Return to: Georgia Sensory Assistance Project
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) 588-8705American 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) 525-2303DB - 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) 388-7578National 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) 999-6673NCDB
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) 378-5433Georgia 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/VGeorgia 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) 229-3311Georgia 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) 756-4619Georgia 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) 777-2200Georgia 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/TTYGeorgia 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) 633-3430Roosevelt 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) 655-5000Parent 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
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
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
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
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