Children who are Deaf/Blind

Description¹

Deaf-blindness refers to children who have some degree of loss in both vision and hearing.  This means that both their seeing and hearing skills are limited. How severe the loss is and how much the eyes or ears function varies for each child.

In the US, the IDEA (see full Glossary) public law on special needs describes deaf-blindness (see full Glossary) as a condition that requires special educational attention. Children who are deaf and blind need unique attention because they have fewer chances for “casual” learning, or natural ways to learn compared to other children who do not have these sensory impairments.

A program that serves children who are “blind” or children who are “deaf” will not address the children who are deaf and blind because their needs are more complex. This is why parents and professionals are directed to consult the National Consortium of Deaf Blindness. This agency has the most complete information for parents and professionals in terms of information and resources.² There is also the Canadian Deaf Blind association.

To learn about deafblindness in the middle childhood years, please visit the six to 12 part of this course.

1 see References
2 see References