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.

Parents, as you have the time and as you are ready, take the time to search these pages for the resources that can help you. Read the Colorado Project’s Fact Sheets or other posted information, call the project for a home or school visit, attend an event sponsored just for parents or the whole family, attend the annual Summer Institute, borrow books or videos from the Lending Library, and/or reach out to other parents affiliated with the project. It all exists for you, your child and your family. We hope you will reach out and connect!

Making Connections

Family-to-Family Communities Project (F2FC)

F2FC brings families together to connect, share information and resources, and offer support to one another in the journey of supporting their family members who are deaf-blind and have other complex needs.

GRANDPARENTS & Other Extended Family Members

Would you like to learn from other extended family members how they support their loved ones?
Are you open to sharing your perspective and how you support your loved ones?
Would you like to learn more about the impact complex needs have on families?

F2FC is offering an opportunity for grandparents and other extended family members to meet monthly via Zoom.

Check out the F2FC flyer and the F2FC Facebook page for additional information.

Registration is open until September 1, 2024. Contact the facilitators with any questions.

Facilitators: Chris DiLeo, [email protected], and Tony DiLeo, [email protected].

Colorado Resources

Other Resources

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.

Topic Fact Sheets

Parents And Families

Websites

Organizations

CDE Links

For more information about the Colorado Services for Children and Youth with Combined Vision and Hearing Loss project, please contact:

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

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

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