Key Topics for Families

"Key Topic for Families" are special web pages with tips, strategies, and supports that families of children with deaf-blindness can use to help them navigate their child's services and their family's everyday life.

Categories:

Early Intervention
Educational Services
Learning at Home
Transition
Caring for the Family
Health and Human Services During the Pandemic

A 4-year old boy with deaf-blindness who is in a wheelchair is being pushed by his 9-year-old brother. It looks like they are going fast and both have big smiles.

Early Intervention

Early Intervention Services: What is Part C?
Services for infants and toddlers with disabilities are available in all states. This page provides an overview and a resource on how to learn about services in your state. (June 2020)
How to Engage Your Child in the Early Years
Resources on ways to promote learning and development during the crucial early years when the brain is rapidly developing and most sensitive to learning. (June 2020)
Preparing for Transition to Preschool
This page provides links to helpful resources for families to make the transition as smooth as possible. (April 2021)

Educational Services

Including Deafblindness on the IEP
Resources families can share with their child’s team about the importance of listing deafblindness on the IEP, how to identify a child who is deafblind, and providing appropriate services. (September 2023)
Partnering with Professionals Online
Tips for families to get the most out of online consultations with professionals who assist families to gain the knowledge and skills they need to promote their children's learning and development at home. (November 2020)
What is an Intervener?
Learn about interveners and how families and educational teams determine if a child with deaf-blindness would be likely to benefit from one. (March 2020)
The Role of the Family in IEP Development
General resources about individualized education programs (IEPs) and resources specific to families of children with deaf-blindness. (January 2020)
Understanding Assistive Technology
Resources on special education requirements, legal issues, and other important things to know when making decisions about technology. (May 2021)

Learning at Home

Ideas for the Holidays
Resources from Paths to Literacy and WonderBaby to help you have fun, learn, and use your creativity with family and friends. (December 2020)
Distance Learning for Proficient Communicators
Resources on how to provide distance instruction to students with deaf-blindness. It specifically focuses on students who are proficient communicators. (May 2020)
Ideas for Activities at Home During COVID-19 Pandemic
With schools closed, families are looking for ideas on how to help their children who are deaf-blind continue to learn and have fun. (April 2020)

Transition

Activities at Home to Promote Transition Skills
There are many activities that can be done at home to help children and youth prepare to transition to adult life. (September 2020)
Transition: Creating a Vision for Adult Life
Although transition planning isn't required by law to be part of your child's IEP until age 16 (or sooner in some states), families should start planning for adult life as early as they would for a child without a disability. (July 2020)
Transition: Learning about Adult Service Agencies
Many youth who are deaf-blind need ongoing support to live, work, and participate in community life after they graduate from high school. (July 2020)

Caring for the Family

Learn About the Hands & Voices Organization
Information about Hands & Voices, a parent organization dedicated to supporting families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. (July 2021)
Telling your Child's Story
The resources on this page provide resources that families can use to help craft a story of a child’s life to share with others. (March 2021)
Siblings
The resources on this page provide strategies that parents and caregivers can use to help strengthen and support sibling relationships. (February 2021)
Self-Care for Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Resources to guide self-care and provide needed inspiration to persevere during challenging times. (April 2020)
The Impact of Raising a Child with Deaf-Blindness on a Family
Raising a child with deaf-blindness comes with extraordinary moments of joy, as well as times of increased stress and feeling overwhelmed. (February 2020)
Resources for Grief Support
The death of a child can be extremely challenging for a family. Finding resources that fit your needs can help in your healing. This page contains Information related to supporting children and adults who are grieving.

Health and Human Services During the Pandemic

Accessing Services During the Pandemic
Provides information about where to get information on COVID-19 in your state, services and benefits (e.g., SSI, Medicaid), and communication in medical environments. (April 2020)
Experiences of Individuals with Deaf-Blindness and their Families During the Pandemic
Provides links to publications describing the difficulties that deafblind individuals face as COVID-19 physical distancing requirements limit opportunities to interact with others via proximity and touch. (April 2020, updated April 2021)