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Resource Spotlight: DeafBlindness

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DeafBlindness (sometimes written deaf-blindness) is a condition in which an individual has a combination of hearing and vision loss, but the degree of auditory and sight loss will vary from person to person.
DeafBlindness (sometimes written deaf-blindness) is a condition in which an individual has a combination of hearing and vision loss, but the degree of auditory and sight loss will vary from person to person. Dual sensory loss in children and young people impacts their learning, mobility, and ability to communicate with others. But there are state and national organizations committed to aiding the deafblind community offering a wide variety of resources for children, youth, and adults. Some of these resources are listed below.

Books

The Education of Laura Bridgman : First Deaf and Blind Person to Learn Language (2002, print) Laura Bridgman (1829-1889) the first deafblind child to be successfully educated in the US. Deaf-Blind Reality : Living the Life (2012, eBook) Haben : The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law (2019, print) "The incredible life story of Haben Girma, the first Deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School, and her amazing journey from isolation to the world stage."

Films

Did you know? Helen Keller. Learn about Helen Keller's Accomplishments in Overcoming her Disabilities of Blindness and Deafness (2021, 2 min. streaming video) Feeling Through (2019, 18 min. Oscar nominated short film) "A coming of age film about the unlikely connection between a teen in need and a DeafBlind man. It is the first film ever to feature a DeafBlind actor in a lead role." Deafblind: A World Without Sight and Sound (2000, 59 min. streaming documentary) A film about four deafblind individuals who share their experiences and show viewers how they live full lives. Includes music by Evelyn Glennie a world-famous percussionist who is profoundly deaf.  

Articles

Critical Issues in the Lives of Children and Youth Who Are Deafblind (2016) American Annals of the Deaf journal article. Deaf, Blind or Deaf-Blind: Is Touch Enhanced? (2016) Experimental Brain Research journal article. A New Language has been Born in the Northwest (2022) Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) website article, discusses Protactile language for DeafBlind individuals created by Jelica Nuccio in Seattle. ProTactile Shakespeare: Inclusive Theater by/for the DeafBlind (2019) Shakespeare Studies journal article detailing the novel ways other senses are used in a deafblind production of Romeo and Juliet and examining inclusive versus accessible theater projects.

Pacific Northwest Resources

DeafBlind Service Center (DBSC) Seattle non-profit established in 1986, empowering deaf-blind individuals and the deaf-blind community. Tactile Communications, LLC (Monmouth, OR) Tactile Communications is "committed to maximizing the autonomy of DeafBlind people by providing necessary training in a linguistically and culturally appropriate setting." Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults (HKNC) Northwest Region (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Wyoming) Washington State DeafBlind Citizens, Inc. The mission of WSDBC is to "promote, protect, and preserve leadership, independence, communication access, and to advocate DeafBlind individuals in the state of Washington." The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. (Seattle) "We empower people who are blind, DeafBlind, and blind with other disabilities by creating diverse, sustainable, and meaningful employment opportunities." Usher Syndrome in Children UW Medicine Health Library, Usher Syndrome, an inherited disorder that includes both vision and hearing loss in addition to balance problems.  

National Resources

iCanConnect. The National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program, "provides assistive communication equipment to people with significant combined hearing and vision loss who meet income guidelines." Deaf-Blindness Resource Guide. Created by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS). National Center on Deaf-Blindness. "Improving services, results, and quality of life for children and youth who are deaf-blind." HKNC. The Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults aids individuals who experience both hearing and vision loss. They offer services and resources to the DeafBlind community and provide training in several areas including vocational, communication, and mobility. In addition to offering training services to DeafBlind individuals, HKNC also trains professionals who work with the DeafBlind community.

Whitman Studio, photographer. (ca. 1904) Helen Keller, no. 8. , ca. 1904. October 28. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2009633161/.

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