Deaf-Blindness

Nebraska Commission For The Blind and Visually Impaired is pleased to announce the inclusion of the Nebraska Individuals With Deaf-Blindness Project in the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults Affiliate Program.

The mission of the Project is to expand and improve services impacting the lives of individuals who are deaf-blind of all ages and their families.

The Project will work to enable individuals who are deaf-blind to live independently in the community of their choice and achieve personal independent living and vocational goals and to improve the capacity of the service delivery system to meet the needs of individuals with deaf-blindness. Activities and services of the Project are designed to meet vocational rehabilitation and independent living needs of those with dual sensory loss through information and referral, individualized training in alternative skills of blindness and deafness, advocacy training, and assistive technology.

Each year, June 27 marks the anniversary of Helen Keller's birth. NCBVI Deaf-Blind Project Invites you to join us as we reflect on the abilities, rather than the disabilities of our fellow Nebraskans who experience a dual sensory loss of deaf-blindness. Whether they are in the workforce, going to school, raising families or running marathons, we recognize that life can be full for those who live without sight or sound if they are given the opportunity. Nebraska… the Good Life!

On May 12th, 1947 Helen Keller herself came to Nebraska to speak to our citizens and Legislature about the importance of recognizing the positive impact of individuals in our state who are blind and deaf-blind in their desire to be full participants in any activity in our Nebraska communities.

Cheryl Poff
Nebraska Individuals with Deaf-Blindness Project Coordinator
Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
1313 Farnam on the Mall
Flr 3
Omaha, Nebraska 68102
TTY/Relay: 402-595-2043
Voice: 402-595-2041
TTY: 595-2140

Miscellaneous Information

HKNC Commemorative Plaque

National Registry of Persons Who Are Deaf-Blind

Websites

American Association of Deaf-Blind

Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths & Adults

National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program

Commonly asked questions

Who is considered “Deaf-Blind?”

An “individual who is deaf-blind” means any individual having auditory and visual impairments, the combination of which cause extreme difficulty in attaining independence in daily life activities, achieving psychosocial adjustment, or obtaining vocational objectives.

If you believe that you, a relative, or a friend might be eligible for services through the Nebraska Individuals with Deaf-Blindness Project, contact the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired office nearest you.

How can I contact and use the Nebraska Relay Service (NRS)?

The Nebraska Relay Service allows deaf and hard of hearing people who use a TTY to communicate with hearing telephone users. The NRS communication assistant (CA) or operator relays the information between the two parties. The CA will say what the TTY caller types and types what the hearing caller says. All states now offer statewide telephone relay services. In Nebraska, TTY callers may dial 1-800-833-7352 (TTY) or hearing callers may dial 1-800-833-0920 (VOICE).

VCO – Voice Carry Over.

When making a NRS call a person with a hearing loss and understandable speech may request VCO, allowing him/her to speak directly to the hearing caller. The person with a hearing loss then reads the hearing person’s responses on his/her TTY.

HCO – Hearing Carry Over.

When making a NRS call, a speech-disabled person who can listen may request HCO, allowing him/her to listen directly to the hearing caller. The speech disabled person answers by typing his/her response.

How can I go about getting an Interpreter?

What do I need to be aware of when getting an interpreter?
What is the going rate for interpreters pay?

The Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NCDHH) offers a statewide sign language interpreter referral service. The Commission maintains a list of qualified sign language interpreters. They are responsible for taking interpreter requests and referring interpreting assignments to private practice interpreters. They are also available to answer questions you may have related to interpreting services.

Interpreters in private practice settle their own fees, hours, and schedules. NCDHH works closely with area interpreters to become familiar with their fee scale, but they do not determine the fees that they charge. NCDHH recommends contacting the interpreter who accepted the assignment to discuss fees prior to the assignment.

To request a copy of the handbook, or to request assistance in finding an interpreter, contact the Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at:

Lincoln Office Omaha Office
4600 Valley Road Ste. 420 1313 Farnam On The Mall
Lincoln, NE. 68510 Omaha, NE. 68102-1836
(402) 471-3593
Outside Lincoln/Omaha area: 1-800-545-6244

Email: ncdhh@nebraska.gov

What are some modes of communicating with individuals who are Deaf-Blind?

One-on-one communication (remember signing space – close to your face, perhaps back up).
Tracking- bringing hands into my signing space.
Tactile communication (two different ways: one hand and two handed).
Print on palm or POP.
Finger spelling- Different methods (Bird method- looks like birds pecking at seeds: Side method or back method- hand over hand).
Braille.
Cell markers on the palm of the hand in Braille. (Some people prefer this).
Tellatouch- used like a TTY with Braille output.
Morse Code.
Hearing aids or FM Systems.
Note taking.
TTY or computer.
Tadoma method- hand on the throat and on the lips to understand speech.
Lip reading.