SECTION 6 - What are Some of the National and State Resources for Learners with Deafblindness, their Families, and Educators?

There are many national organizations for learners and adults with deafblindness. Some are located in one city and others have offices in various regions across the United States (e.g., Helen Keller Regional Offices, National Technical Assistance Consortium Offices, Helen Keller Affiliates, American Association of the Deaf-Blind, National Family Association for Deaf-Blind, etc.). All national organizations can assist in providing information, linkages, and support resources for free or with an annual membership at a minimal cost. Many of these organizations are sponsored by the federal Office of Special Education Programs, and the Hilton-Perkins Foundation. Others are sponsored by private and membership donations.

Indiana has several organizations that provide information, technical assistance, parent and family support, and resources to learners with deafblindness, their family members, and their educators. The primary organization that provides the above mentioned services is the Indiana Deafblind Services Project. This project provides services for infants, toddlers, children, and youth (through age 21), and their families. Other state affiliations help support the efforts of the Indiana Deafblind Services Project through fiscal or leveraging of resources. Some of these agencies include the Indiana Department of Education, Division of Exceptional Learners, Indiana's Early Learning and School Readiness, Indiana's Family and Consumer Sciences Education, Early Childhood Education and Services, and Indiana's Bureau for Family and Social Services Division, and Indiana’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services. All of these state services are free to the citizens of Indiana.

Task for Completion and Discussion #6:

To gain a better understanding about national and state resources for learners with deafblindness, their families and educators, please conduct an internet search (using Google, Google Scholar, Ask Jeeves, AltaVista, Yahoo, Profusion, or a search engine of your choice) about one national resource and one Indiana resource. You will need to write your findings on the Resource Profile Form (one form for a national organization and one form for an Indiana organization)Task # 6.

    Resources for Task #6:

    In order to complete Task #6, you will have to conduct an internet search using one of the search engines listed below. For example:

    Type in the URL: http://www.google.com Type in your topic in the box: (e.g., National Organizations for Deafblind)
    Click on the box: Google Search
    Click on the link that is associated with your topic.

    Follow the above steps for the following search engines:

        * Google Scholar: Type in the URL:http://scholar.google.com
        * Ask Jeeves: Type in the URL: http://www.askjeeves.com
        * Alta Vista: Type in the URL: http://www.altavista.com
        * Yahoo: Type in the URL: http://www.yahoo.com
        * Profusion: Type in the URL: http://www.profusion.com

For More Information:

If you would like further information about the federal or state resources click on one of the links below.

    DB-LINK: The National Clearinghouse on Children Who Are Deaf-Blind
    Type in the URL: http://www.dblink.org/

    Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Children and Youths
    Type in the URL: http://www.hknc.org

    Indiana Deafblind Services Project

    Type in the URL: http://www.indstate.edu/soe/blumberg/Deafblind