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Ava Graham
ASL 1101
09/20/2020
Deaf-Blindness
Education and support for deaf-blind individuals have continued to change alongside
technology. There are a number of deaf and blind schools that are striving to improve services,
results, and quality of life for children and youth who suffer from these impairments. Throughout
history, a well-known deaf-blind person named Helen Keller has provided ones with an
incredible story. Her condition began at the age of one and a half due to potentially either scarlet
fever or meningitis. Because she experienced this at such a young age, she had to work a great
deal more than most to develop communication skills. In one of Kellers’ biographies the author
mentions the early stages of the development of these skills, “As Keller grew into childhood, she
developed a limited method of communication with her companion, Martha Washington, the
young daughter of the family cook. The two had created a type of sign language. By the time
Keller was 7, they had invented more than 60 signs to communicate with each other. ”(2.). This
goes to show that trying to learn how to communicate easily takes lots of time, effort, and the
right resources.
Today there are continual efforts being made to improve deaf-blind communication
through technological advancements. An article about Deaf-Blind Communication Technology
states, “Some tools are intended for face-to-face communication, while others are meant for
communication at a distance.”(1.). There are different tools used for everyday communication in
different settings. Another thing that is considered when creating these tools is the severity of the
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person's inability to hear or see. Some may be, “totally deaf, totally blind, low vision, hard of
hearing, or any combination of these four states.”(1.). To think that the use of technology is the
most practical and best way to solve these problems would be incorrect. In some cases deaf-
blind people are more comfortable with other solutions and find that nontechnical options are
best and easiest for them. An example of this would be communication cards. This option proves
to be inexpensive, simple, and quick. There is also the option of a Support Service Provider
(ssp), which are ,” professionals who have been trained in skills such as tactile sign, close up
visual sign, and other communication strategies.” (1.).
Some of the technical options are electronic Braille notetakers, FaceToFace PC
Communicators, and The Deaf-Blind Communicator. These options have advanced along with
different deaf-blind cases, and have proceeded to provide ones with simple solutions to the need
for portable face-to-face conversations. The expense for “A system with eighteen Braille cells
retails for $6,379, and one with thirty-two cells of Braille is $8,239.”(1.). With these prices it is
very hard for ones to be able to afford such things to make communicating easier, and push most
to find inexpensive options such as the ones discussed earlier.
Education for deaf-blind ones is easier to gain access to and is less costly. As quoted by a
Deaf-Blindness Parent Center, “Special education services are provided free through the public
school system. ... Because deaf-blindness causes severe communication and other developmental
and educational needs, it's very important for children with deaf-blindness to receive special
education and related services to address their individual needs.”(3.). This shows first hand from
a parent center that education for deaf-blind ones will be provided free through the majority of
public schools.
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Citations-
(1.)- Deaf-Blind Communication Technology,
www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm14/bm1409/bm140906.htm
(2.)- Helen Keller. 27 Feb. 2020, www.biography.com/activist/helen-keller.
(3.)- “Deaf-Blindness.” Center for Parent Information and Resources, 16 June 2015,
www.parentcenterhub.org/deafblindness/.
