DeafBlind

Program Established: 2012

Mission: to promote social integration among individuals with hearing loss, vision loss and deafblindness by encouraging social communication and providing opportunities to interact in social group settings.

The Deafblind Social Group meets once a month. Occasionally the socials are held at Alphapointe in KC, MO, and sometimes socials are held in the community. A flyer is sent by email each month with details about the upcoming social and is also posted on our Facebook page. Members enjoy socialization, meeting new people and exploring the community. 

The Great Plains Region encompasses the following states: Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska.

Regional offices bring HKNC resources to you. Your regional representative knows all about the programs and services that are available to DeafBlind individuals, their families and service providers in your state and beyond, and can help you find and access the ones that are right for you.

Whether you’re interested in learning about support services near your home, would like to take advantage of the technology available through the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) or want to explore the possibility of training at our national headquarters, your regional rep is your link to all that HKNC has to offer ─ consultation, advocacy, assessment, training, referrals and more.

iCanConnect is a program for individuals with combined hearing and vision loss. The National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) is a direct result of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 and is funded by the FCC. The goal is to make sure that every person with combined hearing and vision loss has access to modern distance communication tools and the training necessary to use them. Missouri Assistive Technology (MoAT) is certified by the FCC to administer the project in the state of Missouri. The program covers a variety of equipment based on the individual participant’s distance communication needs. Individuals apply for technology such as an iPhone or iPad or computer with magnification software or a screen-reader. Other equipment may include a neckloop, Braille display, or large-print keyboard. If requested, training may be provided on the equipment provided by the iCanConnect program.

Here is the current application:

iCanConnect Application (WORD)

iCanConnect Application (PDF print version only)

Click on the program links to help you decide if you or someone you know might be interested in applying to participate in Missouri’s iCanConnect Program. 

Mission: The Purpose of the Missouri Council of the Blind is to promote the general well-being of our members and legally blind people in Missouri, and to support or participate in other programs promoting the best interests of legally blind people everywhere.

Vision: To give every blind Missourian an opportunity to contribute socially and economically to society with the same expectations for success as all other Missourians.

The purpose of the Missouri Deaf-Blind Technical Assistance Project is to develop partnerships, coordinate service networking and provide systematic training. Technical assistance, training and resources are available for individuals with vision and hearing loss (birth through 21 years of age), their families and service providers. Services are coordinated with local education agencies, adult service providers and deafblind task forces to enhance networking and to build expertise in the community.

Mission: Offer opportunities for encouragement through educational and social activities for people with both vision and hearing impairments and their families.

Sight And Sound Impaired of St. Louis (SASISTL) is a social networking group for people who have both Deafness and Blindness and can meet others like themselves and feel like they “fit in”. When we meet, we can offer encouragement through education or social activities. It is open to their families and volunteers as well, who would like to help by assisting as “eyes” and “ears”.

SASISTL has a support group for individuals with a combined hearing and vision loss and their families.

SASISTL meets monthly on the 3rd Saturday morning each month. Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, we meet via Zoom. Otherwise we meet in person in Brentwood, MO, at the Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Guided by its members, ACB advocates for equality of people who are blind and visually impaired, inspires community, and connects you with education, resources, and each other to support your independence.

The purpose of this group is to protect, preserve and promote the civil, human and linguistic rights of DeafBlind Americans; providing opportunities that will enhance their quality of life.

For more information, please contact:

The National Center on Deaf-Blindness is comprised of six established agencies with an excellent track record of serving children who are deaf-blind. This multi-agency approach allows us to gather qualified staff from across the U.S., which is essential in the highly specialized field of deaf-blindness where expertise is geographically dispersed. Lead agency: Helen Keller National Center.