Northwest Outreach Center

Deaf-Blind Community Resources

Compiled by:
Rustie Rothstein, M.A. (RRRustie@aol.com)
and
Mckay Vernon, Ph.D.

National Organizations of/for the Deaf-Blind

American Association of the Deaf-Blind
814 Thayer Aye, Suite 302
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-588-6545 (TTY)
National consumer organization; has conferences, state/local chapters, publishes the "Deaf-Blind American".

National Family Association of the Deaf-Blind
111 Middle Neck Road
Sands Point, NY 11050-1299
1-800-255-0411
ext 275 (V)
516-944-8637 (TTY)
National organization of parents, siblings, spouses, children of persons who are deaf-blind; newsletter (still unnamed).

National Coalition on Deaf-Blindness
175 North Beacon Street
Watertown, MA 02172
617-972-7347 (V)
National coalition of organizations of and for the deaf-blind; lobbies on behalf of legislation benefitting persons who are deaf-blind; provides information on legislation affecting programs for individuals who are deaf-blind.

Education and Rehabilitation Services

DB-Link
Teaching Research Division
Western Oregon State College
345 N. Monmouth Avenue
Monmouth, OR 97361
I -800-438-9376 (V)
1-800-854-7013 (TTY)
National Information Clearinghouse on Children who are Deaf-Blind; data base of service agencies (including the agencies in most states that provide services to school-age children who are deaf-blind) and individual consultants in deaf-blindness; clearinghouse for materials; publish "Deaf-Blind Perspectives"

Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults
111 Middle Neck Road
Sands Point, NY 11050-1299
516-944-8900 (V)
516-944-8637 (TTY)
HKNC offers rehabilitation and personal adjustment training to individuals who are deaf-blind in it's New York training center; 10 regional offices provide consulting, information and referral services to individuals, families, and service providers around the country. HKNC also has services to older adults, training seminars for service providers, and a network of affiliated programs around the country. You can get more information about the 39 affiliate agencies by contacting the regional office which covers your area.

Helen Keller National Center - Regional Offices

I. New England Region
CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT
617-350-8702 (V/TTY)

II. Mid-Atlantic Region
NY, NJ, PR, VI
516-944-8900 (V); 516-944-8637 (TTY)

Ill. East Central Region
DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV
301-699-6255 (V) 301-699-8490 (TTY)

IV. Southeastern Region
AL, FL, GA, MS, KY, NC, SC, TN
404-766-9625 (V); 404-766-2820 (TTY)

V. North Central Region
IL, IN, OH, MI, MN, WI
312-726-2090 (V/TTY); 312-726-2810 (TTY)

VI. South Central Region
AR, LA, NM, OK, TX
214-490-9677 (V/TTY)

VII. Great Plains Region
IA, KS, MO, NE
913-677-4562 (V/TTY)

VIII. Rocky Mountain Region
CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY
303-934-9037 (V/TTY)

IX. Southwestern Region
AZ, CA, HI, NV, Guam, Am. Samoa
818-782-9935 (V); 818-782-9936 (TTY)

X. Northwestern Region
AK, ID, OR, WA
206-324-9120 (V); 206-324-1133 (TTY)

Genetic and Medical Information

RP (Retinitis Pigmentosa) Foundation
1401 Mt. Royal Avenue, 4th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21217
1-800-683-5555 (V)
1-800-683-5551 (TTY)

Genetic Services Center
Gallaudet University
800 Florida Avenue NE
Washington, DC 20002-3695
202-651-5258 (V/TTY)

Boys Town National Research Hospital
Genetics-Usher Syndrome Project
555 North 30th Street
Omaha, NE 68138
402-498-6742 (V/TTY)
1-800-835-1468 (V/TTY)

Sensory Genetics
Sandra Davenport, M.D.
5801 Southwood Drive
Bloomington, MN 55437-1739
612-831-5522 (V/TTY)

Periodicals about Usher Syndrome

About US (newsletter for/by persons with Usher Type II)
c/o Sandra Davenport
5801 Southwood Drive
Bloomington, MN 55437-1739
612-831-5522 (V/TTY)

Usher Family Support
c/o Helen Anderson
4918 42nd Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55417

Other Consumer/Advocacy Group

American Council of the Blind
1155 15th Street NW, Suite 720
Washington, DC 20005
1-800-424-8666
202-467-5081

Association of Late Deafened Adults
P0 Box 641763
Chicago, IL 60664-1763
708-445-0860 (TTY)

National Association of the Deaf
814 Thayer Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-587-1788 (V)
301-587-1789 (TTY)

National Federation of the Blind
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
410-659-9314

Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH)
7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1200
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-657-2249 (TTY)
Each of the above-listed organizations has state and local chapters, national and state conventions, and publications. Because the deaf-blind community is so small, and often so spread out, it may be good to seek out these other organizations and see what they have to offer. They may be of support to an individual, or may be of support to the deaf-blind community in matters such as getting legislation passed, where numbers count.

Assistive/Adaptive Equipment

CATALOGS - The following companies have national mail-order businesses and deal with products for people with hearing and vision impairments, as well as other disabilities. Looking through catalogs is a good way to find out about what equipment is available, although it may not always be the best way to get information about or purchase a specific item. This list is not meant to be exhaustive, but does cover many of the major catalogs. Specific disabilities covered by each catalog are listed using the following codes:
B/VI: blind and visually impaired
D/HH: deaf and hard of hearing
Phys: physically disabled
Gen: general use

Ann Morris Enterprises, Inc (B/VI)
890 Fams Court
East Meadow, New York 11554
516-292-9232

Compu-TTY, Inc. (D/HH)
3309 Winthrop, Suite 85
Ft Worth, TX 76117
817-738-2485 (V) 817-738-8993 (TDD)

Deafworks (D/HH)
P0 Box 1265
Provo, Ut 84603-1 265
801-375-3560 TDD
Voice - use local relay service with TDD number

HARC Mercantile (D/HH)
P0 Box 3055
Kalamazoo, Ml 49003-3005
1-800-445-9968 (V) 616-
381-2219 (TDD)

Harris Communication (D/HH)
6541 City West Parkway
Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3248
1 -800-825-6758 (V) 1-800-825-9187 (TDD)
612-825-5856 (V) 612-825-8791 (TDD)

Hearing Impaired Technologies (HITEC) (D/HH)
8160 Madison Avenue
Burr Ridge, IL 60521
1 -800-288-8303 V/TDD

Hear More Products (D/HH)
P.O. Box 3413
Farmingdale, NY 11735
516-752-0738 V/TDD

Hear You Are, Inc. (D/HH)
4 Musconetcong Avenue
Stanhope, NJ 07874
201-347-7662 V/TDD

Independent Living Aids (B/VI, Gen)
27 East Mall
Plainview, NY 11803
1-800-537-2118

The Lighthouse Inc. (B/VI)
36-20 Northern Boulevard
Long Island City, NY 11101
1 -800-829-0500 (consumers)
1-800-453-4923
(professional low vision)

LS&S Group (B/VI; D/HH)
P0 Box 673
Northbrook, IL 60065
1-800-468-4789

Maxi-Aids (B/VI, D/HH, Gen)
P0 Box 3209
Farmington, NY 11735
1-800-522-6294

National Catalog House for the Deaf (D/HH)
4248 N. Kilpatrick Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
312-736-6250 (V) 312-736-6243 (TDD)

Potomac Technology (D/HH)
I Church Street, Suite 402
Rockville, MD 20850
301-762-4005 (V) 301-762-0851 (TDD)

Science Products (B/VI)
P0 Box 888
Southeastern, PA 19399
1-800-888-7400

VisAids (B/VI, Phys)
P0 Box 26
102-09 Jamaica Avenue
Richmond Hill, NY 11418
1-800-346-9579

SPECIFIC ITEMS - Listed below are specific items which are of use to people who are deaf-blind. Please contact the manufacturer for local sales representatives or other information. Inclusion on this list does not constitute endorsement of any specific product. This list is not exhaustive, and omission is not meant to discredit any item or manufacturer.

Various tips for white canes: "Marshmallow Tip", "Roller Marshmallow Tip", etc.; also folding mobility canes
Ambutech
670 Golspie Street
Winnipeg, Manatoba R2k 2V1
CANADA
1-800-561-3340 (continental U.S. only)
204-663-3340

"James Remind-O-Timer" Model ED-12 clock (as modified for HKNC - to be used with a vibrator)
American Time and Signal
140 Third Street South
Dassell, MN 55325
1 -800-328-8996

"Soundirector" personal listening device, Audex Wireless Infra-Red TV Listener, Audex Infra-Red wide area assistive listening systems
Audex
713 N. Fourth Street
P0 Box 3263
Longview, TX 75606
1-800-237-0716

Comtek personal and wide-area assistive listening systems
Audio Enhancement
1748 West 12600 South
Riverton, UT 84065
801-254-9263

"Lite Touch" braille TDD/ Communicator, other braille and speech-output computer and notetaking devices
Blazie Engineering
105 E. Jarrettsville Road
Forrest Hill, MD 21050
410-893-9333 V

"Note Teller" (audible) and "Enhanced Note Teller" (tactile) currency identifiers
Brytech
28 Concourse Gate, Suite 102
Nepean, Ontario k2E 7T7 CANADA
613-727-5800

"Attention Getter" communication device
Companion Products Int'l
P0 Box G (mail)
3712 Sunrise Lake (UPS)
Milford, PA 18337-0208
1-800-258-6423
717-686-4713

"Info Touch" paper-braille/TDD communication Device
Enabling Technologies
3102 SE Jay Street
Stuart, FL 34997
10800-777-3687 (V/TDD)

"Wide Angle Mobility Light" (WAML)
Innovative Rehabilitation Technology
1411 West El Camino Real
Mountain View, CA 94040
415-961-3161

"Tellatouch" personal braille communication device
Lighthouse Consumer Products
36-20 Northern Boulevard
Long Island City, NY 11101
1 -800-829-0500

"NoIR" and "UV Shields" sun shields
NoIR Medical Technologies
P0 Box 159
South Lyon, Ml 48178
1-800-521-9746

"Phonic Ear" and "Easy Listener" personal FM assistive listening systems, wide-area FM and Infra-Red listening systems
Phonic Ear
3880 Cypress Drive
Petaluma, CA 94954-7600
1 -800-227-0735
707-769-1110

"Safe-T-Lite Cane" (white cane with small, flashing red strobe light)
Safe-T-Lite Enterprises
4508 Lindholm
Victoria, B.C. V9B 5B4 CANADA
604-478-6507

"Silent-Call" and "Vibra-Call" personal alerting systems, "ViBraille" braille alarm clock
Silent Call Corp.
P0 Box 868
Clarkston, Ml 48347-0868
1 -800-572-5227
313-673-0221

"Vibrating Signal System" and other alerting devices, alarm readout (for use with vibrator)
Sonic Alert
1750 West Hamlin Road
Rochester Hills, Ml 48309
810-656-3110 V/TDD

"TeleBraille III", also CCTV5 and computer access equipment (large print, braille, and speech-output)
TeleSensory
455 North Berendo Avenue
P0 Box 7455
Mountain View, CA 94039-7455
1-800-227-8418
415-960-0920

"Telex" and "Sound Enhancement" personal and wide-area FM assistive listening systems
Telex
9600 Aldrich Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55420
1-800-328-8212
612-884-4051

TDD "Large Visual Display" (works only with modified Ultratec "Superprint 100"), other Ultratec TDDs
Ultratec
450 Science Drive
Madison,Wl 53711
608-238-5400

"PockeTalker" personal listening device, "Hearing Helper" FM assistive listening system, TV Infra-Red system, wide-area FM and Infra-Red listening systems, amplified phones and phone ringers
Williams Sound
10399 W. 70th Street
Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3459
1-800-328-6190 V/TDD

Direct suggestions, comments, and questions about this page to:

Cheryl D. Davis, Ph.D., Coordinator Northwest Outreach Center Regional Resource Center on Deafness Western Oregon University Monmouth OR 97361 503-838-8642 (v/tty) 503-838-8228 (fax) http://www.wou.edu/nwoc nwoc@wou.edu

Last modified on 27JUL00.