Indiana Deaf-Blind Services Project

05/07/2026

Be a part of the 2026 VIISA Training Cohort! This VIISA training is being conducted by professionals from VIPS Indiana and sponsored by the Indiana DeafBlind Services Project. VIISA participants will gain an understanding of the unique needs of infants, toddlers and preschoolers who are blind or have low vision and will develop the skills to empower the children’s families to help their child reach their highest potential. Participants will meet virtually and in person once a month from June through October. Virtual sessions will take place on Tuesdays from 3:00 pm–6:00 pm EST. There will also be two, two-day, in-person sessions on the VIPS campuses in Indianapolis and Louisville. In-person sessions will last eight hours each day. For more information and/or to register go to:

2026 Training Dates Participants will meet virtually and in person once a month from June through October. Virtual sessions will take place on Tuesdays from 3:00 pm–6:00 pm EST. There will also be two, two-day, in-person sessions on the VIPS campuses in Indianapolis and Louisville. In-person sessi...

05/07/2026

Help us celebrate DeafBlind Awareness Week! In recognition of the achievements, contributions, and potential of people who are DeafBlind, the Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults (HKNC) celebrates the last week of June as “DeafBlind Awareness Week.” This year, DeafBlind Awareness Week runs June 25-July 1, 2026. The 2026 campaign theme is: "Connected by Touch: Breaking Barriers, Buiding Bridges." For more information and ways to help celebrate go to: https://www.helenkeller.org/dbaw2026/ .

Celebrate DeafBlind Awareness Week, June 25–July 1, 2026. Download proclamation templates, access resources, and join HKNC's national campaign: Connected by Touch.

12/18/2025

We are happy to announce a great new training opportunity - Tactile Symbol Systems Workshop Series! Starting on February 20, 2026 with a virtual webinar, followed by an all-day training on March 6, 2026, we will look at Tactile Symbol Systems from foundation and rationale to implementation with students. Our presenter is Genevieve Barnes, a Deafblind Employment Specialist (DBES) serving Indiana. Genevieve graduated from Butler University with a B.A. in Communication Disorders, founded the Butler ASL club, taught DeafBlind students in Uganda, and earned an M.A. in Special Education from Ball State University. This workshop series provides an overview of Tactile Symbol Systems from the foundation and rationale for such systems to their connection to communication and implementation with students. The series includes an introductory webinar, a full day training and two follow-up sessions after the training.

To register and/or for more information go to: https://www.indbservices.org/index.php/tactile-symbol-systems. Space is limited so hurry and register now!

Tactile Symbol Systems February 20, 2026, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm EST Introduction to Tactile Symbol Systems Webinar via Zoom. March 6, 2026, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm EST Tactile Symbol Systems, Implementation...

12/18/2025

Happy Holidays from everyone at the Indiana DeafBlind Services Project....

11/06/2025

If you are an educator of a student who is deafblind, please act now!

As we finish the year, we here at the Project are looking at ways that we can better serve you and your students. The Indiana DeafBlind Services Project is committed to providing effective and useful services, resources and support across the state. In order to successfully understand your needs and preferences, we are asking for your input. We would like for you to take part in a brief survey for service providers of individuals who have a combined vision and hearing loss in the state of Indiana. The entire survey should take about 5-10 minutes to complete. You can complete the survey online by using this link: https://indstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5jvQR0NHdyv3AI6 .

I hope that your fall is going well and you have a great holiday season! If you have any questions regarding the survey, please contact me by email at [email protected] or by telephone at 812-237-7679. Thank you so much for your help.

The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

11/06/2025

Please Act Now!!

As we end the year and move into the holiday season, we here at the Project are looking at ways that we can better serve you and your family. The Indiana DeafBlind Services Project is committed to providing effective and useful services, resources and support across the state.

In order to successfully understand your family’s needs and preferences, we are asking for your input. We would like for you to take part in a brief survey for families of individuals who have a combined vision and hearing loss in the state of Indiana. The entire survey should take about 5 minutes to complete. You can complete the survey online by using this link: https://indstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8phCswrIZ3wUyF0 . Hard copies of the survey will also be mailed to all families on our deafblind census.

We hope you have a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year! If you have any questions regarding the survey, please contact Lisa Poff by email at [email protected] or by telephone at 812-237-7679. Thank you so much for your help!

The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

10/23/2025

Reposted from Deaf Seniors of America

** FREE WEBINAR **

Know Your Deaf Rights Under Medicare and Medicaid

Do you know your Deaf rights under Medicare and Medicaid?

Join Deaf Equality and Deaf Seniors of America (DSA) for an informative webinar to understand your rights, how to access services, and what’s covered.

📅 Wednesday, November 5, 2025
🕒 12:30 PM PT | 1:30 PM MT | 2:30 PM CT | 3:30 PM ET

Moderator: Sherri Collins, Executive Director, DSA

Presenters: Howard Rosenblum, Anna Bitencourt, Zainab Alkebsi, and Jacob Salem

This webinar will be presented in ASL, voiced in English, and captioned.

🎥 Accessible livestream made possible by Caption Anywhere.


To Register go to:

Modernize workflows with Zoom's trusted collaboration tools: including video meetings, team chat, VoIP phone, webinars, whiteboard, contact center, and events.

10/23/2025

Forwarded from the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing:

AG BELL SUPPORT PARENT CHATS

Singing into Stories: A Musical Path to Early Literacy
Thursday, October 23, 2025 | 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT

We invite you to join us for our Parent Support Chat, which will highlight the vital role music plays in supporting language and literacy development in children with hearing loss. Parents will discover how rhythm, melody, and musical engagement enhance listening, speech, vocabulary, and reading skills. Practical strategies for incorporating music into daily routines will also be shared.

By the end of this session, parents will:

Understand the connection between music, language, and literacy in children with hearing loss.

Identify how musical elements support speech and listening development.

Explore evidence-based benefits of music for early communication skills.

Gain practical tools to integrate music into everyday learning at home.

Captioning will be available in English.

Sign up NOW at: https://form.jotform.com/251984878198279

Featured Guest Speakers

Krissa Britsch CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert., AVT
Krissa Britsch is a certified speech-language pathologist (CCC-SLP) and a certified Listening and Spoken Language Specialist (LSLS Cert. AVT) with a passion for supporting children with hearing loss and their families. With years of experience helping young children develop strong listening and spoken language skills, Krissa loves guiding parents in discovering the power of music and singing in everyday routines. She believes music is not only joyful but also a powerful tool for boosting language, listening, social-emotional growth, and overall development. Through her work, she helps families turn daily moments into rich, language-filled experiences through the simple joy of song.

Nanette Thompson, LSLS Cert.

Nanette Thompson is a certified Listening and Spoken Language Specialist with over 30 years of experience supporting families of children with hearing differences. She is passionate about helping children learn to listen, talk, read—and sing! Nanette provides diagnostic listening and spoken language therapy, and she coaches both parents and professionals to use music and everyday moments to build strong communication skills. Her work bridges evidence-based practice with joyful, engaging strategies that empower families.

Please click the link to complete this form.

10/08/2025

The Indiana DeafBlind Services Project would like to introduce FamFest 2025-26! FamFest 25-26 consists of several virtual events (such a virtual scavenger hunts, movies or game nights) for your whole family and one final in person event at the Indianapolis Zoo. These events are designed to be fun activities for your entire family, as well as allowing you to meet other families here in Indiana. Even better, the activities will provide you with opportunities to work on literacy skills with your child who is deafblind. Prior to each virtual event, your family will receive a box of materials for the chosen activity. For example, if the event is a movie night, you will get fun props related to the movie, movie snacks and a book based on the movie. If it is making and showing a craft of some type, you will receive everything your family needs to complete that craft. For all virtual events we will include a book or materials to make an experience book/box with your child who is deafblind. We hope that this makes each event an opportunity to learn a bit more about the topic and to expand his or her literacy skills.

For more specific information and/or to register go to: https://www.indbservices.org/index.php/famfest-2025-26 .
FamFest 25-26 starts soon, so make sure to register now! Hope to see you soon!

FamFest 2025-26 Family Fun and Learning Series for Families of Children who are Deafblind Join us for some Fam-tastic Fun by participating in a special series of virtual family events created just...

10/08/2025