health is? ............................................... 66 Figure 16. Have you felt fit and well? .............................................................................. 67 Figure 17. Have you felt full of energy? ........................................................................... 68 Figure 18. Have you had enough money to do the same things as your friends? ............. 69 Figure 19. Have you had enough money for your expenses? ........................................... 70 Figure 20. Do you want more SSP hours? ........................................................................ 72 Figure 21. Does having an SSP increase your feelings of independence and freedom? .. 73 Figure 22. Do you know what a Support Service Provider is? ......................................... 74 iv ABSTRACT Quality of Life For DeafBlind Individuals: Comparing the Effect of Living With and Without Support Service Providers By Sheridan Lachney Master of Arts in Interpreting Studies Western Oregon University December 2017 In this paper, the quality of life for DeafBlind individuals who have Support Service Providers (SSP) available will be compared to DeafBlind individuals who do not. SSPs are trained individuals who assist the DeafBlind population with tasks such as a communication support, environmental information, and mobility support; in addition, they typically possess at least some fluency in American Sign Language. The availability of SSP services varies between DeafBlind individuals depending