ABOUT DEAFBLIND ACCESS OF THE SOUTH
DeafBlind Access of the South (DBAS) was founded in 1999 by our Honorary Director, Frank Levine. It is led by a committee of volunteers, working together to ensure the retreat is a success.
Under Anne McQuade's leadership, in November of 2021, the DBAS Committee voted unanimously to become part of Georgia Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (GCDHH). This partnership allows DBAS to better serve the DeafBlind community by focusing on our mission, and less on administrative tasks. The merger was completed in January of 2022.
Kevin Gdovin continues the organization's tradition of DeafBlind leadership as DBAS is approaching its 30th anniversary in 2029. We are very excited about it and will continue updating you all when it is finalized.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the appropriate person from the list below:
Director: Kevin Gdovin
[email protected]
Assistant Director: Leigh X. Russell
[email protected]
SSP/CN Coordinator: Jethro Wooddall
[email protected]
Transportation Coordinator: Andrea Kemp
[email protected]
Activities Coordinator: Deborah Dee
[email protected]
Dietary Meals Coordinator: Kelly Brady
[email protected]
Camp Store Coordinator: Samantha Luna
[email protected]
DEAFBLIND ACCESS OF THE SOUTH
FRANK LEVINE'S STORY
"I grew up in South Africa—touring various areas, museums, etc... I moved here and my vision loss began. My wife Rita searched and found Helen Keller representative, then I went to the Helen Keller National Center in New York for 6 months get DeafBlind training.
Before going to HKNC, I thought that I was only one DeafBlind and was depressed. That was how Rita worked hard to find a way to support me. When I got there, I was surprised to meet so many DeafBlind and made many friends. During my trainings in Helen Keller National Center, some DeafBlind people and instructors told me about Seattle camp and MD camp.
Then I returned home in GA. I first met Robert Green who was VR counselor (I was not his client). He and I started to become friends. I asked him about DeafBlind around here. After several years, I learned about DeafBlind lives around here and saw that there was no camp here. Then I started to set up DeafBlind camp here.
So, I looked and found Fort Yogel Park in Winder, GA. Cheap beds, we cooked our own food. Camp was from Thursday to Sunday. We raised funds $3,000—started first Georgia DeafBlind camp in 1999—the campers wanted annual camp. I decided to open to other states. Needed raising more money. In 2001, we changed the name of First Georgia DeafBlind Camp to DeafBlind Access of the South Camp. We had most campers from FL, SC, TN, and NC. Decided to make every 2 years since hard find SSPs plus alternate with AADB (American Association of DeafBlind) then selected Warm Springs site as camp. Camp in Warm Springs until I retired in 2015 to care for my wife Rita. I found a replacement, Anne McQuade."
