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please use our Feedback Form.
- See also our FAQ Page for general
information about deafblindness.
- Sense
11-13 Clifton Terrace
Finsbury Park
London N4 3SR
UNITED KINGDOM
E-mail: enquiries@sense.org.uk
Internet: http://www.sense.org.uk/
Description:The world's largest deafblind-focused organization.
Although much of its information is focused on people living in the
United Kingdom, Sense is an international organization with lots of
information about vision/hearing loss in older people.
- Sensory
Impairment in Later Life
Internet: http://www.sense.org.uk/sensory_impairment/later.html
Description: Information on a variety
of topics for older people experiencing vision and hearing losses.
- Hearing
and Sight Loss in Older People Factsheet
Internet: http://www.sense.org.uk/word_documents/fact11.html
- Further
Information - Later Life
Internet: http://www.sense.org.uk/information/older.html
Description: a collection of factsheets
and articles about older people with dual sensory loss.
- Sense
Publications List
Internet: http://www.sense.org.uk/deafblind/resources.html
Description: A list of factsheets and
articles related to DeafBlindness.
- Elderly
Deafblindness I
Internet: http://www.deafblindinternational.org/papers/elderly.htm
Description: Proceedings from 3rd European
Conference of Deafblind International’s Acquired Deafblindness
Network, Marcelli di Numana, 2 - 7 October 1998.
- Elderly
Deafblindness II
Internet: http://www.deafblindinternational.org/papers/elder.htm
Description: Proceedings from Expert meeting
on older people with vision and hearing loss, Copenhagen, Denmark 18
- 24 March 1998.
-
Sound and Sight - Understanding Age-related changes in Hearing and Vision
Internet: http://www.lighthouse.org/sound_sight.htm
Description: Sections include "Sound
Familiar?, Hearing Changes in Older Adults, Vision Changes in Older
Adults, When Hearing and Vision Loss Occur Together, Routine Hearing
and Vision Care Can Make a Difference, Hearing and Vision Impairment
Resources."
- Information
Center for Acquired Deafblindness
Generatorvej 2 A
DK-2730 Herlev
DENMARK
+45 44 85 60 30 Voice
+45 44 85 60 99 Fax
+45 20 12 71 74 GSM phone
Email: dbcent@dbcent.dk
Internet: http://www.dbcent.dk/uk/materials.htm
Description: Videos, booklets, and presentations
available online and/or by mail.
- More
than half of the Visually Impaired Seniors also have a Hearing Impairment
Internet: http://www.dbcent.dk/visimpaired.htm
- Facts
on Acquired Deafblindness
Internet: http://www.dbcent.dk/uk/osengelsk.htm
- Aging
and Adult Services
Internet: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/agingint/services/aasdiv.htm
Description: "administers state and federal
programs that provide protective services, supportive assistance, and
alternative housing arrangements for older persons and vulnerable adults."
- Senior
LinkAge Line®
1-800-333-2433 (Voice)
Internet: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/agingint/services/srlink.htm
Description: "Are you looking for services
for seniors such as assisted living or home-delivered meals? Or, are
you a caregiver looking for resources? Help is just a phone call away."
- Minnesota
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division - Services and Resources
for Consumers
Internet: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/ECS/dhhs/consumer.htm
Description: "Whether you are culturally
deaf, orall deaf, late deafened, hard of hearing, deafblind, or a friend,
coworker, or family member of a person with hearing loss, you’ve
come to the right place. Here you can find information about services
designed to meet your needs. Learn about assistive technology, sign
language interpreters, your legal rights, and more."
- Children's
Books About Disabilities
Internet: http://ericec.org/fact/kidbooks.html
Description: Grouped by age group/grade level,
these books help siblings and classmates understand what it is like
to live with a disability. Grandchildren and other young loved ones
may benefit from these stories.
Back to Top of Page.
- See also What
are the Causes of DeafBlindness? on our FAQ page.
- Sight
& Hearing Association
Internet: http://www.sightandhearing.org
Description: "nonprofit organization
dedicated to preventing the needless loss of vision and hearing through
effective screening, education, and research. This site provides public
information about vision and hearing topics as well as information regarding
our products and services."
- Aging
and Hearing Loss
Internet: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/ECS/dhhs/aging.htm
Description: "How do know if I have
a hearing loss?, Communication, What should I do?, Consequences, Causes,
Technology, Hearing Aids, Myths."
- Hearing
Loss Simulator
Internet: http://www.sphr.pdx.edu/projects/hearingsimulator/index.htm
Description: Provides a way to get a general
idea of what the world may sound like to a person with hearing loss,
based on his or her audiogram pattern. Please note auditory perception
varies across individuals; two people with the same audiogram on paper
may experience sound differently.
- Deaf/Hard
of Hearing Terms and Definitions
Internet: http://www.handsandvoices.org/resource_guide/19_definitions.html
Description: "some terms and their definitions
that you may come across as you learn about deaf and hard of hearing
issues."
- Coping with Aging Series from Singular Publishing
Group:
- Coping
with Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids
Description: "Recognizing When You Have a Hearing Loss,
Hearing Health Care Professionals, The Hearing Evaluation, The Ear
and Hearing Loss, The Effect of Presbycusis and Other Factors and
Communication, Ways to Improve Communication, Common Hearing Aid Myths,
Being a Good Consumer: What You Should Know Before Buying Hearing
Aids, Understanding Hearing Aids, Understanding Hearing Aid Batteries,
Obtaining and Maintaining Your Hearing Aids, Adjusting to Your Hearing
Aids, Hearing Aid Repairs, Sources for Additional Information"
- Coping
with Low Vision
Description: "What is Low Vision?,
The Eye and the Visual System, Diseases of the Eye, Myths about the
Eyes, Care of the Eyes, Eye Care Providers, Your Eye Exam, Your Feelings
about Losing Vision, Hallucinations, Vision Rehabilitation Services,
Optical Aids, Eccentric Viewing, Rehabilitation Teaching, Orientation
and Mobility, Community Resources to Cope with Vision Loss, Common
Questions and Concerns of People with Low Vision, Sources of Additional
Information."
Back to Top of Page.
- See also Telephone
Equipment Distribution (TED) Program of Minnesota's Deaf
and Hard of Hearing Services Division.
- Association
of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA)
1131 Lake St., #204
Oak Park, IL 60301
( 708) 358-0135 TTY
Toll-free: 1-877-907-1738 Voice/FAX
Email Region II (including Minnesota) Regional Director:
Kathy Schlueter: ksctryln@aol.com
Internet: http://www.alda.org
Description: "ALDA works collaboratively
with other organizations around the world serving the needs of late-deafened
people and extends a welcome to everyone, late deafened or not, who
supports our goals. What does "late-deafened" mean? Late-deafened
usually means deafness that happened post-lingually, any time after
the development of speech and language...Your regional director [can]
send you an application and soon you can receive the ALDA Newsletter,
attend annual ALDAcons and be a part of this wonderful group that calls
everyone a friend."
- Assistive
Listening Devices
Internet: http://www.main.org/accessarts/ald.htm
Description: Covers the basics: What is an
assistive listening system?, What does it do?, Who uses it?, Four basic
systems, Types of headsets, Types of receivers, How do assistive listening
systems work?, Directory of manufacturers and vendors.
- Minnesota
Interpreter Referral Web Site
Internet: http://www.interpreterreferral.org
Description: "information about sign
language interpreters, how to use them and how to find them… created
to help ensure that all Minnesotans are able to locate needed sign language
interpreter services"
- 101
Ways to Use Braille
Internet: http://www.nfb.org/bm/bm99/bm990309.htm
Description: Easy, low-tech ways to use braille
in your daily life, even if you only know the basic braille alphabet.
- Recording
for the Blind and Dyslexic
National Headquarters
20 Roszel Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
Toll-free: 1-866-RFBD-585 (1-866-732-3585)
Description: "Anyone with a documented disability—including
a visual impairment, learning disability or other physical disability
which makes reading standard print difficult or impossible—is
eligible to use RFB&D's taped textbooks but in order to access our
library, you need to become a member."
- Tips
for Effective Communication with a Disabled Person
Internet: http://www.crk.umn.edu/people/services/DisabilServ/communication.htm
Description: Clear advice about how to interact
with a person who has a visual, hearing, mobility, or cognitive disability.
Back to Top of Page.
- See also Disability
Rights Laws on our Supports
Page.
- IDEA/ADA
in Plain Language
Internet: http://www.nclid.unco.edu/ADA.htm
Description: Annotated links to resources
that explain legal rights, especially in educational settings, for people
with disabilities.
-
Guide to Disability Rights Laws
Internet: http://ericec.org/lawguide.html
Description: Includes brief summaries and
contacts for further information or to file a claim.
Back to Top of Page.
- See also:
- Aging
Initiative
Internet: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/agingint/default.htm
Description:"Through public policy, research,
and administration of funds to community services, the Aging Initiative
builds networks that help meet senior needs and maintain independence,
and it administers programs, such as Elderly
Waiver, Long-Term
Care Consultation, and Alternative
Care, that support seniors in home- and community-based environments."
- DeafBlindMinn
Mailing List (DBM)
Email to subscribe: DeafBlindMinn-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Internet: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DeafBlindMinn
Description: A mailing list for DeafBlind
Minnesotans and others interested in the DeafBlind community. All discussion
is welcome, but please keep your message in basic English language.
- DeafBlind
Pen Pals Directory - from Sense
Internet: http://www.sense.org.uk/penpals/index.html
Description: "If you're feeling isolated
or just [want to get] to know someone, our penpals section will help.
You can search for people and then contact them electronically for a
chat."
- Deaf Seniors of America
Email: dsa@deafseniors.org
Internet: http://www.deafseniors.org
Description: Mission is "to improve the
quality of life for senior citizens who are deaf by: Providing seminars
dealing with issues impacting their well-being and safety; Conducting
awareness projects or activities among decision makers, providers of
services and the general public regarding their unique needs; and Acquainting
those senior citizens with national, state, and local resources that
will contribute to their positive image and fuller participation in
the mainstream society."
- Minnesota
Department of Human Rights
Email: complaintinfo@therightsplace.net
Internet: http://www.therightsplace.org/
Description: "a neutral state agency
that investigates charges of illegal discrimination." Web site
includes Information about your rights in employment, housing, and other
settings, a very extensive listing of related resources, and an online
version of a CD-ROM
on disability rights issues.
- Minnesota
Disability Law Center - Client Assistance Project
300 Kickernick Building
430 First Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1780
(612) 332-1441 Voice
(612) 332-4668 TTY
Toll Free: (800) 292-4150 (new client intake number)
Internet: http://www.mnwfc.org/rehab/vr/cap.htm
Description: free civil legal assistance to
individuals with disabilities. Client Assistance Project advocates and
mediates for people who have grievances about services from state agencies.
- Continuing
Care - Minnesota Department of Human Services: People with Disabilities
Internet: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/contcare/main/default.htm
Description: "A primary goal of Continuing
Care is to promote independent living for people with disabilities by
funding or providing a broad range of residential care and social services
close to home communities instead of in institutionalized settings."
For more information on services in your county, see County
Human Services Agencies.
- Chemical
Health Division
- Program
for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities
- HIV/AIDS
Programs
- Mental
Health Division
Back to Top of Page.
- See also Self-Determination
on our FAQ Page, and Consumer
Advocacy Groups on our Supports
page.
- Minnesota
Area Agencies on Aging
421 First Avenue SW, Suite 201
Rochester, MN 55902
(507) 288-6944 Voice
(507) 288-4823 Fax
Toll-free: 1-800-333-2433
Email: information@minnesota-aaa.org
Internet: http://www.minnesota-aaa.org
Description: Find your local Area Agency on
Aging and get connected with the following free services:
"Social Support Services such as transportation, health screenings,
legal services, adult day care, home health aides, housing assistance,
counseling, advocacy, homemaker services, chore services, and senior
centers. Nutrition Programs such as home-delivered meals and senior
dining. Minnesota's nutrition programs provide more than 5 million meals
a year. Minnesota's 497 senior dining sites, located in senior centers,
community centers, schools and churches, offer nutritious midday meals
along with social and rehabilitative opportunities. Older people unable
to attend the senior dining sites may have meals delivered to their
homes."
- Recreation
and Leisure Fact Sheet
Internet: http://www.tr.wou.edu/dblink/rec-les.htm
Description: "Practical information on
how to get people who are deaf-blind with cognitive disabilities involved
with recreational activities. The focus is on recreational activities
for pre-adolescent children through adult." Includes steps required
to develop a recreational plan, examples of recreation activities with
different people who are deaf-blind, extensive resource list.
- Hadley
School for the Blind - Correspondence Courses
700 Elm Street
Winnetka, IL 60093-2554 USA
Toll-Free: 1-800-323-4238 Voice
(847) 446-0855 Fax
E-mail: Info@Hadley-School.org
Internet: http://www.hadley-school.org
Description: "Hadley has a course for
you if you are a blind adult (14+ years of age), a parent or grandparent
of a blind child, a family member of an adult who is blind, or a (para)professional
in the blindness field. The Hadley School for the Blind offers more
than 90 distance education courses to eligible students completely free
of charge." Current
course listing is on the Hadley web site, and is also available
by mail in alternate formats. Designed to focus blind and visually impaired
people, but many of the courses can be helpful to DeafBlind people and
their friends, families, and professionals.
- Perkins
Outreach Services to Elders
Internet: http://www.perkins.org/area.php?id=7
Email: Outreach@Perkins.org
Community-based Services: "Training and
consultation with individuals and their families in areas such as personal
care and grooming, cooking, home management, low vision utilization,
and communication skills are offered as part of the service.
Center-based Services: The Outreach Elder
Learning Center, located on the Perkins campus, offers an adult education
model of training for elders with vision loss. Seniors participate in
six- to ten-week courses in areas such as gardening, crafts, yoga, exercise,
and cooking techniques or can participate in an ongoing book club.
Back to Top of Page.
- Minnesota's
Healthcare Programs
Internet: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/ecs/Program/default.htm
Description: Description of MA, GAMC and MinnesotaCare:
services covered under each plan, eligibility requirements, and how
to apply.
- Medical
Assistance (MA) - Minnesota's Medicaid Program
Internet: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/hlthcare/asstprog/mmap.htm
Description: "a joint federally/state-funded
[health care] program which provides necessary medical services
for low-income families, children, pregnant women, and people who
are elderly (65 or older) or have disabilities." Eligibility
requirements, covered services, how to apply. One of Minnesota's
three publicly
funded health care programs.
- MA
Waivers: Home Care/Home and Community Based Services (HC/HCBS)
Waivers
- General
Assistance Medical Care (GAMC)
Internet: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/hlthcare/asstprog/gamc.htm
Description: "pays for medical care
for some 23,300 low-income Minnesotans who don't qualify for Medicaid
or other state or federal health care programs."
- MinnesotaCare
Internet: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/hlthcare/MNCare/default.htm
Description: "a subsidized health
care program for people who live in Minnesota and do not have access
to health insurance. There are no health condition barriers, but
applicants must meet income and program guidelines to qualify."
- Minnesota
Senior Health Options (MSHO)
Internet: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/HlthCare/MSHO-MNDHO/MSHO.htm
Description: "a health care program
for seniors, age 65 and over, who are eligible for Medical Assistance
(MA) and Medicare. People with only MA can also join. MSHO combines
the health care and support services that normally are offered by
separate programs into one seamless package to make it simpler for
people to get these services."
- Minnesota
Disability Health Options (MnDHO)
Internet: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/HlthCare/MSHO-MNDHO/MNDHO.htm
Description: "a program for people
with physical disabilities who are eligible for Medical Assistance
(MA). People who are eligible for both MA and Medicare may also
enroll… Every enrollee is assigned a care coordinator who answers
questions, helps with paperwork, and helps arrange services."
- Economic
and Community Supports
Internet: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/ecs/Program/default.htm
Description: "The Minnesota Department
of Human Services supervises a variety of economic assistance programs… Most economic assistance (including welfare) programs are administered
at local county agencies."
- Child
Support Enforcement Division
- Deaf
and Hard of Hearing Services Division
- Food
Stamp Program
- Food
Stamp Employment and Training (FSET)
- General
Assistance
- Minnesota
Family Investment Program (MFIP)
- Minnesota
Food Assistance Program (MFAP)
- Minnesota
Supplemental Aid
- Refugee
Assistance Program
- Self-Employment
Investment Development Program (SEID)
- Telephone
Equipment Distribution (TED) Program
- Telephone
Assistance Program (TAP)
- Home
Care/Home and Community Based Services (HC/HCBS) Waivers
Internet: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/Contcare/waivers/default.htm
- State
Services for the Blind (SSB)
Minnesota Department of Economic Security
2200 University Avenue West, Suite 240
St. Paul, MN 55114
(651) 642-0500 Voice
(651) 642-0506 TTY
Toll-free in Minnesota: 1-800-652-9000 Voice/TTY
Internet: http://www.mnssb.org/
Regional Offices in MN: Bemidji, Brainerd,
Duluth, Hibbing, Mankato, Marshall, Moorhead, Rochester, St. Cloud,
St. Paul.
Services for Adults and Children: Equipment,
information and referral, library and transcription services, Radio
Talking Book Network, self-care assistance for seniors, transition-age
services, vocational training and referral.
- Benefits
CheckUp
Internet: http://www.benefitscheckup.org/
Description: "...helps thousands of
people every day to find programs for seniors [and people of all ages
with disabilities] that may pay for some of their costs of prescription
drugs, health care, utilities, and other essential items or services.
Please fill out our simple questionnaire to find programs that can assist
you or your loved ones.” Also available in
Spanish for residents of Colorado.
- Directory
of Funding Resources for Assistive Technology in Minnesota
Internet: http://www.admin.state.mn.us/assistivetechnology/fund2/fund_dir.htm
Description: "information about Minnesota
and national agencies and organizations that fund technology, in a format
that lets you compare programs and tells you how to get in touch with
people who can help." From Minnesota's STAR Program.
- Post-Secondary
Financial Aid
Internet: http://ericec.org/faq/finance.html
Description: advice and resources for people
with disabilities seeking funding for college or vocational school.
Back to Top of Page.
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