"Blindness separates a person from things, but deafness
separates him from people."
- Helen keller
What about those that develop both?
Deaf-Blindness
IDEA Definition
“concomitant [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 and
children with blindness.”
10,000 Children in the U.S. have
some varying degree of deafblindness.
More than 90% of children with
deaf-blindness are classified to
have other disabilities as well
Deaf Blindness: Characteristics

Central accuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with
corrective lenses.

Peripheral diameter of vision subtends angular distance of no
more than 20 degrees.

Hearing impairment in which most speech cannot be understood

Children with deaf-blindness suffer from varying degrees of
vision/hearing loss, requiring unique needs/preferences in the
classroom.

Most children with deaf-blindness suffer from other disabilities.
Characteristics of Students with DeafBlindness in the Classroom

Withdrawn and inwardly focused.

A need to feel secure

Difficulty developing concepts.

Difficulty with communication and interaction.
Notable Characteristics as Warning Signs
Hearing
Vision

Frequent rubbing or blinking of
eyes.

Failure to pay attention to casual
conversation.

Poor reading

Frequent ear infections.

Tilting head when reading

Withdrawing from interaction.

Poor hand-eye coordination

Watching a speaker intently.

Avoiding close work

Limited speech or vocab

Short attention span or
daydreaming

Placing head close to book or desk
when reading/writing

Frequent headaches

Frequent mispronunciation.
Learning Strategies
for Success
Education of Students with deaf-blindness MUST be highly individualized.
*Without constant interaction, the student may feel isolated

Comfort in environment

Hand in hand guidance

Includes tactile signing, body signing, and key word signing.

Tactile Representation- Object based schedule

Tactile Representation- In-Class activities

Use of touch cues as feedback, directives, information and comfort.

Technology- access to braille texts, “braillenote”, braille production system,
“Face to Face” technology.

Routine and repetition
Resources for Knowledge

NFADB.org- National Family Association for Deaf-Blind

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep - Resource for educators

Perkins.org

https://youtu.be/OXj91vAFmGw - Video on Hellen Keller Institute for the
blind

https://youtu.be/l8yXWactj38 - Video on Hands on Hands method

https://youtu.be/zedbip3hkOg - Haben Girma

https://youtu.be/44VEwsBfux0 - Haben Girma on Technology