Empowering Families Overview
If your child has a combined vision and hearing loss, or you suspect that they do, we may be able to give you valuable information to help your child learn, communicate, play, and grow. You also may want to learn how other families with children who experience combined vision and hearing loss have helped their children to grow up to be their best. We can help you make those connections!
This section of our website is designed to provide families of children who are deafblind with important information and includes ways to keep Indiana families linked with each other and to the activities of our project. We would love to continue to expand what we offer here, so please let us know what we can add that would help you and your family!
I Wish I Had ... Wisdom from Parents of Children who are DeafBlind
By the National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness July 2009
In this flyer, parents from across the country share their thoughts and experiences with their families and their children who are deaf-blind. In response to "I wish I had...", parents offer reflections on the past, the wisdom of experience and the things that fill them with hope for the future!
Shayla's Story
Jessie Mines is a parent who joined the Indiana DeafBlind Services Project Family Leadership Training Program. Her goal was to learn more about deafblindness and how to help her daughter, Sheyla; as well as learn more about how to help other families of children who are deafblind in Indiana.
Living a Different Dream
Up until about a year ago, when someone from my past would ask me what I've been up to I would always respond with "I'm just living the dream". It was true. We were living the dream.
Sami's Story
When Don and I married almost 42 years ago, I knew our marriage and the birth of our children would be among my greatest blessings. When our grandchildren came along, it was the icing on the cake. But, unbeknownst to me, God had saved a most unusual gift.
Miguel's Story
What do you see when you see my son? I see one of the most amazing children I have ever known. His story is amazing.
Listen to Miguel's story
Dan's Story About his Son Joshua
My story starts with my son, Joshua. The second year of his life Joshua was still undiagnosed with any disease until the day we had a 45 minute seizure that almost ended his life. It was at this time Joshua was disgnosed with C.P., Lebers, small kidneys, small brain seizure disorder, and heart problems. All the diagnoses were severe to profound that led the doctors at Riley Hospital to announce that Joshua would probably not live to see his fifth birthday. Joshua was born in 1981 and his sister, Jennifer, was born in 1984 with the same diagnosis but without the heart problems.
Listen to Joshua's Story