American Association of the DeafBlind

04/20/2026

AADB is BACK! Want to join us in serving the DeafBlind community in a leadership role within AADB? We are seeking two Members-At-Large (MAL's) for our board. If you have leadership experience or a passion for serving in a leadership role please submit an application to fill one of two empty seats on our Board. All applications should be sent to [email protected]. Come join our team as we soar into the future stronger than ever. Come help make AADB the best non-profit in the USA. In 2027 AADB will celebrate our 90th birthday. Join us as we celebrate this incredible milestone! AADB is a strong diverse organization. We are hoping to have our board represented by DeafBlind Americans from every corner of our great Nation. Are you from Alaska or Hawaii? Are you from Oregon or Arizona? Are you from Texas or Colorado? Are you from Maine or the U.S. Virgin Islands? No matter where you are in the U.S. come join us in this wonderful opportunity to help lead AADB into the future.

04/05/2026

Best Practices in Welcoming DeafBlind Patrons and Partners
VOX has partnered with Silent Rhythms https://silentrhythms.org/ to create free, open-source modules to teach arts organizations best practices in welcoming the DeafBlind community. These modules explore topics like DeafBlind etiquette, communication, accessibility in museum and theater spaces, audio description, braille, technology and more. All of these modules are presented and produced by DeafBlind professionals and supported by Deaf/Hard of Hearing, CODA, and ASL interpreter community members. These modules are presented in American Sign Language with English voiceover, or spoken English with picture-in-picture ASL interpretation. All videos have captions and a transcript below the video to follow along.Introduction to DeafBlind ModulesDeafBlind Etiquette with Kerry ThompsonAudio Description and Technology with Carl RichardsonMuseum Accessibility with Cai SteeleGold Standard Theater Accessibility with Kaitlyn MielkeDeafBlind Communication with Kerry Thompsonlink: https://thinkoutsidethevox.org/deafblind-modules/
DeafBlind Modules - Think Outside the Vox
thinkoutsidethevox.org
DeafBlind Modules - Think Outside the Vox

VOX has partnered with Silent Rhythms to create free, open source modules to teach arts organizations best practices in welcoming the DeafBlind community. These modules explore topics like DeafBlind etiquette, communication, accessibility in museum and theater spaces, audio description, braille, tec...

03/17/2026

Join the Editorial Team – Share Your Thoughts!

The American Association of the Deaf-Blind magazine, the Deaf-Blind American, is growing, and we’re looking for members to join our editorial team! If you enjoy writing, storytelling, or sharing ideas, this is a great opportunity to help shape content that reflects our community.

We’re especially looking for contributors interested in developing regular features such as:

“Touch of Humor” – Comedy Corner
Do you love telling jokes or sharing funny stories? Help us create a space that brings laughter and joy to our readers.

Cooking Without Sight & Sound
Enjoy cooking? Share your favorite recipes, tips, and how you prepare meals. Help us build a feature that highlights creativity and independence in the kitchen.

As part of the editorial team, you can help create content on a regular basis or contribute when inspiration strikes. Your voice and perspective matter—and together, we can make the magazine even more engaging and inclusive. Please message us if you are interested in helping.

03/17/2026

Greetings, All! Anne McQuade here, and I am the President of AADB. Along with our First Vice President, Lori Siedman, we are the administrators of the AADB page. We plan to use this page to make official announcements and provide updates. Speaking of updates, membership is free this year, so if you are interested in joining, please send an email to [email protected]. We look forward to meeting you.

12/29/2023

President Sammie here.

The board and I would like to wish you and your family a Happy New Year 2024!

Stay warm and be safe! Touch all of you in 2024!

11/20/2023

FIRST AADB "BLACK FRIDAY" SWEEPSTAKES!

We are pleased to announce the first-ever AADB "Black Friday" Sweepstakes. This sweepstakes will run from Friday, November 24 - Monday, November 27, 2023. Up to FIFTY (50) lucky winners will receive FREE AADB membership for 2024!

Rules:
1. The Sweepstakes is open to DeafBlind residents of the U.S. who are at least 18 years of age as of January 1, 2024; have not already paid for 2024 AADB membership; are not lifetime AADB members; are not current members of the AADB Board; and agree to the terms of membership as set forth on the membership application (below).

2. All entrants must complete the membership application form listed below, and send it to [email protected]. Applications are not valid unless sent to this email address.

3. All applications must be submitted between 12:01 a.m. on Friday, November 24, 2023 and 11:59 p.m. on Monday, November 27, 2023, Eastern Standard time. Note that any application sent before or after these dates and times do not qualify.

4. The FIRST 50 valid applications received will be awarded FREE AADB "Active" membership for the period January 1-December 31, 2024. Applicants who enter the sweepstakes but are not among the FIRST 50 will be offered a 20% discount from the regular $15 membership fee (Discounted to $12).

5. Any questions can be answered on the AADB-L discussion list PRIOR To the start of the Sweepstakes. If you are not currently on this list we encourage you to sign up:

a. Send an email to aadb-l+[email protected].

b. You should receive a response asking you to confirm. Use "reply" to respond to this message.

c. You should then be informed that your request has been received. You MAY be told that your subscription is "pending". If so, please wait a few days for processing. If you still have problems after 2-3 days, write to [email protected].

6. All who enter the sweepstakes should receive a response - yes, you WON - or NO, sorry you did not win. Please allow up to 10 days for this reply.

7. PLEASE be sure to complete the membership form below. If you do not do this your Sweepstakes entry cannot be accepted.

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Black Friday Sweepstakes 2023
AADB Membership Application Form

As a national consumer organization for, of and by DeafBlind who prove to be leading forces that are diverse influencing awareness towards education, culture, language, advocacy and community development. American Association of the DeafBlind (AADB) is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion encompassing all kinds of people. We care and uphold respectful diligence to our members, consumers, stakeholders, sponsors, donors, professionals and affiliates. In honor for diligence, AADB welcomes all forms of race, ethnicities, gender, age, identities, religion, social stature, sexual orientations, expressive viewpoints, communication preferences and abilities. AADB values serving all communities integral in advancing DeafBlind in achieving their maximum potential through increased independence, productivity and integration into the community.

If you have any questions or concerns with this membership form, contact [email protected]

Contact Information (All info will be kept confidential.)

1. First Name:

2. Last Name:

3. Street Address 1:

4. Street Address 2:

5. City/Town:

6. State:

7. Zip/Postal Code:

8. Email address:

9. Phone number - 10 digits:

10. Phone type (voice, text, videophone):

11. Another phone number:

12. Phone type (voice, text, videophone):

13. Preferred method of contact below:
Email
Voice/Videophone
Text
Mail
Large Print Mail
Braille in Mail

14. Age range below:
18 -- 23
24 - 29
30 - 35
36 - 41
42 - 47
48 - 53
54 - 59
60 - 65
66 - 71
72 -- 77
78 - 83
84 - 89
90 - 95
Prefer not to answer

15. Your gender:
Female
Male
Prefer not to answer
Other

16. Your ethnicity:
African Origins
Alaskian Native
Asian
Caribbean Islander
Caucasian/White
European
Latino
Middle Eastern
Native American
Oceania
Person of Color (POC/ BIPOC)
Prefer not to answer
Other

17. Want to subscribe to AADB-L?
Yes
No
Already a subscriber

1 year FREE Active (DeafBlind) membership via Black Friday Sweepstakes

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Instructions

When you are done with filling out this form, Send the completed form to
[email protected]

If questions or concerns with this application, contact Membership at [email protected]

AADB wishes to thank you for your involvement and support!!

11/04/2023

Hello! We want to inform you all about an FDA warning about eye drops. Many of us use eye drops due to dry eyes, etc., so this hits close to home for the DeafBlind community. I'm going to give you a summary and then a link to the article.

First report was on October 27 and updated October 30 for 27 brands of eye drops that can increase the risk of eye infection leading to blindness and loss of vision. A lot of these brands are store brands - CVS, Target. Walmart, Rite Aid, but not all. A lot of stores are voluntarily removing these drops from their shelves, but if you have any at home, you need to stop. To see the full list, go to https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-warns-consumers-not-purchase-or-use-certain-eye-drops-several-major-brands-due-risk-eye .

You can see the full article at https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-warns-consumers-not-purchase-or-use-certain-eye-drops-several-major-brands-due-risk-eye

Eye Drop Recall

07/14/2023

Hello AADB community! There have been several changes to the board lately! First, President John Winstead resigned. Vice President Kevin Richmond also resigned but stepped in as acting president temporarily. Past president, Aimee Chappelow, was appointed by the Board as Vice President. We are now excited to share the news of our new AADB President, Samantha "Sammie" Porter!

Sammie will bring to AADB her enthusiasm, ambition, and her passion, to see that AADB continues to grow. In Sammie’s words: “I would like to see that AADB will come back with a whole fresh perspective and a new way of thinking as well. My hope is that we will build a sense of community and an acceptance of inclusivity, diversity, and equity. Therein impact and encourage other organizations to collaborate with the American Association of the DeafBlind."

Please help us welcome Sammie!

06/26/2023

President John Winstead resigned, Vice President Kevin "Keva" Richmon is acting president

05/11/2023

Urgent message from President John Winstead:

I got involved working with the FCC and other agencies on the Communication, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (CVTA) in January 2023.

If any of you have experience using myMMX via any VRS service or TMobile VRS with or without a refreshable braille display? How did it go? Does it need to change or add? I need your commands immediately as this is related to the CVTA Act and my work with the FCC.

Please contact me and Vice President Kevin Richmon by email at [email protected] and [email protected].