July Monthly Update
Family-to-Family Communities
Family-to-Family Communities bring families together to connect, share information and resources, and offer support to one another on the journey of supporting family members who are deafblind. Groups meet monthly on Zoom from September to May. Registration is now open. To learn more, see this flyer.
Intervener Microcredential
The Paraprofessional Research and Resource (PAR2A) Center has launched the Intervener Microcredentials and National Intervener Certification E-portfolio (NICE).
To learn more, join the Intervener Microcredentials and NICE Certification information session on July 30 at 4:30 p.m. EST.
ADARA Conference Proposals
The American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association (ADARA) is calling for proposals for the 2026 ADARA Conference. Presentation proposals for concurrent sessions, pre-conference sessions, and poster sessions should address effective or innovative practices used in working with deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind individuals related to behavioral health, research, post-secondary and K-12 education, transition services, health services, vocational rehabilitation, and interpreter accessibility.
Do-It-Yourself Accessibility Basics
This webpage on accessibility from NCADEMI is an easy-to-read guide with simple techniques for creating accessible documents. Topics include heading structure, color contrast, hyperlinks, and alt text. For additional information about accessibility see, NCDB's Accessibility Toolkit.
New Edition of Physical Education Book
The second edition of Physical Education and Sports for People With Visual Impairments and Deafblindness, by Lauren Lieberman and colleagues, is now available from the American Printing House for the Blind. It's a practical guide to teaching physical education, recreation, and fitness to individuals who are deafblind, blind, or low vision and focuses on self-advocacy and instruction for all ages.
Perkins Archives on Instagram
If you are on Instagram and looking for a fun account to follow, check out the @perkinsarchives. They post interesting photos of people, artifacts, and documents from Perkins School for the Blind Archives. The Archives houses institutional records as well as collections documenting the history of education for people with blindness and deafblindness. Materials include photographs, documents, tactile objects, films, audio recordings, and books—in both print and braille. The collection is local, national and international in scope.
New Journal Articles
If you need assistance accessing any of these articles, contact support@nationaldb.org.
Chen, D., & Belote, M. (2025). Facilitating listening skills in children who are visually impaired with additional disabilities or deafblindness. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 119(3), 224–229.
Demchak, M., Sutter, C., & Prudente, J. (2025). Definitions of support needs: An analysis and call for clarity. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities (2025): 15407969251342237.
Desch, L. W. et al. (2025). Prescribing assistive technology: Focus on children with complex communication needs: Clinical report. Pediatrics, 156(1), e2025072216.
Hazzan, A. A. et al. (2025). Caregiving for children and youth with CHARGE syndrome: Impact of family caregiver quality of life and coping strategies. Future, 3(3), 13.
Schles, R. A. et al. (2025). Improving access for students who are deaf-blind through collaboration. TEACHING Exceptional Children, 00400599251340639.
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