Deaf-Blind: The Family Place

Parenting a child with a combined hearing and vision loss or deaf-blindness can be challenging, isolating and overwhelming from the shock of the initial diagnosis or diagnoses to the search for supports, answers and resources. Even what to call it can be confusing - combined vision hearing and vision loss, dual sensory diagnosis, or deaf-blindness?

As families move forward into uncharted territory, it is important to know you are not alone and there are other families in Colorado and across the country (and the world!) who also have a child with deaf-blindness. We can all learn from one another.  It is often helpful to talk to other families and professionals trained in deaf-blindness.

The diagnosis of combined hearing and vision loss is a low incidence disability, which means the numbers of identified children are low.  There are approximately 10,000 children and youth identified across the country who are deaf-blind. Just like other states, we have a federally funded State Deaf-Blind Project.  Ours is named the Colorado Services for Children and Youth with Combined Vision and Hearing Loss Project.  One of its primary goals is to connect, educate, empower and support families to survive and thrive.

Colorado Resources

• Hands and Voices (Colorado Office)
• Helen Keller National Center - Rocky Mountain Office
• Parents of Blind Children (Colorado)
• Parent to Parent of Colorado
• Peak Parent Center

Other Resources

• Deaf-Blind Resources
• Other Topic Fact Sheets

Lending Library

A lending library is maintained with up-to-date books, articles, workshop materials, videotapes, and manuals related to the topic of vision and hearing loss.Lending library materials are mailed out upon request.

• Lending Library Inventory (PDF)
• Lending Library Request Form (PDF)

Topic Fact Sheets

Parents And Families

• Brothers and Sisters: Strategies for Supporting Siblings of Children Who are Deafblind (CO) (PDF)
• I Wish I Had . . . Wisdom from Parents of Children who are Deaf-Blind (NCDB)
• Maintaining a Home-School Relation (CA)

Websites

Organizations

• American Association of the Deaf-Blind
• Peak Parent Center
• Hands and Voices (Colorado Office)
• Sibling Support Project

CDE Links

• Special Education - Parent Information and Resources
• Special Education - Parents Encouraging Parents  Conference

Tanni Anthony
Phone: (303) 503-4647
Email Tanni Anthony

Gina Herrera
Phone: (303) 253-0451
Email Gina Herrera