DeafBlindness

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Texas Education Agency resources related to DeafBlindness:

  • Texas Education Agency - Services to Students who are DeafBlind
  • Low Incidence Disabilities Network (Region 3 ESC) - Through the network of the 20 Regional Education Service Centers (ESCs) around the state and in conjunction with the Texas Education Agency, the network has the responsibility to build capacity to meet the needs of students who are severely and profoundly cognitively disabled, medically fragile, and or deafblind. The goals of the project are to establish a collaborative network of stake holders; facilitate professional development to meet statewide needs; and to develop a process of evaluating the effectiveness of statewide activities.
  • Texas Deafblind Project - The Texas Deafblind Project is funded by a federal grant to provide information and training about deafblindness to families and the professionals that work with them. Subcontracted through the Texas Education Agency, the Deafblind Outreach team at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) provides technical assistance that is designed to meet the unique needs of children, birth through 21 years of age, who have both a vision and hearing impairment. The Project will continue to compile the state deafblind census data for inclusion in the Federal Deaf-Blind Census and provide training in the completion of the census. Outreach services are available statewide, and provided in coordination with local schools and regional ESCs. They have created an excellent list of Books, & Materials, Articles and Handouts, Videos and other materials available.
  • Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired - Education and Transition Services for Students with Deafblindness (6 thru 21)

 

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AFB Family Connect - You'll find videos, personal stories, events, announcements, and an online community to help you guide your child to the life he or she wants. They have a section on DeafBlindness (also in Spanish).

 

Center for Parent Information and Resources – Their fact sheet on Deaf-Blindness includes information about deaf-blindness, finding services in  your state, early childhood and school matters, and transition (also in Spanish).

 

DB-MD Medicaid Waiver Handbook - This describes the services & structure of the Deaf Blind-Multiple Disabilities (DB-MD) waiver. It can help you in discussing a person's plan of care.

 

Deaf-Blind Multihandicapped Association of Texas (DBMAT) - The mission of DBMAT is to promote and improve the quality of life for all Texans who are deaf-blind, deaf, or blind with multiple disabilities. DBMAT, which was established over 37 years ago, remains active at the local, regional and state level in a variety of activities including spearheading the national efforts for establishing the intervener profession.  DBMAT hosts an annual family retreat in October, which is an opportunity every family who has a loved one with deaf blindness will want to attend. 

 

Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) - This is the national organization committed to serving adults who are deaf-blind. The HKNC Mission is to enable each person who is deaf-blind to live and work in their community of choice.

 

National Center on Deaf-Blindness – NCDB is a national technical assistance center funded by the federal Department of Education. The website is a rich source of information on deafblindness with a section designed especially for Families.  Watch their Family Matters videos, which will introduce you to children and young adults who are deaf-blind and their families. As you get to know them, you will discover how individuals who are deaf-blind learn, develop, and live their lives.  Many of their resources are also in Spanish.

 

National Family Association for Deaf-Blind - The National Family Association for Deaf-Blind (NFADB) is a non-profit, volunteer-based family association. Our philosophy is that individuals who are deaf-blind are valued members of society and are entitled to the same opportunities and choices as other members of the community. We are the largest national network of families focusing on issues surrounding deaf blindness.

 

National Personnel Training Activities - NCDB is facilitating the development of a national deafblind personnel preparation consortium.

 

Project SPARKLE - Project SPARKLE (Supporting Parents to Resources, Knowledge, Linkages, and Education) is a program of individualized learning that enhances the ability of parents of children who are deafblind to fulfill their roles in the development and education of their children.  Through Project SPARKLE, parents will have access to information, training, and resources in their homes via DVD technology and the Internet.  To learn more about Project SPARKLE, please contact Edgenie Bellah, Texas Deafblind Project, Family Support at 512-206-9423 or bellahe@tsbvi.edu. 

 

Project IDEAL – A website devoted to providing teacher preparation, but a good resource for families.  They have specific online training modules on Managing Behavior. This project also offers a definition & characteristics of those with DeafBlindness.

 

Texas Chargers, Inc. - The Texas Chargers, Inc. is a group of Texas families, friend, and professionals who are dedicated to helping children and young adults who live with Charge Syndrome. The primary function is to support the emotional and educational needs of the people with Charge Syndrome and the families and professionals working with them, to provide them with a better quality of life.  Texas Chargers hosts an annual family retreat in the fall for families who have a loved one with Charge Syndrome.  It is a weekend families look forward to every year and has served to build a strong community.

 

Texas Hands & Voices - Texas Hands & Voices is a chapter of the nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to supporting families and their children who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as the professionals who serve them. Texas Hands & Voices is a parent-driven, parent/professional/community collaborative group that is unbiased towards communication modes and methods.

 

Texas Health & Human Services – DeafBlind Services, as well as the Deaf Blind Multiple Disabilities waiver that provides long term services support.

 

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