Eye care and eye conditions
Low vision
Deafblindness
Orientation and mobility: getting around
Literacy (including braille)
Education
Family life
Emotional impact of blindness
Relationships and social skills
Rehabilitation
Employment
Technology
Independent living skills
Historical events
Organizations of and for the blind
Opinions and experiences
Email lists
Sarah Blake has lived with blindness/visual impairment due to premature birth since childhood. She has had several surgeries to treat complications such as detached retina, cataracts, glaucoma, and cornea damage which threatened her small amount of vision at various points in her life. She is thankful to have learned both braille and print as a young child. She travels with a dog guide.
Sarah graduated from Anderson University School of theology in 2009 with a Master of Divinity. She is a licensed minister with the Church of God (Anderson, IN) and travels as a guest speaker and singer to churches, colleges, and other community groups. She also works with companies to increase features of software that enable blind students to access foreign language materials; and she serves as co-moderator for several online discussion groups.
Development of content for this site is supported by your contributions, the sale of products through various affiliate programs, and Sarah's work as a writer, speaker, and in other areas listed on her services page. If the material on this site has been helpful or encouraging to you, please consider shopping using the sites linked here--and return to do your shopping anytime using these links to continue supporting this site--or making a contribution using the Amazon Honor System.
A repository of links to information about deafblindness on the Web.
Causes of Deafblindness
Information for Parents
Communication
Educational Issues
Sources of Support and Advocacy
In the Dark About People Who Are Deaf-Blind?
This article discusses the range of abilities of people who are deafblind and other information which may be important for hearing and sighted people to know.
General Guidelines When Meeting a Deafblind Person
If you are nervous about meeting and interacting with a person who is deafblind, here are some helpful tips.
Essay on Deaf-Blindness
Maurice Mines provides a bit of information about how people who are deafblind get around and how to offer and provide assistance.
Ten Commandments of Deafblindness
Here is some information about what to do and what not to do when you are with a person who is deafblind.
Communicating with Deafblind People in the Hospital
These tips will assist hospital staff in communicating with people who are deafblind.
Deafblindness or Deaf-Blindness?
Does that hyphen really matter? Here you will find out why some people think it does.
How Do Deaf-Blind People Cope?
The idea of deafblindness is frightening to many people. Here is an overview of coping strategies from Disability International.
Information About Deafblindness
This is a rather personal look at deaf-blindness from one person's perspective. He describes how he uses a computer and how he learned to create a Web site, and he also explains other aspects of living with both hearing and vision loss.
Dreams Can Be Realized
Patrick Cave describes how he works on cars in spite of hearing and vision loss.
Deafblind People Miss Out in the High Street
This article discusses the problems deafblind people face regarding shopping and the effects of deafblindness on life.
Driving with Usher Syndrome
Here are some discussions from the deafblind mailing list about driving and Usher syndrome.
Are You Listening? Auditory Issues for Children with Visual Impairments
This is an excellent overview of how we hear and how damage to the ears, inner ear and brain affect hearing.
Charge Syndrome
This is an overview of Charge Syndrome written by Kate Moss for parents and teachers.
Congenital Rubella Syndrome
This article describes the symptoms of rubella, its effects on pregnancy, prevalence, and the importance of early diagnosis.
Cytomegalovirus
This is an overview of CMV, a Herpes virus which can result in hearing and vision loss.
Driving with Usher Syndrome
Here are some discussions from the deaf-blind mailing list about driving and Usher syndrome.
Goldenhar Syndrome
Here is some basic information about Goldenhar Syndrome and its features.
Haven Library (Retinitis Pigmentosa)
This page contains articles and other resources about RP and related disorders, including information about Usher syndrome and hearing aids.
Hearing and Vision Loss Associated with Down Syndrome
Concerned by the number of children reported as having Down syndrome in the deafblind census, Kate Moss wrote this overview for families and teachers.
Meningitis
Meningitis can have a number of results, including hearing loss and temporary or permanent vision loss. This page provides a good explanation of various types of meningitis and their effects.
Rubella: Immunization Information
This article explains what rubella is and provides information on how to protect yourself and your children.
Rubella: Immunization in Adults
Rubella can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or severe disability if it occurs during pregnancy. This information will be useful for adults who desire to protect themselves against this infrction.
Rubella: Signs and Symptoms
Here is some information about how rubella can be recognized.
Syndromes Which Often Result in Combined Vision and Hearing Loss
This article describes causes of deaf-blindness and is written for parents and teachers of students who are deaf-blind.
Understanding the Needs of Deaf People with Retinitis Pigmentosa
This is a good overview of issues facing people with Usher syndrome. Teachers and other professionals are the intended audience.
Usher Syndrome
and RP: Information and Referrals
This article provides some information about Usher syndrome and where to go for help.
Development of Deaf-Blind Children
Here is some information about the effects of deafblindness on children's development.
Doors
One parent shares how she teaches skills to her child who is deaf-blind.
How Parents and Caregivers Can Assist in Early Intervention
This article introduces some issues regarding promoting the development of early communication for children who are deafblind and what parents and caregivers can do.
Choices for Young Adults Born Deafblind
This article introduces some of the issues facing teenagers and young adults who have both a hearing and visual impairment and discusses transition planning strategies.
Beginning Communication with People Who Are Deaf-Blind
This article presents some tips for people on how to establish communication with someone who is deafblind.
Communicating with Deaf-Blind People in the Hospital
Here are some tips for hospital staff for communicating with people who are deafblind.
Conversations without Language- Building Quality Interactions with Children Who Are Deaf-Blind
This article emphasizes the importance of "conversation" with children who have limited language abilities and explores the idea that body language and nonverbal cues can be used to create it.
How Parents and Caregivers Can Assist in Early Intervention
This article introduces some issues regarding promoting the development of early communication for children who are deaf-blind and what parents and caregivers can do.
Issues Regarding the Assessment of Vision Loss in Regard to Sign Language and Finger Spelling
This article discusses the need to evaluate the effects of vision loss on the deafblind child's ability to use sign language or other systems of communication and emphasizes the need for an interdisciplinary approach to assessment.
Sign Language with People Who Are Deaf-Blind
Here are some tips for using sign language to communicate with people who are deafblind.
Implications for Early Intervention Services
This article discusses the importance of being knowledgeable about deafblindness for staff in early intervention programs.
DB 101
Tutorial information for educators from the National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness.
Teaching Strategies and Content Modifications for the Child with Deaf-Blindness
This article compares some sample modifications for children with hearing impairments, children with visual impairments, and children with both.
Documenting Modifications in the IEP
This article describes a resource under development at the time which will assist in the documentation of modifications for students who are deafblind.
Teaching Students to Communicate Their Choices at Mealtime
This article presents some strategies for teaching students who are deafblind and cognitively disabled to communicate choices and avoid the tendency of staff to anticipate their needs.
Computers in Our Classrooms
Here are some tips for modifying a computer for use by students who are deafblind and suggestions for creative use.
Choices for Young Adults Born Deafblind
This article introduces some of the issues facing teenagers and young adults who have both a hearing and visual impairment and discusses transition planning strategies.
Teaching Students Who Are Deaf-Blind (PDF)
Information for college faculty.
American
Association of the Deaf-Blind
AADB's extensive web site with resources, news, etc.
Deaf-Blindness: National Organizations and Resources (1993)
This listing is provided by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS). Contact information may be out of date.
Equipment for Deaf-Blind People
This page provides descriptions of equipment used by people who are deaf-blind and information about where to obtain. This page is maintained by a person from England, and prices are listed in pounds.
Helen Keller National Center
The Helen Keller National Center provides training for people who are deaf-blind, a newsletter, and other services. Their site is available in a text-only or graphics version.
Mailing Lists and Newsletters
This page provides instructions for subscribing to mailing lists and newsletters online about deaf-blindness and for getting to chat areas.
National Family Association for Deaf-Blind
NFADB's site provides information about the organization, membership, and a forum and chat client.
National Federation of the Blind's Deaf-Blind Division
Here you can find out how to join the Deaf-Blind Division, what activities are coming up, and more information about the National Federation of the Blind.
Organizations Throughout the World
This is a listing of organizations for people who are deaf-blind in many parts of the world. It is organized by country.
Sarah J. Blake