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 OfficeCreation of a home team to plan for services and

transition back to home communityFollow-along services provided by Regional RepTraining 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. Davis

Regional 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.htm

Support HKNC's mission by making a donation: http://hknc.org/GivingHome.htm