Welcome to the Deaf-Blind Pages
People who are deafblind deserve to be connected, just as any living being deserves to be connected. People who are deafblind deserve to have the best quality of life possible. They deserve to be included and to be able to express themselves in an increasingly rich and varied way throughout their lifetimes. They deserve to be heard and respected for what they have to say, however they say it – with language, with gesture, with movement, with voice, with hands, with eyes, with silence.--Barbara Miles
Welcome
We’re so glad you’re here!
KCDHH is excited about the opportunity to share information and helpful resources on deaf-blindness. According to the American Association of the Deaf-Blind (https://aadb.org/information/ncd/ncd_introduction.html),
"Individuals who are deaf-blind make up a diverse group. The degrees and kinds of hearing and vision losses vary: hard of hearing and low vision, deaf and tunnel vision, hard of hearing and blind, in addition to totally deaf-blind. The age of onset also varies... Despite this diversity in the deaf-blind community, they all have the same needs: to lead productive and independent lives with equal access to the community where they live and work."
KCDHH values communication, and we understand that communication happens in diverse ways. Communication is how we connect, develop and maintain meaningful relationships, and experience the world around us. Because communication and connection are regarded as high priorities at KCDHH, we have given careful attention to compiling information and resources to help educate and provide support to individuals, families, and professionals who are impacted by deaf-blindness.
Helen Keller is most likely the first person most of us think of when we envision deaf-blindness. She was quoted as saying “the best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart”. May we all develop a greater awareness and sensitivity toward people who are deaf-blind and ensure greater opportunities for communication and connection.