Family Support

Texas Deafblind Outreach strongly believes that families are the key to success for the child with combined vision and hearing loss or deafblindness.  Though no family wants to associate their beautiful child with a label such as deafblindness, families realize that raising a child with combined vision and hearing loss brings along some unique joys and challenges.  For this reason, Texas Deafblind Outreach offers a wide array of specialized supports to families --- moms, dads, brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and families of choice.

Home Onsite Consultation

Families may request a visit to their home from our Family Support Specialist, Edgenie Bellah, to learn more about ways to support the needs of their child and other family members in the home environment, how to advocate for services and supports, find resources, link with other families of children with deafblindness and meet other needs arising from having a child in the family with combined vision and hearing loss.  Parents may request this service simply by calling or emailing Edgenie Bellah at 512-206-9423 or edgeniebellah@tsbvi.edu.

Topical Workshops for Families

Throughout the year Texas Deafblind Outreach sponsors and co-sponsors a number of workshops on topics of importance to families of children with deafblindness.  Most workshops are free of charge and/ or registration, travel, and child care assistance is available on request.

Project SPARKLE

This is an innovative project developed by SKI-HI in Utah in collaboration with the deafblind projects in Minnesota and Texas.  This project provides training to families on deafblindness using the internet and DVDs.  Families complete modules on deafblindness, hearing loss, vision loss, touch, communication, concept development, intervention, and family issues.  They are then able to apply the information they learn to respond to questions about their own child and build a printable document to share with others such as teachers, doctors, respite providers and others.  Families also may access a library of video tapes via the internet presented by national and international experts, connect with families from around the country through a listserv, and find out about a multitude of resources related to deafblindness.

Family Leadership Training

This three-part workshop series will begin in 2005 for families who are interested in learning how to become family leaders in the area of deafblindness.  Training topics will include parenting a child with deafblindness, decision-making, advocacy skills related to deafblindness, quality educational and rehabilitation programs for students with deafblindness, and mentorship.  Participants will complete an action plan to and carry out and activity related to the information they learn at the completion of training.

Collaboration with DBMAT

Texas Deafblind Outreach is proud to collaborate with the Deaf-Blind Multihandicapped Association of Texas (DBMAT), in their work to provide statewide family support and advocacy.