About FLDSCA

mission - code of ethical principles - standards of professional practice - roster

The Deaf Service Center Association, Inc. of Florida is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization incorporated in the State of Florida. The DSCA is composed of thirteen (13) member not for profit hearing loss service providers across the state. The DSCA was created to:

• perform activities to improve the quality of life of Deaf and Hard of Hearing people by promoting the well being of the service delivery system for Deaf and Hard of Hearing persons in the State of Florida.
• promote the development of and continued service capabilities of Deaf Service Centers (DSCs) in the State of Florida.
• advocate for specific legislative proposals and regulations that will assist Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in obtaining equal access to all Federal, State, County, and local services that are available to Hearing persons in the State of Florida.
• educate the various communities in Florida about Deaf Service Centers.

To this end the DSCA hold bi-monthly meeting at which time the membership addresses issues critical to the well being of the members of the hearing loss community. The corporate headquarters of the DSCA are at the offices of the President of the association.

Code of Ethical Principles
Adopted: April 7, 2000

The mission of the Deaf Service Center Association, Inc. (DSCA) is to foster the development, improvement and growth of services for deaf, hard of hearing and late deafened people in Florida. Furthermore, the DSCA strives to preserve, enhance and promote high ethical standards among the membership of the DSCA.

To these ends, this following Code of Ethics declares the ethical values and standards of professional practice which DSCA members embrace and that they strive to uphold in their responsibilities as service providers.

In doing so, the DSCA members are committed to improve quality of life, to inspire others and to maintain ongoing professional development. Such members, individually and organizationally, practice their profession with integrity and honesty.

Furthermore, DSCA members

1. Apply the RID Code of Ethics to all interpreting situations;
2. Recognize and respect cultural differences;
3. Treat all people with dignity and respect;
4. Affirm a commitment to human services and its role in society;
5. Adhere to the spirit as well as the letter of all applicable laws and regulations;
6. Demonstrate behaviors that bring credit to all professionals in the field of deafness;
7. Recognize individual and organizational competency and capability;
8. State professional qualifications and credentials accurately;
9. Value the privacy, the right to choose, and the variety of interests of members and those persons served;
10. Encourage all colleagues to endorse and practice these ethical principles;
11. Adhere to the following standards of professional practice.

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Standards of Professional Practice
Adopted: April 7, 2000

1. Members shall act according to the highest standards and visions of the DSCA, the individual member organization, profession and conscience.
2. Members shall avoid even the appearance of any criminal offense or professional misconduct.
3. Members shall be responsible for advocating, within their own organizations, adherence to all applicable laws and regulations.
4. Members shall work, in their respective member organizations for a salary.
5. Members shall effectively disclose all relationships which might constitute, or appear to constitute, a conflict of interest: such disclosure does not preclude or imply ethical impropriety.
6. Members shall accurately state their professional experience, qualifications, and expertise.
7. Members shall not disclose privileged information, such as client identification and personal information about association members, to unauthorized parties. Members shall consider all minutes as drafts and thereby privileged information, until they have been reviewed, revised and accepted by the DSCA.
8. Members shall keep constituent information confidential.
9. Members shall abide by all decisions of the DSCA.
10. Members= actions shall reflect concern for the interests and well being of individuals affected by those actions. Members shall not exploit any relationship with another DSCA member, volunteer, employee, to the benefit of the member or the member=s organization.
11. Members alleging violations of Ethical Principles and Professional Practices must site a specific violation and deliver such allegation to the Executive Board of the DSCA for an appointment of an Ethics Committee for investigation and a recommended resolution.
12. All of the above notwithstanding, members shall comply with all applicable local, state and federal civil and criminal laws.

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Deaf Service Center Association, Inc. of Florida

2007-2008 Membership Roster

President:

Julie Church, Executive Director
Deaf & Hearing Connection for Tampa Bay, Inc.
7821 Seminole Blvd., Seminole Florida 33772
727-399-9983 Voice
727-399-9422 TTY
727-399-9508 FAX
JChurch@dhctb.org
*Covering: Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties

Vice President:

Debbie L. Lauricella, Executive Director
Central Florida Deaf Services, Inc.
1811 Richmond Road
Lakeland, FL 33803
863-688-9394 Voice/VP/ TTY
863 -687-2175 Fax
debbie@cfdeafservices.org
www.cfdeafservices.org
*Covering: Polk, Hardee, and Highlands Counties

Secretary: Maureen Tambasco, Executive Director
Citrus Hearing Impaired Program Services, Inc.
105 SE Hwy. 19
Crystal River, FL 34429
1-800-801-0416 Voice
352-795-5000 Voice
352-795-7243 TTY
352-795-5080 FAX
chips@tampabay.rr.com
*Covering: Citrus, Levy and Marion Counties

Treasurer:

Kim Gaut, Executive Director
Hearing Impaired Persons, Inc.
Deaf Service Center
25250 Sandhill Blvd.
Punta Gorda, FL 33983
(941) 743-8347 Voice
(941) 743-9286 TTY
(941) 743-9236 FAX
1-888-878-8477
kimgaut@yahoo.com
*Covering: Highlands, DeSoto, Charlotte, Lee and Collier Counties

Members:

Charon Feild Aurand, Program Director
Family Center on Deafness
6886 102nd Avenue North
Pinellas Park, FL 33782
727-549-6664 Voice / TTY / VP
727- 547-7837 FAX
caurand@familycenterondeafness.org

Donna Carlton, Executive Director
Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing of
Manatee/Sarasota
5107 14th Street West
Bradenton, FL 34207-2431
941-758-2539 V/TTY
941-921-5447 V/TTY - Sarasota
941-758-3564 FAX
dcarlton@ccdhh.org
*Covering: Manatee and Sarasota Counties

Robert C. Fifer, Board President
Deaf Services Bureau
1250 NW 7 Street
Miami, Florida 33125
305 560 2866 TDD or Voice
305 560 2864 Fax
*Covering: Miami/Dade and Monroe Counties

Joan Gindlesperger, Executive Director
Deaf Service Center of Palm Beach County
3111 South Dixie Highway, Suite 237
West Palm Beach, FL 33405
561-802-3353 V/TTY
561-802-3356 FAX
dscpbc@deafservicecenter.com
www.deafservicecenter.com
*Covering: Palm Beach County

Rick Kottler, Executive Director
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services of the Treasure Coast, Inc.
Fountain Plaza
10016 S. Federal Hwy.
Port St. Lucie, FL 34952
772-335-5546 Voice / VP
772-335-9966 TTY
772-335-9733 FAX
dsctc@bellsouth.net
*Covering: Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee Counties

Kim Schur, AuD CCC-A, Director
League for the Hard of Hearing-Florida
2800 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Suite 306
Oakland Park, FL 33311-1361
954-731-7200 V/TTY
954-485-6336 FAX
kschur@lhh.org
www.lhh.org
*Covering: Broward County

Lori Timson, Executive Director
Deaf Service Center of Southwest Florida, Inc.
1860 Boy Scout Rd. #B 208
Fort Myers, FL 33907
239-461-0334 V/TTY
239-461-0434 FAX
lori@dsc.us
www.dsc.us
*Covering: Lee, Collier, Hendry, Glades, and Charlotte Counties

Jeffrey A. Thomas, Executive Director
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services of Florida, Inc.
8610 Galen Wilson Blvd.
Building B. Suite 100
Port Richey, FL 34668
727-853-1010 V
727-853-1014 TTY
727-853-1015 FAX
866-685-9477 Toll Free
jthomas@deafhhsfla.org
*Covering: Pasco and Hernando Counties

Kathy Towk, Director
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Center at Easter Seals
1219 Dunn Ave.
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
904-257-1700 Voice
904-257-3600 TTY
904-257-9888 FAX
ktowk@eseals-vf.org
*Covering: Flagler and Volusia Counties