Deaf-Blindness

Legal Definition- Simultaneous hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for children with deafness or children with blindness.

Causes-

·      Illness

·      Accident

·      Genetic syndrome like Usher Syndrome

·      Premature birth

·      Meningitis

·      Post-natal complications

Characteristics-

·      Auditory impairment and visual impairment with vision loss being the primary disability

—  Auditory impairment and vision impairment with auditory impairment as the primary disability

—  Auditory impairment and blindness; deafness and visual impairment, and deaf-blindness

—  Congenitally Deaf-Adventitiously Blind

—  Congenitally Deaf-Blind

—  Adventitiously Deaf-Blind

—  Adventitiously Deaf-Congenitally Blind

Degrees

—  Hard of Hearing-Blind

—  Hard of Hearing-Visually Impaired

—  Deaf-Visually Impaired

—  Deaf-Blind

Challenges

·       Dependent on others

·       Communication

·       Navigating surroundings

·       Finding social, living, and employment situations

·       Reaction from others because of differences

  Learning Strategies-

—  Talk with student (where possible) to see what resources they require.

—  Assisted Listening Devices- Small device worn by instructor that increases volume and clarity of lecture.

—  Interpreter

—  Note takers

—  Tutors

—  Readers

—  Handouts that are converted into students preferred reading style (i.e. braille)

—  Large Print/Braille Materials or Taped Textbooks

—  Reading Machines

—  Audiovisual Materials

—  Oral tests, extended test time, reading machine, better lighting and possibly test converted to braille

Additional Resources

—  http://nichcy.org/disability/specific/deafblindness

—  http://www.nationaldb.org/ISSelectedTopics.php?topicID=941&topicCatID=24

—  http://www.hknc.org/

—  http://www.aadb.org/

—  http://wwwcms.hutchcc.edu/uploadedFiles/Student_Resources/Disability_Services/tpshtdb.pdf 

—  http://www.usdb.org/deafblind/default.aspx

—  http://www.deafblindinfo.org/

—  http://www.utahbabywatch.org/index.htm