Return to: Georgia Sensory Assistance Project

Related Organizations & Resources

National Agencies

American Association of the Deafblind

American Association of the Deafblind (AADB) is a national consumer   advocacy organization for people who have combined hearing and vision impairments. It is open to all persons who are deafblind and individuals   directly concerned with their well being, including spouses, children, friends and health professionals. AADB provides technical assistance to    persons who are deafblind, families, educators, and service providers through direct onsite assistance to consumers at the adult level in the subject areas of community living, curriculum, social skills, and technology. Annual Dues are $15.00.
Phone: Voice (800) 735-2258, TTY: (301) 588-6545,
FAX: (301) 588-8705

American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)

AFB’s mission is to enable people who are blind or visually impaired to achieve equality of access and opportunity that will ensure freedom of choice in their lives. AFB accomplishes this mission through agency-wide program initiatives and through the delivery of a wide variety of products and services.
Phone: (800) 232-5463, in Georgia: (404) 525-2303

DB - LINK

National information network on deafblindness that provides information and resources on a wide range of topics. Just call and request the information you need. This network also provides a range of publications which are available on request such as:
Overview on Deaf-Blindness
Communication Interactions: It Takes Two
Receptive Communication How Children Understand Your Messages to Them
Expressive Communication How Children Send Their Message to You
Recreation and Leisure
Psychological Evaluation of Children who are Deaf-Blind: An Overview    with Recommendations for Practice
Early Interactions with Children who are Deaf-Blind
DB-LINK Family Resource Directory
Guidelines for Working and Playing with Deaf-Blind People
Deaf-Blind Perspectives
Phone: (800) 438-9376, (800) 854-7013 (TTY)

Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults (HKNC)

This national organization provides advocacy, assessment, consultation, community education, family support, professional training workshops, information, referral, and support groups.
Georgia office: (404) 766-9625 (voice), (404) 766-2820 (TTY)

National Family Associations for Deaf-Blind (NFADB)

This national organization provides support to families through advocacy, information, resources, referral, supports, national policies, encourages founding and strengthening state family organizations, assists professionals in development of materials and training seminars and publishes “News from Advocates for Deaf-Blind.”
Phone: (601) 388-7578

National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD)

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is a private not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping people with rare disorders and assisting organizations that serve them. NORD functions as a clearinghouse serving public and medical professionals, answering more than 100,000 questions each year. NORD puts families with the same disorders in touch with each others. Articles on over 4,000 rare diseases are available from NORD.
Phone: (800) 999-6673

NCDB

The National Consortium for Children and Young Adults Who are Deaf-Blind (NCDB) provides technical assistance to families and agencies serving children and young adults who are deaf-blind. NTAC will work with agencies and families within states through the provision of technical assistance to: a) facilitate long-range planning and development of collaborative partnerships among families, service providers, and agencies at the local, state, and regional levels; b) use effective practices and current research findings to enhance training opportunities for families and service providers to increase awareness, knowledge, and skills in meeting the unique needs of children and young adults who are deaf-blind; c) assist parents and family members in advocating for and participating in effective service delivery systems for the family member who is deaf-blind; d) assist young adults who are deaf-blind to promote self-advocacy and self-determination; and e) develop a nationwide database of demographic characteristics of infants through young adults who are deaf-blind.

State Organizations

Atlanta Area School for the Deaf (AASD)

AASD is a state operated day school for students with hearing impairments and students with hearing impairments who have special needs. AASD enrolls students from three to twenty-one years of age who reside in the Atlanta metropolitan area and who are referred by local educational agencies. AASD houses the INSITE program.
Phone: (404) 296-7101.

Babies Can't Wait

Babies Can’t Wait is a program of the Georgia Dept. of Human Resources that provides and coordinates services for children from birth to their third birthday who have disabilities or who have significant delays in their development. They provide evaluation and assessments at no cost to families to determine program eligibility and need for service. They also provide service coordination at no cost to families. State funds may be available to help provide early intervention services in natural environments for qualifying children. Phone: 1- 800- 229-2038

Bureau for Multiple & Severe Disabilities

The Bureau for Multiple and Severe Disabilities is a joint project between the State Department of Education and Georgia State University. It provides training and technical assistance throughout the state in the area of multiple and severe disabilities. Contact Dr. Paul Alberto (404) 651-2310 for more information.

Bureau for Students with Physical and Health Impairments

The Bureau for Students with Physical and Health Impairments is a joint project between the State Department of Education and Georgia State University. It provides training and technical assistance throughout the state in the area of physical disabilities. Special emphasis is on literacy and health care procedures issues. Contact Dr. Kathy Heller (404) 651-2310 for more information.

Center for the Visually Impaired

Provides a range of services from infants to adults with visual impairments, including early intervention, school age summer programs, and rehabilitation programs that include assistive technology, braille, independent living, orientation and mobility, and vocational training. The infant/ preschool program is the BEGIN Program (Babies Early Growth Intervention Network). BEGIN serves over sixty families each year with a variety of services. Infants and their families receive a home based program if the family lives in the greater Atlanta area. Families from further away come to the Center for an individual visit, and to participate in the infant/family group twice a month. Other children may continue with individual services or they may qualify for participation in the Center based “preschool transition” classes that are held at CVI weekly.
Phone: (404) 875-9011.

Division of Rehabilitation Services

This agency provides vocational services for individuals with disabilities having a goal of employment. Example services vocational evaluation, job skills training, supported employment, placement, workshops, advocacy, community education, counseling, independent living skills, interpreting, medical/dental services, occupational therapy, orientation and mobility, low vision training, purchase/loan aids and devices, recreation, referral, socialization groups, and transportation. This agency provides services for individuals with disabilities from 16 to 65 years of age.
Phone: (404) 657-3000 (voice/TTY).

Georgia Association for the Deafblind (GADB)

GADB exits to provide information, support and advocacy that empowers and improves the quality of life of deaf-blind people. GADB provides: workshops, information, recruitment of SSP’s/ interpreters, provide resources, social/recreational opportunities, and provide leadership training for individuals who are deaf-blind.

Georgia Evaluation Project for Students with Disabilities

The Georgia Center for Students with Disabilities provides comprehensive medical and psychoeducational evaluations to students with disabilities to give direction to the local school systems and the family. The program includes all disabling conditions. Evaluation usually lasts four days.
Phone: (404) 378-5433

Georgia Council For the Hearing Impaired, Inc. (GaCHI)

GaCHI provides services to deaf, hard of hearing, and late-deafened adult Georgians and other individuals or groups with whom they interact. They provide information and make referrals to various agencies, as well as provide counselling services, crisis intervention, and drug and alcohol evaluations and referrals. Assessments, consultations, and evaluations are also provided. GaCHI is involved in community outreach and education through workshops, seminars, and presentations to professionals, community agencies, and the general public.
Phone (404) 292-5312 , (800) 541-0710 TDD/V

Georgia Center for Rehabilitation Technology (CRT)

Georgia Institute of Technology University’s Center for Rehabilitation Technology has several programs that provide technology assistance and rehabilitation engineering via a statewide network of six rehabilitation engineers. Specialists in the Computer Access lab demonstrate computer-related assistive technology and assist with selection of devices to persons with disabilities. The Design Group’s industrial designers and mechanical engineers develop adaptive equipment for individuals with physical and sensory disabilities. The Information Technology Training Program teaches computer and vocational skills to people with disabilities. CRT’s’s adult literacy project links instructors at Ga. Tech via satellite with students and teachers at over 80 technical institute, high schools, and adult learning centers in Georgia and Virginia. CRT has a national information resource on rehabilitation technology and disability related issues called TechKnowledge. TechKnowledge has a comprehensive library covering topics such as adaptive aids independent living, employment, and public access. Phone: (404) 894-4960

Georgia Industries for the Blind

The Georgia Industries for the Blind serves individuals who are legally blind, totally blind, or deafblind by providing opportunities and referral in the areas of counseling, self-help, rehabilitation, recreation, and employment.
Atlanta: (404) 656-3862; Bainbridge: (912) 248-2666; Griffin: (404) 229-3311

Georgia Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

This facility provides general library service to eligible readers as part of the network of libraries cooperating with the Library of Congress, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. It is a regional library supplying talking books, braille books, cassettes, taped books, talking book machines, and cassette machines. Additionally, this facility coordinates talking book centers in 13 public libraries.
Phone: (404) 756-4619

Georgia Relay Service

The Georgia Relay Service allows individuals who are deaf/hard-of-hearing and individuals who are hearing to communicate by phone (when both parties do not have a TDD). A Georgia Relay operator will place a call to the desired caller and read what is written on a TDD to the hearing person and write what the hearing person says on a TDD to the person who is dear/hard-of -hearing. This can be accessed by calling: (800) 255-0135

Georgia School for the Deaf (GSD)

Georgia School for the Deaf is located in the northwest part of the state in Cave Springs. GSD, established in 1846, was the eleventh residential school for the deaf in the United Sites. The residential program serves children ages 4 to 21. Day school admission is available to students ages 3 to 21. Support services include: equine therapy, psychological/psychiatric testing and follow-up, educational/ developmental diagnosis, language and communication evaluation, speech and speech reading, physical/occupational therapy, augmentative communication, hearing/vision screening, and social/emotional support. Eligible students must have a measured audiometric hearing loss of 55dB or greater in the better ear.
Phone: (800) 497-3371, (706) 777-2200

Georgia Sensory Rehabilitation Center

GSRC provides services to individuals who are blind, deaf, or deafblind and who want to join the workforce. Additionally, employers seeking a working partnership, may contact the Georgia Sensory Rehabilitation Center. Services include evaluation and training programs (vocational skills, computer literacy, adaptive aids/software, work readiness, O & M, communication skills, independent living skills), workforce development (work experience, job coaches, work readiness, job seeking skills, employer/work site consultations), and transition services (residences, independent living skills, transition planning, transportation.). GSRC is operated by Communication Service for the Deaf, a private, non-profit organization designed to provide quality services and programs, enhance community awareness and support, and create greater opportunities for individuals with sensory disabilities.
Phone: (404) 669-9007 Voice, (404) 669-0150 TTY, (800) 359-1112 Voice/TTY

Georgia Project of Assistive Technology (GPAT)

Provides training, technical assistance, short-term loan progam, materials, networking, evaluations, and resources in the area of assistive technology throughout the state of Georgia. Phone: (404) 362-2024

Lekotek of Georgia

Lekotek of Georgia is one of 50 affiliates of the National Lekoted Center in Evanston, IL. Lekotec provides services to children with disabilities and their families. The word Lekoted is Swedish and literally means play library. Services, provided to families throughout Georgia and the Southeast, include: a toy lending program, a summer computer camp, a computer loan program, support groups (Parent Support Group, Dad’s Group, Mom’s Group, Sibling Group), workshops, and consulting services.
Phone: (404) 633-3430

Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation

The mission of the institute is to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve personal independence. This facility provides comprehensive medical care through inpatient and outpatient services for individuals with physical disabilities. A team of dedicated professionals provide medical care, therapy and counseling individually designed for each patient. Work preparation is provided for people with various disabilities. Students are housed in a residential setting. Services are designed to meet individuals needs including developing literacy skills, vocational goals and community independence. Additionally, a fully accessible recreation complex is available for use by clients. Research programs are used to strengthen and improve rehabilitation methods and involve staff in research activities.
Phone: (706) 655-5000

Parent to Parent of Georgia

Provides support and information to parents of children who have disabilities. Has many services, such as parent matching, information in Spanish, providing the "roadmap," Parent Training and Intervention Center, and many more. They can be reached at: http://www.parenttoparentofga.org/

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

CONDITIONS

Achromatopsia: www.achromat.org

Amblyopia: www.preventblindness.org/children/amblyopiaFAQ.html

www.familydoctor.org/handouts/460.html

Albinism: www.albinism.org

Anophthalmia/microphthalmia: http://www.maparentsupport.com

http://www.anophthalmia.org/

Cataracts (Pediatric): www.pgcfa.org/cataract.htm

CHARGE Syndrome: www.chargesyndrome.org

Cortical Visual Impairment: http://www.aapos.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=260

http://blindbabies.typepad.com/parents_and_caregivers/files/fact_sheet_cortical_visual_impairment.pdf

Congenital Cytomegalovirus, National Registry: http://www.bcm.edu/pediatrics/index.cfm?Realm=99991126&This_Template=pedi_home.cfm

Pediatric Glaucoma and Cataract Family Assoc.: www.pgcfa.org

Glaucoma: http://www.pgcfa.org/glaucoma.htm

http://www.glaucoma.org/learn/childhood_glauc_1.php

www.childrensglaucoma.com

Fact Sheets from Blind Babies Foundation: www.blindbabies.org/fact_sheet.htm

Joubert’s syndrome: www.joubertsyndrome.org

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/joubert/joubert.htm

Mitochondrial Disease: www.umdf.org/

Nystagmus: www.lowvision.org/nystagmus.htm

http://www.nystagmus.org/entry.html

Ocular Motor Apraxia: http://www.ssc.education.ed.ac.uk/resources/vi&multi/eyeconds/OcMoAp.html

http://www.cigna.com/healthinfo/nord1038.html

ROP and Retinal Detachment: www.ropard.org

Septo Optic Dysplasia/Optic Nerve Hypoplasia:FOCUS Families Home Page: www.focusfamilies.org/focus/

http://www.magicfoundation.org/www/docs/101.115/optic-nerve-hypoplasia-septo-optic-dysplasia

Strabismus: www.strabismus.org

http://www.preventblindness.org/children/strabismusFAQ.html

The Vision of Children (hereditary blindness): www.visionofchildren.org

Usher Syndrome Research Coaltion: http://www.usher-syndrome.org/

PRODUCTS

American Printing House for the Blind: www.aph.org

Exceptional Teaching Aids: www.exceptionalteaching.com

Light Up Products: http://www.lightgod.com/store/product.asp?id=2209&catid=595

National Braille Press: www.nbp.org

Oakmont Visual Aids Workshop: http://www.teachersaidsforblindchildren.org

Patches: www.patchpals.com, www.perfecteyepatch.com, www.framehuggers.com

Products for Independent Living (MaxiAids): www.maxiaids.com

Protective Shades for Infants and YoungChildren:    www.eyescreamshades.com

www.ebabybanz.com       www.solobambini.com      www.frubishades.com/

Pulse Data HumanWare (personal info management for VI): www.humanware.com

Scratch and Sniff: www.promobrands.com/scratchandsniffscents.htm

Seedlings Braille Books for Children: www.seedlings.org

Tactile Vision Inc. (raised writing for VI): www.tactilevisioninc.com

Textured and Peel and Stick Paint- Great to use on light box: www.everydaykolor.com

Toys for Special Children: www.enablingdevices.com

Tumble Books: www.tumblebooks.com

Uncle Good Toys (Braille ABC Blocks): http://www.lindenwoodinc.com/UNCLEGOOSE/braille.html

Wikki Sticks: http://www.wikkistix.com/sightimpaired.htm

PUBLICATIONS/LIBRARIES

Bookshare: bookshare.org

California Deafblind Services Newsletter: www.sfsu.edu/~cadbs/News.html

Cleveland Eye Clinic Interactive Eye Anatomy :

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/eye/patient_info/eyeanatomy.asp

Deaf-blind Fact Sheets: http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdesped/dbFactSheets.asp

Deaf-Blind Perspectives: http://www.tr.wou.edu/tr/dbp/

Eyes and Vision: http://www.lea-test.fi/en/eyes/index.html

NCDB Library: http://nationaldb.org/ISLibrary.php

Nevada Dual Sensory Impairment Project Newsletter: http://www.unr.edu/educ/ndsip/newsletter.html

Pediatric Glaucoma and Cataract Family Association: http://www.pgcfa.org/

Perkins School for the Blind Information Clearinghouse: www.perkins.org/clearinghouse/

Prevent Blindness America: The Eye: www.preventblindness.org

RNIB Royal National Institute for the Blind: http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/code/internethome.hcsp

See/Hear: http://www.tsbvi.edu/Outreach/seehear/index.htm

Vibrations (Newsletter for Colorado Services for Children and Youth Who are Deaf-Blind): http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdesped/dbResources.asp#Nwsltr

PARENT/TEACHER RESOURCES

A Parents Guide to Resources about Vision Impairment: www.viguide.com

American Foundation for the Blind: www.afb.org

Blind Babies Foundation: www.blindbabies.org/registry.htm

Benefits of O&M: http://www.tsbvi.edu/Education/om-benefits.htm

CDC Learn the Signs, Act Early Vision Fact Sheet: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/ActEarly/vision_loss.html

Dr. Lea Hyvarinen, Pediatric Ophthalmologist: http://www.lea-test.fi/

Early Intervention Training Center for Infants and Toddlers with VI: www.fpg.unc.edu/~edin

Families of Children Under Stress: http://www.focus-ga.org/

Family Connect: http://www.familyconnect.org/parentsitehome.asp

Focus Families (Support for ONH/SOD): www.focusfamilies.org/focus/

Global Community of Disability Related Resources: http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/

Hadley School for the Blind: www.hadley-school.org

Info Eyes: www.infoeyes.org

Inside the Amazing Eye: http://www.keystoneblind.org/wiseweb/intheeye.htm

Keystone Kids: www.keystoneblind.org

List Conditions and Support Groups: www.lowvision.org

MoPix- Motion Picture Access (provides info re: accessibility issues in movie theatres): http://ncam.wgbh.org/mopix/

National Association of Parents of Children with VI (NAPVI): www.spedex.com/napvi/

National Center on Severe and Sensory Disabilities: http://www.unco.edu/ncssd/

National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH): http://www.albinism.org/

New York Inst. for SpEd: Blindness Resource Center: www.nyise.org/blind.htm

ONH Consulting: (owner of firm has ONH himself) http://www.onhconsulting.com

Pediatric Parenting advice: www.keepkidshealthy.com

Perkins Clearinghouse on Blindness and Visual Impairment: http://www.perkins.org/clearinghouse/

Preschool Education: wwwpreschooleducation.com

The Georgia Organization of Parents of Blind Children: www.gopbc.org

Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (good links to other sites): http://www.tsbvi.edu

Toilet Training Children with Deaf-blindness: Issues and Strategies: http://www.tsbvi.edu/Outreach/seehear/summer00/toilet.htm

Worldwide Vision Rehab and Education: www.lighthouse.org

BRAILLE

American Foundation for the Blind: http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=6

Anna’s Book Angel Project: http://www.seedlings.org/bkangel.php

Braille Bug Site: www.afb.org/braillebug/

Braille:Contraction Lookup Dictionary: http://www.brl.org/refdesk/conlookup.html

Braille Fundamentals: www.tsbvi.edu/publications/braille.htm

Dots for Families: http://uacoe.arizona.edu/viliteracy/

Exceptional Teaching, Inc.: http://www.exceptionalteaching.com/

National Federation of the Blind: http://www.nfb.org/nfb/NOPBC_LA_Braille_Literacy.asp?SnID=179685217

Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library: http://www.perkins.org/btbl/

Perkins School for the Blind Spanish Braille Resources: http://www.perkins.org/clearinghouse/literacy/spanish.html

Read Books! Program: http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/readbooks/index.html?id=afSGmLr7

Seedlings Braille Books for Children: http://www.seedlings.org/

Seeing Hands: http://www.seeinghands.org/

ViewPlus Pro Embosser Pro InkAttachment(PIA): www.viewplus.com/detailPage.php?detailCode=23070



DEAF BLIND

American Association of the Deaf-Blind: http://www.aadb.org/

Georgia Sensory Assistance Project: www.education.gsu.edu/georgiadeafblindproj

Georgia Council for the Hearing Impaired: http://www.gachi.org/

Hands and Voices: www.handsandvoices.org

Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults: www.hknc.org

Home Talk A Family Assessment of Children who are Deaf-Blind: http://www.nationaldb.org/ISSelectedTopics.php?topicCatID=42

Minnesota Parent Resource Manual: http://www.dbproject.mn.org/parentRoadMapManual.html

National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness: www.nationaldb.org

National Clearing House on Children who are DB: www.tr.wou.edu/dblink/

National Family Association for Deaf-Blind: http://www.hknc.org/AdditionalNFADB.htm

Sense- UK Deaf-blind Charity: http://www.sense.org.uk/

Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired: www.tsbvi.edu

GLASSES/PATCHING/PROTECTIVE LENSES

Patches: www.patchpals.com, www.perfecteyepatch.com, www.framehuggers.com

http://www.bjortandcompany.com/

Prevent Blindness America Eye Patch Club: http://www.preventblindness.org/children/EyePatchClub.html

Protective Shades for Infants and Young Children: www.eyescreamshades.com

www.jazoshades.com      www.ebabybanz.com       www.solobambini.com

Solo Bambini Eyewear for Infants and Toddlers: http://solobambini.com/

Too Young for Glasses? : www.visionre.net



TOYS/TECHNOLOGY FOR SPECIAL NEEDS

Abilitations: http://www.abilitations.com/

Ablenet: www.ablenetinc.com

Adapted Learning: http://www.adaptedlearning.com/

Dragonfly Universal Access Games: http://childparenting.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dragonflytoys.com%2F

Dunamis: http://www.dunamisinc.com/

Enabling Devices: http://enablingdevices.com/catalog/toys_for_disabled_children

Family Village Adaptive Products and Assistive Technology: http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/at/adaptive-toys.html

Let’s Play: A Guide to Toys for Children with Special Needs www.afb.org/toyguide.asp

Playworks: http://www.playworks.net/

Talk Blocks: http://www.talkblocks.com

http://www.tsbvi.edu/Outreach/seehear/fall97/toys.htm

Toys R Us Differently Abled Toy Guide: http://www.toysrus.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=3261680

United Cerebral Palsy Sports and Leisure Guide: http://www.ucp.org/ucp_channeldoc.cfm/1/15/65/65-65/4185

Wonderbaby Sensory Play Spaces: http://www.wonderbaby.org/articles/play-area.html