Deafblind Support.pdf

Deafblindness is a combined vision and hearing loss, not necessarily total deafness and blindness. In Illinois, 429 students and 5,624 individuals of all ages have been identified as deafblind. The degree of hearing and vision loss varies, and deafblindness is not simply the sum of deafness and blindness, but rather a unique condition where the combination of both losses affects information gathering.

Interveners, SSPs (Support Service Providers), and VASPs (Vocational Assistive Support Providers) play crucial roles in supporting individuals with deafblindness. Interveners work with children and youth, providing one-to-one support, access to information, and facilitating social and emotional development. SSPs work with adults, assisting with daily tasks and community integration, while VASPs help youth and adults achieve employment outcomes.

Key characteristics of Interveners include:

Specialized training in deaf-blindness and intervention
Providing consistent one-to-one support to students who are deafblind
Facilitating social and emotional well-being through trusting relationships
Enabling access to information and communication

These support providers are essential in addressing the primary disability associated with deafblindness: information gathering. By working together, Interveners, SSPs, and VASPs can help individuals with deafblindness lead more independent and fulfilling lives.