Adult Resource Guide

Contents:

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General / Comprehensive Resources

  • See also our FAQ Page for general information about deafblindness.
  • Sense Publications List
    Internet: http://www.sense.org.uk/deafblind/resources.html
    Description: A list of factsheets and articles related to DeafBlindness.
  • 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, oral 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.

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Diagnosis / Identification of Dual Sensory Impairment

  • 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."
  • 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."
  • Book: Coping With Vision Loss: Maximizing What You Can See and Do
    Publisher: Hunter House; ISBN: 0897933168; (March 30, 2021)
    Description: "explains fundamental facts about eyes, vision, and vision rehab, including causes and varieties of diseases that destroy vision, skills that the partially sighted person must learn, and valuable low vision aids. The book also discusses how others with low vision have coped with eye fatigue and pain, as well as the emotional problems that come with the struggle to attain a level of function that many take for granted.
  • Book: The "Madness" of Usher's: Coping With Vision And Hearing Loss
    Publisher: Business of Living Publications; ISBN: 1879518066; (February 1991)
    Description: "This book is about a lifetime of ongoing personal adjustments and functional adaptation. The author explores the fear and emotional chaos brought on by a dual sensory loss… presents graphic insight into her personal "madness"...reveals her personal philosophy of emotional survival… furnishes practical how-to's for functional management."
  • Book: Orchid of the Bayou: A Deaf Woman Faces Blindness
    Publisher: Gallaudet University Press; ISBN: 1563681048; (March 2001)
    Description: "In graduating from Gallaudet University, finding a job in Washington, D.C., and starting a family with her college sweetheart, Kitty Fischer tacitly abandoned the Louisiana Cajun culture that had exposed her to little more than prejudice and misery as a child… While Fischer struggled to come to terms with her condition, the high incidence of Usher syndrome among Cajun people led her to re-examine her cultural roots."

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Communication and Technology

  • See also
  • 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.
  • Tack-Tiles¨ Braille Systems
    Internet: http://www.tack-tiles.com
    Description: "a sophisticated teaching tool for all ages based on LEGO®-type blocks. These Braille blocks provide a unique bridge, a smoother, shorter, more interesting path to Braille literacy."
  • Assistive Technology
    Internet: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/ECS/dhhs/technology.htm
    Description: Information about technology for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or have a speech or mobility impairment. Includes assistive listening devices, special telephone technology, relay service, and the telephone equipment distribution program. From the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
  • Assistive Equipment and Technology Fact Sheet
    Internet: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/ECS/dhhs/PDF/assttech.pdf
    Description: Definitions and examples of several types of technologies used by people who are deaf, deafblind, or hard-of-hearing. Includes alerting devices, telecommunication devices, assistive listening devices, and captioning. Available online in PDF format, or in other forms for people with disabilities by calling (651) 296-3980 Voice, or (651) 297-1506 TTY.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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Disability Rights

  • See also Disability Rights Laws on our Tools for Independence 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.

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Support and Advocacy

  • See also:
  • DeafBlindMinn Mailing List (DBM)
    E-mail 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."
  • Minnesota Department of Human Rights
    E-mail: 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

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Recreation

  • See also Self-Determination on our FAQ Page, and Consumer Advocacy Groups on our Tools for Independence page.
  • 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.
  • Yoga for the Deafblind
    Internet: http://www.deafblindinternational.org/review/dipti_karnad.html
    Description: Yoga can be beneficial to people of all ages, abilities, and sizes. "In this article Dipti Karnad describes the way in which the teaching and learning of yoga is making a real contribution to the lives of deafblind children at the Sadhana Unit for Deafblind Children at the Clarke School for the Deaf, Chennai, India." Yoga can be beneficial to people of all ages, abilities, and sizes.
  • 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.
  • BrailleChess.Net
    Internet: http://www.braillechess.net
    Resources to help deafblind and blind people learn and play chess accessibly. This web site is run by James Gallagher (who is Deafblind) and Mario Lang (who is blind).

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Financial Assistance

  • 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.

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