The article discusses recommended adaptive behavior scales for use with hearing impaired, visually impaired, and multihandicapped sensory impaired individuals. Assessment instruments developed and used in the National Independent Living Skills Project, which have applicability across sensory impaired populations, are also described. (Author/JW)

A case study is presented of a 19-year-old deaf and legally blind boy who transcends his handicapping condition in using felt-tipped markers and tempera paints to produce graphic landscapes of urban life. Discussed are his choice of subjects, manner of working, the impact of art therapy, and therapeutic issues. (JDD)

From July 30-August 1, 1998, eighty parents and family members from across the country attended a national workshop held in St. Louis, Missouri sponsored by the National Technical Assistance Consortium for Children and Young Adults who are Deaf-Blind and the National Family Association for Deaf-Blind. The workshop, entitled "Going for the Best:…

This document consists of three separately published fact sheets combined here because of the close relationship of their subject matter. The first fact sheet, "Communication Interactions: It Takes Two" (Kathleen Stremel), defines communication; suggests ways to find opportunities for interactive communication; offers specific suggestions for…

This overview provides basic information on the causes of deaf-blindness and the particular challenges faced by individuals who are deaf-blind. Causes of deaf-blindness include various syndromes, multiple congenital anomalies, prematurity, congenital prenatal dysfunction, and various postnatal causes. Differences between people deaf-blind from…

This paper describes Project PLAI (Promoting Learning through Active Interaction), a 4-year research-to-practice project designed to develop and validate an early communication curriculum for infants who are deafblind and their caregivers. The curriculum provides a step-by-step approach to assist caregivers in recognizing their infants' early and…

This overview provides basic information on the causes of deaf-blindness and the particular challenges faced by individuals who are deaf-blind. Causes of deaf-blindness include various syndromes, multiple congenital anomalies, prematurity, congenital prenatal dysfunction, and various postnatal causes. Differences between people deaf-blind from…

This document consists of three separately published fact sheets combined here because of the close relationship of their subject matter. The first fact sheet, "Communication Interactions: It Takes Two" (Kathleen Stremel), defines communication; suggests ways to find opportunities for interactive communication; offers specific suggestions for…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of Alaska's 3-year program on services for children and youth with dual sensory impairments. The project provided personalized technical assistance to local education agencies, to infant learning programs, and to other educators. It also provided support and training to families of…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of a four-year federally funded project in Illinois to provide technical assistance to agencies and organizations providing early intervention, educational, transitional, vocational, and related services to children with deaf-blindness. The project supported the activities of deaf-blind…

This study evaluated the quality and costs of services for 16 young adults with dual sensory impairments and mental retardation before and during their placement at a specialized, community-based, residential, further-education facility in England. Results indicated that overall quality and costs were higher than in previous placements, though…

This article describes the use and development of communication systems for persons with severe intellectual and dual sensory impairments using tactually salient materials to refer to abstract and concrete objects and activities. A transdisciplinary model was used in teaching the use of these systems for requesting and decision-making processes.…

Children who have both a hearing loss and a visual impairment are a very small but extremely heterogeneous low incidence group. These children vary greatly in the types and degrees of visual impairment and hearing loss. The majority of them have some usable vision and/or hearing, and many have additional disabilities. Most professionals (i.e.,…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of a 2-year federal project to provide support services for deaf-blind children and youth in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Objectives and their accomplishments are divided into two major sections: activities of the New England Center (NEC) for Deaf-Blind Services…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of a federally funded 3-year project in Delaware to improve programming and instructional/vocational opportunities available to students with deaf-blindness. The project expanded the capacity of the state-funded program for the deaf-blind to provide technical assistance and training for…