This overview provides basic information on the causes of deaf-blindness and the particular challenges faced by individuals who are deaf-blind. Causes of deaf-blindness include various syndromes, multiple congenital anomalies, prematurity, congenital prenatal dysfunction, and various postnatal causes. Differences between people deaf-blind from…

This paper describes Project PLAI (Promoting Learning through Active Interaction), a 4-year research-to-practice project designed to develop and validate an early communication curriculum for infants who are deafblind and their caregivers. The curriculum provides a step-by-step approach to assist caregivers in recognizing their infants' early and…

This overview provides basic information on the causes of deaf-blindness and the particular challenges faced by individuals who are deaf-blind. Causes of deaf-blindness include various syndromes, multiple congenital anomalies, prematurity, congenital prenatal dysfunction, and various postnatal causes. Differences between people deaf-blind from…

This document consists of three separately published fact sheets combined here because of the close relationship of their subject matter. The first fact sheet, "Communication Interactions: It Takes Two" (Kathleen Stremel), defines communication; suggests ways to find opportunities for interactive communication; offers specific suggestions for…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of Alaska's 3-year program on services for children and youth with dual sensory impairments. The project provided personalized technical assistance to local education agencies, to infant learning programs, and to other educators. It also provided support and training to families of…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of a four-year federally funded project in Illinois to provide technical assistance to agencies and organizations providing early intervention, educational, transitional, vocational, and related services to children with deaf-blindness. The project supported the activities of deaf-blind…

This study evaluated the quality and costs of services for 16 young adults with dual sensory impairments and mental retardation before and during their placement at a specialized, community-based, residential, further-education facility in England. Results indicated that overall quality and costs were higher than in previous placements, though…

This article describes the use and development of communication systems for persons with severe intellectual and dual sensory impairments using tactually salient materials to refer to abstract and concrete objects and activities. A transdisciplinary model was used in teaching the use of these systems for requesting and decision-making processes.…

Children who have both a hearing loss and a visual impairment are a very small but extremely heterogeneous low incidence group. These children vary greatly in the types and degrees of visual impairment and hearing loss. The majority of them have some usable vision and/or hearing, and many have additional disabilities. Most professionals (i.e.,…

Definitions of intelligence have traditionally been rooted in literacy competence. In this article, the authors examine two historical examples where societal prejudices and institutional forces worked to limit and regulate access to literacy. The first example illustrates how racism and denial of competence were so profoundly linked and…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of a 2-year federal project to provide support services for deaf-blind children and youth in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Objectives and their accomplishments are divided into two major sections: activities of the New England Center (NEC) for Deaf-Blind Services…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of a federally funded 3-year project in Delaware to improve programming and instructional/vocational opportunities available to students with deaf-blindness. The project expanded the capacity of the state-funded program for the deaf-blind to provide technical assistance and training for…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of a federally supported pilot project promoting access to inclusive education for Kansas children with dual sensory impairments. The project focused on developing a system of technical assistance and training to provide education for students with dual sensory impairments in general…

This final report describes the activities and accomplishments of a 3-year model demonstration early intervention network serving infants who are deaf-blind and their families. The primary goal of the project was to build the capacity of early intervention programs. Sixteen early intervention programs participated in at least one component of the…

This theme issue of a newsletter that focuses on transition of youths who are deaf-blind discusses the topic of assistive technology. An introduction introduces the issue and notes the vast array of homemade low technology and commercially available high technology assistive aids and devices that enable adults with sensory disabilities to live,…