Virginia Deafblind Project at Virginia Commonwealth University

08/12/2026

Registration is now live: https://tinyurl.com/DBMicroFall2026

🌟 Earn a Credly badge in Communication Development for DeafBlind Children!

🕓 Fall 2026 Cohort: 7:00-8:00 PM

🗓 Dates: September 8th, October 6th, November 10th, December 8th

📣 Help your DeafBlind student bridge the gap to symbolic communication. Join the Virginia DeafBlind Project's interactive 4-session virtual cohort and earn an official Credley Microcredential in Supporting Communication Development for DeafBlind Children with Significant Support and Access Needs!

For more information and Badge requirements, check out the Microcredential Outline: https://tinyurl.com/DBCommBadge or email [email protected]

08/10/2026

✨Educational Hub for Sensory Disabilities Presents: “Literacy Without Limits”

A professional learning series for educators working with students with visual impairments in Virginia.

📖Explore the Science of Reading, the Virginia Literacy Act, braille literacy, accessible assessment, and practical strategies that remove barriers to reading and writing while maintaining high expectations. Each session serves as a stand-alone professional development opportunity. You can attend one, several, or all based on your interest and professional needs.

📩For more information: [email protected]

📣Speakers: Dr. Michelle Hicks & Christina Liebler

🕓Time: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

🧠Session 1: August 18th, 2026: Literacy for Every Learner: Applying the Science of Reading and the Virginia Literacy Act for Students with Visual Impairments.
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6qbW7YKoT-6WeUILRZe0_A

🖐️Session 2: August 25th, 2026: Beyond Print: Understanding Visual Impairment and the Path to Literacy Through Braille.
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rqZuLzwnQ4SnaRTt5TU0pQ

🤓Session 3: September 8th, 2026: When Seeing Isn’t Understanding: Brain-Based Visual Impairment and the Road to Reading and Writing.
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/vmbwloB1R2e7BrYk4Nsc7w

🎒Session 4: September 15th, 2026: From Access to Expression: Practical Reading and Writing Supports for Students with Visual Impairments including CVI.
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/sbBMkh0CQG6X-isoIm9Btw

08/08/2026

It's and we are celebrating a young man we have had the honor to get to know over the past few years:

Meet Noah! 💙

Noah is an amazing young man with CHARGE syndrome. My favorite thing about him is his determination. Life has asked him to overcome more obstacles than most people will ever face, yet he continues to surprise us with his resilience, humor, and love for life.

CHARGE is part of his story, but it is not who he is. We celebrate the incredible young man he has become and are grateful for all he has taught us about seeing ability before disability.

- Mom

08/04/2026

🌟 : Practice with School Materials

Get ready for the first day of school now!

🎒Practice opening containers and zippers to build confidence and independence!

🫵It's okay to need some help- practice asking or choosing a helper.

💡Think of ways to include choices within routines to build that self-determination muscle!

Looking for ideas to support your DeafBlind child as they get ready for school or welcome a DeafBlind student into the classroom? We're here to help!

📩Send us an email at [email protected]

07/30/2026

Let's talk about.. conversations! National Center On Deafblindness has conveniently collected some wonderful resources to support conversations with DeafBlind children:

https://www.nationaldb.org/info-center/educational-practices/conversation/

Interested in connecting these resources to your child or student, send us an email at [email protected]!

For children who are deafblind, conversations are an essential building block for developing communication. Meaningful conversations are also important for overall quality of life and for forming and deepening relationships. To learn more, visit Building Communication Through Conversation—one of our newly updated Info Topics pages.
https://www.nationaldb.org/info-center/educational-practices/conversation/

07/28/2026

💡 : What is an Intervener, and how do they support students who are DeafBlind?

An intervener is a key team member trained specifically in deafblindness who provides consistent, 1-on-1 access to communication, the environment, and learning. If you've heard this term mentioned in team meetings or IEPs and wondered what it actually means, this upcoming info session is for you!

Join the Virginia Deafblind Project to learn about the role, ask questions, and discover how to start your intervener training journey:

📅 Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2026

⏰ Time: 5:00 PM EST

👥 Who should attend: Parents, teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, and anyone interested in becoming an intervener in Virginia!

👉 Help us spread the word! Save and share this flyer with a fellow educator, parent, or colleague who wants to expand their skill set and better support students with combined vision and hearing loss.

🔗 Register for the session: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/K8m5FpPBTxq1VfeVZXd3cQ

07/23/2026

We still have a few spots left for the Richmond Sensory Disabilities Family Summit!

➡Registration Link: tinyurl.com/EdHubRic

We are excited to welcome families of children/youth (birth-21) who are blind/Vision impaired, Deaf/Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind to connect with one another and resources!

Richmond, VA
Sunday, August 30th, 12:00-4:00 PM

More information will be provided when you register for the event.

✨ Stay tuned for more information about our Roanoke Family Summit on September 13th!

07/22/2026

Family 2 Family Communities- F2FC are now open! Check out this year's communities and register today!

Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/F2FC2026

F2FC registration is now open. The groups will meet from September ...

07/21/2026

💡✈️ Tips on Tuesday: Traveling with a DeafBlind Child? TSA Cares Can Help! 💙

Traveling can feel overwhelming, but TSA Cares can make your airport experience smoother. 🧳🌟

If you're traveling with a child who is DeafBlind, TSA Cares is available to provide additional assistance during the airport security screening process.

📅 Before you fly:
✅ Contact TSA Cares within 72 hours of your flight to request support: https://www.tsa.gov/contact-center/form/cares
🤝 Let the Transportation Security Officer know how your child communicates, whether through tactile sign language, object cues, or another preferred method.
🦯 Bring any communication tools or assistive devices your child uses—they can travel through security with you.
🙋 Request a Passenger Support Specialist if additional assistance would make the screening process more comfortable.

✈️ Check out TSA Cares and plan ahead for your next trip!

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07/15/2026

Lived experience is one of the greatest teachers.

Our Virginia DeafBlind Young Adults Retreat, from this past weekend, was a powerful reminder that the voices of individuals who are DeafBlind are essential. Their stories, insights, and experiences deepen our understanding in ways that books and trainings alone cannot.

✨ This week's tip: Create opportunities to listen to people who are DeafBlind—not just about them.

Thank you to the incredible young adults who made this year's retreat such a meaningful experience. Your voices continue to educate, inspire, and lead us forward.

"Nothing about us without us." 💛

Image Description: Participants and volunteers from the Virginia DeafBlind Project pose together outdoors in front of a large red wooden boat during a summer retreat. The group wears matching black retreat T-shirts and smiles for a group photo beneath leafy trees on a sunny day.