Deaf-blindness is defined as simultaneous hearing and visual impairments that cause severe communication and developmental challenges. It can be caused by illness, accident, genetic syndromes like Usher Syndrome, or complications of prematurity. People with deaf-blindness experience varying degrees of auditory and visual impairment from hard of hearing and visually impaired to deaf and blind. This creates challenges with communication, navigation, independence, and social interaction. Learning strategies include assistive devices, interpreters, note-takers, adapted materials, and accommodations on tests. Additional resources provide more information on deaf-blindness.

1. Janelle Baguley
Chelsea Ellis
Disability Presentation
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-

2.  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_S
ervices/tpshtdb.pdf
 http://www.usdb.org/deafblind/default.aspx
 http://www.deafblindinfo.org/
 http://www.utahbabywatch.org/index.htm