Web Resources – NEW YORK STATE
State Government Agencies
New York State Education Department Special Education (NYSED)
http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/
Oversees the provision of special education services throughout New York State. Website has a variety of information pertaining to public and private schools applicable to both professionals and parents.
Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID)
http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/
VESID oversees special education and rehabilitation services in New York State. This is most applicable in accessing school-to-work transition services for youth and young adults who are deaf-blind.
Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH)
http://ocfs.state.ny.us/main/cbvh/
The commission for the blind supplies services and equipment to individuals of all ages who are legally blind. Each individual is assigned a counselor who oversees their case. Counselors work with specific age groups: 0-14 years, 14-21, and adults.
New York State Early Intervention Program
http://www.health.state.ny.us/community/infants_children/early_intervention/ index.htm
Regulates the provision of early intervention services throughout New York State. Useful information for families and professionals concerning the early intervention system in New York.
New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD)
http://www.opwdd.state.ny.us/
OPWDD supports people with developmental disabilities in their efforts to enjoy meaningful relationships with friends, family and others in their lives; experience personal health and growth; live in the home of their choice; and fully participate in their communities.
Agencies
Aurora of Central New York
http://www.auroraofcny.org/home/
Aurora provides educational, social, and rehabilitative services in Syracuse and central New York to individuals who are deaf/hard of hearing, blind/visually impaired, and deaf-blind.
Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment, Inc. (AVRE)
http://www.avreus.org/infant_children_services.asp
AVRE provides educational and rehabilitation services in Binghamton and surrounding counties to individuals who are blind and visually impaired.
Buffalo Hearing and Speech Center
http://www.askbhsc.org/
Provides audiological, speech, and early childhood programs in Buffalo and the surrounding areas to children and adults.
Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI)
http://www.cabvi.org/
CABVI provides educational and rehabilitation services in Utica and surrounding counties to individuals who are blind and visually impaired.
Helen Keller Services for the Blind (HKSB)
http://www.helenkeller.org/
Helen Keller Services for the Blind provides educational and rehabilitation services in New York City and Long Island to individuals who are blind and visually impaired.
The Jewish Guild for the Blind
http://www.jgb.org/
The Jewish Guild for the Blind provides educational (early childhood and school age) and rehabilitation services throughout New York State for individuals who are blind and visually impaired.
The League for the Hard of Hearing (LHH)
http://www.lhh.org/
The League provides hearing audiological, speech, and social services to children and adults who are deaf and hard of hearing.
The Lighthouse
http://www.lighthouse.org/
The Lighthouse provides early childhood education and rehabilitation services in New York City and the Hudson Valley Region to individuals who are blind and visually impaired.
Olmstead Center
http://www.olmstedcenter.org/home.asp
The Olmstead Center provides early childhood and rehabilitation services in the Buffalo area to individuals who are blind and visually impaired.
Rochester Hearing and Speech Center
http://www.rhsc.org/
This center provides audiological and speech services in Rochester and the surrounding area.
Visions
http://www.visionsvcb.org/
Visions works with blind and visually impaired individuals in New York City by providing after-school and summer programs for children and rehabilitation services for adults.
New York State Organizations
New York Parent Network (NYPN)
The New York Parent Network Serving Families of People Who are Visually & Hearing Impaired/Multiply Disabled Throughout New York State is a not-for-profit organization that provides a support network, shares knowledge and experiences, educates others about the needs of the families who have a child who is deaf-blind, and advocates for their integration into society.
Parent to Parent of New York State
www.parenttoparentnys.org
Parent to Parent of New York State is a parent-driven not-for-profit organization whose mission is to connect and support families of individuals with special needs.
Parent Training Information Centers (PTIC) for New York State
Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIC) provide information, referral, linkages, and training to parents, students with disabilities, and special education professionals.
Advocates for Children of New York – www.advocatesforchildren.org
Resources for Children with Special Needs, Inc. – www.resourcesnyc.org
The Advocacy Center – www.advocacycenter.com
National Organizations
American Association of the Deaf-Blind (AADB)
http://www.aadb.org
The only national organization run for, by and of deaf-blind individuals. It is a social networking and advocacy organization that provides information, resources and linkages to deaf-blind people and interested parties across the country.
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
http://www.afb.org/
AFB has a wealth of resources and publications in the area of blindness and visual impairment, as well as web resources for adults and children.
CHARGE Syndrome Foundation
http://www.chargesyndrome.org/
The CHARGE Syndrome Foundation provides support to individuals with CHARGE syndrome and their families; gathers, develops, maintains and distributes information about CHARGE syndrome; and promotes awareness and research regarding its identification, causes and management.
Family Connect
http://www.familyconnect.org
Family Connect is a website geared specifically towards parents of children with blindness and visual impairment. It has many family friendly resources as well as opportunities for social networking online.
Helen Keller National Center (HKNC)
http://www.hknc.org/ (HKNC)
Helen Keller National Center is the national rehabilitation center for adults who are deaf-blind. HKNC provides residential rehabilitation services at its center in addition to outreach services across the country through a network of regional representatives.
National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
http://www.nad.org
The mission of the NAD is to preserve, protect, and promote the civil, human, and linguistic rights of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. The NAD website has a variety of resources relating to deafness with particular strength in the area of legal rights and advocacy.
National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI)
http://www.NAPVI.org
The National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI) is an organization that enables parents to find information and resources for their children who are blind or visually impaired, including those with additional disabilities.
National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB)
http://www.nationaldb.org
The national federal technical assistance project established specifically for supporting state projects that serve children and young adults between the ages of 0 – 21 who are deaf-blind.
National Family Association of Deaf-Blind (NFADB)
http://www.nfadb.org/
NFADB supports deaf-blind people and their families. NFADB is a nonprofit, volunteer-based family association and the largest network of families focusing on issues surrounding deaf-blindness.
National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Default.asp
NFB works in a number of areas in the field of blindness including advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs which encouraging independence. The NFB website has a variety of resources on blindness and information about their programs.
National Task Force on Deaf-Blind Interpreting (NTFDBI) ntfdbi@gmail.com (email for more information)
A partnership of the National Consortium of Interpreter Education Centers (NCIEC), the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), and the American Association of the Deaf-Blind (AADB), the National Task Force focuses on interpreter education and preparedness of interpreters skilled in working with deaf-blind individuals.
Perkins School for the Blind
http://www.perkins.org/
Perkins School for the Blind has a wealth of resources on deaf-blindness including publications as well as online training modules.
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf: Deaf-Blind Member Section (RID DBMS)
http://www.rid.org
A group of interpreter practitioners and educators interested in providing adequate interpreting services to deaf-blind individuals.
International Organizations
DeafBlind International (DBI)
http://www.deafblindinternational.org/
DBI promotes services throughout the world for deaf-blind individuals. Its website has print publications on topics related to deafblindness.
Sense
http://www.sense.org.uk/
Sense promotes services in the United Kingdom for deaf-blind individuals. Its website has print publications on a variety of topics on deafblindness.
World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI)
http://www.wasli.org/
WASLI promotes the profession of sign language interpreting internationally. Its website has a range of resources on interpreter training and certification.