Local / Regional Websites

Nebraska Project for Children and Youth with Deaf Blindness--Nebraska provides program assistance for children and youth aged birth to 21 with deaf-blindness. Program assistance includes information, training, consultation, assessment, follow up, and resources to educational personnel, families and others who are involved. The program is federally funded and supports the philosophy of inclusion in the educational, vocational and community environments.

National Websites

American Foundation for the Blind --This organization provides a variety of printed, taped, or adapted material of interest to those with blindness. The site furnishes materials related to deafblindness and individuals with vision and other related disabilities.

American Printing House for the Blind (APH) - Oldest institute of its kind in the United States.  Purpose is solely to create products for people who are visually impaired.  At this site you can get the history of APH, and get information about  APH products, APH museum, and professional employment opportunities.

DBLink-- Do you need information and/or referrals regarding children and youth who are deaf-blind?  Contact DB Link!!! (800) 438-9376(Voice)/(800) 854-7013 (TTY)/ dblink@tr.wou.edu.

DB Link, the National Information Clearinghouse On Children Who Are Deaf-Blind is a federally funded information and referral service that collects, develops, and distributes information to help improve the education and lives of children and youth who are deaf-blind. Services include:

* Information center: information specialists are available to respond to individual requests for information, including in-depth research
* Referrals to other organizations
* Web Site
* Short topical publication (some available in Spanish)

This site has a wealth of information about deaf -blindness, including a library of materials and information specialists available to help answer specific questions related to deaf-blindness. This link includes an on-line database that consists of links to national conferences, resource materials, state resources, and training. This site also contributes access to a broad spectrum of information on topics including: early intervention, education, social services, health, employment, technology, inclusion, communication, recreational services, and much more.

The National Information Clearinghouse On Children Who are Deaf-Blind-DB-LINK Publications- As part of the DB-LINK, this site contributes to the journal-like newsletter Deaf-Blind Perspectives. The Deaf-Blind Perspectives is a free publication with articles, essays, and announcements about topics related to deaf-blind people. This extended link also provides fact sheets on topics such as: communication interactions, receptive and expressive communication, early interactions, the importance of orientation and mobility, literacy, psychological evaluations, and much more.

Books / Articles

Chen, D. (1999)  Essential elements in early intervention:  Visual impairments and multiple disabilities. New York: AFB Press.

Huebner, K.M., Prickett, J.G., Welch, T.R., & Joffee, E. (Eds.) Hand in Hand: Essentials of communication and orientation and mobility for your students who are deaf-blind. New York: AFB Press.

This guide was designed by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) Deaf-Blind Project in order to help teachers deliver effective educational services to children with deafblindness. The focus of the self-study and in-sevice training materials is on communication, orientation and mobility, which are areas most influenced by the presence of combined hearing and vision losses in individuals.

Joint, S.A. (1998) Body Signing:  A functional strategy for introducing language to students who are deaf-blind.DBI Review,21,10-11.

Klein, M.D., Chen, D., & Haney, M.  (2000).  Promoting learning through active interaction.  A guide to early communication with young children who have multiple disabilities. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes

MacFarland, S.Z.C. (1995).  Teaching strategies of the van Dijk curricular approach.  Journal of Visual Impairments & Blindness,89,222-228.

Miles, B.  (1998).  Talking the language of the hands to the hands. Monmouth, OR:  DB-LINK, The National Information Clearinghouse on Children who are Deaf-Blind.

Murray-Branch, J. & Bailey, B.R.  (1998).  Textures as communication symbols. Blumburg, IN:  Blumberg Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Special Education, Indiana State University.

Rowland, C. & Schweigert, P.  (2000).  Tangible symbols, tangible outcomes.  Augmentative and Alternative Communication,16,61-78.

Sacks, S.Z., & Silberman, R.K.  (1998).  Educating students who have visual impairments with other disabilities. Baltimore:  Paul H. Brookes.

Watkins, S., & Clark, T.C.  (1991).  A coactive sign system for children who are dual sensory impaired.American Annals of the Deaf,136,321-324.

Videos

Tangible Symbol Systems, 2nd Edition.Rowland C. & Schweigert P., Portland, OR:  Oregon Health Sciences University, 2000.

Describes how to teach people who are unable to communicate using speech, manual sign language or other abstract symbol systems to use two- and three-dimensional symbols to communicate.  The book has been revised based on recent research involving individuals with deafblindness, mental retardation, autism spectrum disorders and multiple disabilities.  A companion 75-minute video (2nd ed., published in 1996) is also available.  Order via the web at http://www.designtolearn.com or contact Mayling Dixon, OHSU Center on Self Determination, 3608 SE Powell Blvd., Portland, OR 97202; Tel. 503-232-9154, ext 108, Cost:  $25.00 (book); $15.00 (video).

Where Do I Begin?  Developing Communication With Children Born Deafblind. Open-captioned.  23 minutes.  West Australian Deafblind Association, 2000.

Focuses on key communication development strategies including making contact, building rapport, acknowledging communication efforts, tactile cues and symbols, tactile signing, routines, and choice making.  Available in both PAL (Australian format) and NTSC (US and Canadian format).  Available from:  WA Deafblind Association, 6th Avenue and Whatley Crescent (PO Box 14), MAYLANDS, Western Australia 6051, Australia; Tel. (08) 9 272 1122, TTY (08) 9 370 3524, Cost:$27.50 (PAL) plus $5.00 postage within Australia or $10.00 outside;  $35.00 (NTSC) format, plus $10.00 postage outside Australia.  Checks or money orders in Australian currency only are accepted.

Newsletters

Deaf-Blind Perspectives. Teaching Research Division, Western Oregon State College, 345 N. Monmouth Avenue, Monmouth, OR 97361.

The Deaf-Blind Perspectives newsletter is a free publication, published three times a year by the Teaching Research Division of Western Oregon State College. Articles relate to professional and family oriented topics as well as resources, conferences, and regional reports. You can locate the site at: http://www.tr.wou.edu/tr/dbp/current.htm

Indiana Deaf-Blind Services Project: Deaf-Blind Focus Newsletter. Blumberg Center, SOE, Room 502, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, (812) 237-2830.

This newsletter provides information from the Indiana Deaf-Blind Project. Articles have a practical focus and good reference lists for educators. To find this site go to: http://www.indstate.edu/soe/blumberg/Deafblind.html You can also order the Deaf-Blind Focus Newsletter by contacting Sharon at 1-800-622-3035.

Conferences

Deaf-Blind Summer Institute
University of Nebraska - Lincoln

*For additional information about this workshop please contact Teresa Coonts at 402-597-4935 or Email: tcoonts@esu3.org

*To request registration forms you may call Machelle Harrell at 402-472-3956 or Email: jkubicek2@unl.edu