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Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults. Services and Programs By C. C. Davis, Regional Representative. Program History.
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Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults Services and Programs By C. C. Davis, Regional Representative
Program History • Authorized by an Act of Congress in 1967, the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults (HKNC) is a national rehabilitation program serving youth and adults who are deaf-blind.
Who’s Eligible for Services? • The person must be both deaf and blind • Vision loss central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with corrective lenses, or a field loss of 20 degrees or less, … and any vision problem that leads to these conditions • A current or progressive loss of hearing that makes speech unintelligible, even with optimum amplification • Any combined hearing and vision problems that together make normal life functions extremely difficult
HKNC Mission The mission of the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults is to enable each person who is deaf-blind to live and work in his or her community of choice.
HKNC Goals • Maintenance of a National Registry of individuals who are deaf-blind • Support for consumer-driven support groups and organizations • Support for family support groups and organizations (Example: DBMAT, TX Chargers) • Training and technical assistance to enhance improved vocational outcomes for deaf-blind consumers
HKNC Goals - continued • Support the development or improvement of community services such as SSP’s, Interveners, better long-term care programs, etc. (TX ex: DB-MD Waiver) • Support for specialized deaf-blind services in lead agencies in education, Vocational Rehabilitation and long-term care services • Develop and support interagency committees and task forces (ex: TX Interagency Task Force on Deafblindness) to work on improvement of deaf-blind services • Support individual families and consumers and the teams of services providers involved with them.
Programs and Services • Traditional center-based training program services and referral process. • Referral through HKNC Regional Office • Creation of a home team to plan for services and transition back to home community • Follow-along services provided by Regional Rep • Training areas and services include: mobility, communication, employment assessment, job retention skills training, independent living skills training, home management, rec and leisure training, counseling and guidance, and others
National Training Team andSenior Adult Program • NTT conducts seminars at HKNC’s center and • Provides on-site training for agencies and organizations • The older adults program specialist, Paige Berry, provides consultation, training and TA. • The program serves deaf-blind persons over 55. • Direct training to older deaf-blind adults can be provided at HKNC or in a consumer’s local community.
Affiliated Programs • HKNC played a part in developing the deaf-blind program at the TX Commission for the Blind many years ago. A network of affiliated programs serving deaf-blind people exists in the United States • HKNC has a long history of collaborating with the Division of Blind Services or DARS, out Texas Affiliate.
Regional Representatives • Advocacy • Consultation and technical assistance • Point of entry for referrals to HKNC’s center based training program • Assistance in developing services • Consumer follow-along support “as needed” • Information and Referral • In-service training • Public Education and Awareness (ex: “Deaf-Blind Awareness Week in June”) • Maintenance of National Registry • Work on interagency problem-solving efforts
How and when to use HKNC services? • Help get an accurate count and description of the deaf-blind population in the US by participating in the national registry effort • For deaf-blind persons of any age, … contact the HKNC Regional office for resources and information. Get connected. Get support. • Stay in touch with the regional office as a deaf-blind “case” is never closed. • When appropriate explore training at the HKNC National Center (teens and on up). • When state and local services seem to be failing you, consult with the HKNC Regional office for guidance.
Contact Information • C. C. DavisRegional RepresentativeHelen Keller National CenterSouth Central Regional Office12160 Abrams Road, Suite 620Dallas, TX 75243(972) 490-9677(V/TDD/VP)(972) 490-6042 (Fax)E-mail: ccfutbol@aol.com • Web site: Please visit our web site at www.hknc.org where you will find information on all the services HKNC provides. • HKNC maintains a national registry of deaf-blind persons which is very important for research, funding, and planning for services. The registry form can be filled out online at https://www.hknc.org/RegistryForm.htmSupport HKNC's mission by making a donation: http://hknc.org/GivingHome.htm