Deafblind Resources
State, local, and regional organizations and agencies of and for members of the Deafblind community are listed below.CONNECTICUT
Board of Educational Services for the Blind (BESB)
http://www.besb.state.ct.us
IL Services, VR Services, legal benefits information.
(860) 602-4000 V/TTY
Connecticut Commission for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired (CDHI)
http://www.state.ct.us/cdhi
Interpreters, counseling, job placement, community education and support.
Stacie Mawson, Commissioner
stacie.mawson@po.state.ct.us
(860) 566-7414 V/TTY
Deafblind Association of Connecticut (DBAC)
Meetings, community events.
Tom and Karen Peters
funnytomkaren@webtv.net
(860) 621-6610 TTY
FSW
http://www.fswinc.org/Our_Services/deaf.htm
Medical interpreter referral, counseling in the southern part of the state.
Bert Carter
Bcarter@fswinc.org
(203) 368-4291 x 705
MAINE
ALPHA ONE
http://www.alpha-one.org
Independent Living Services for Deaf and hard of hearing, information and referral services, peer services (skills training and education, support and assistance in transition, problem-solving), equipment evaluation and information, communications assistance, community events calendar, personal care services, adapted drivers education, open waters and rink link programs.
127 Main Street
South Portland, ME 04106-2622
deafservices@alphaonenow.com
Division of Deafness (DOD)
http://www.state.me.us/rehab/DOD.htm
Information and referral, advocacy, TTYs, legal interpreting, vocational rehabilitation.
Maine Bureau of Rehabilitation Services
150 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0150
Nancy Melanson
Nancy.a.melanson@maine.gov
(800) 698-4440 (V/TTY)
Maine Center on Deafness
http://www.mainecenterondeafness.org
Information and referrals, advocacy, consumer information, outreach services, support services, auxiliary aid information. info@mcdmaine.org
68 Bishop Street, Suite 3
Portland, ME 04103
(207) 797-7656 V/TTY
(800) 639-3884 V/TTY
24.97.54.29 Video Phone
MASSACHUSETTS
Deafblind Community Access Network (DBCAN)
http://deafinconline.tripod.com/services/dbcan.html
Service Providers (provision of and training for) Support with errands, support with public transportation, support with community events, support with reading mail.
Elaine Ducharme, Director
DBCANCS@deafinconline.org
c/o D.E.A.F., Inc.
215 Brighton Ave
Allston, MA 02134
(617) 254-4041 V/TTY
Deaf-Blind Contact Center (DBCC)
Communication and outreach services, transportation services,
SSPs, social events.
dbcc_ma@yahoo.com
c/o DEAF, Inc.
215 Brighton Ave
Allston, MA 02134
(617) 254-4041 V/TTY
(617) 816-5809 voice
(617) 254-4925 TTY
Deafblind Interpreter Allies (DBIA)
Organization for social and political advocacy.
Janet K. Marcous
jkmocean1@comcast.net
Hilton Perkins
http://webs.satlink.com/usuarios/h/hperkins/index.htm
International programs for Deafblind and multiple-handicapped, parental support, grants for teacher training.
Michael Collins, Director
collinsm@perkins.pvt.k12.ma.us
hperkins@satlink.com
175 North Beacon Street
Watertown, MA 02472
(617) 923-8076
Massachusetts Association for the Blind (VISION Community Services)
http://www.mablind.org
Braille Program
220 Ivy Street
Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 926-4232
vcsinfo@mablind.org
Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB)
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eohhs2agencylanding&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Government&L2=Departments+and+Divisions&L3=Massachusetts+Commission+for+the+Blind&sid=Eeohhs2
Vocational rehabilitation services, IL services, social services
Mitch Sanborn
mitch.sanborn@state.ma.us
48 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116-4718
(617) 727-5550 voice
(800) 392-6556 TTY
Massachusetts Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH)
http://www.state.ma.us/mcdhh
Interpreter referral, case management.
Heidi Reed, Commissioner
MCDHH.Office@state.ma.us
150 Mount Vernon Street
Boston, MA 02125
(617) 740-1600 voice
(617) 740-1768 TTY
Massachusetts Deafblind Family Alliance
http://www.necdbp.org/madbfa.htm
Education, advocacy, networking, support.
Tracy Evans Luiselli
luisellit@necperkins.pvt.k12.ma.us
(617) 972-7515 voice
(617) 924-5525 TTY
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI)
http://www.meei.harvard.edu
Medical services.
(978) 573-5520
New England Homes for the Deaf (NEHD)
http://www.nehomesdeaf.org/
Day program, senior citizens center, IL program.
(978) 774-0445 voice
(978) 739-4010 TTY
NEHOMEDEAF@aol.com
Northeastern University American Sign Language Program
http://www.asl.neu.edu
Interpreter education, day and evening programs.
Dennis Cokely, Director
d.cokely@neu.edu
(617) 373-3064 voice
(617) 373-3067 TTY
Perkins School for the Blind
http://www.perkins.org
Education: Students may take courses at local elementary and high schools with an interpreter. Students participate in a wide variety of trips into the local community.
Summer Programs
Support Services: Orientation and mobility, adaptive physical education, vocational training, computer/technology training, transition services.
Clinical Services: Speech therapy, psychology, behavioral consultation, audiology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work, health services.
Barbara Mason, Supervisor of Deafblind Program
Barbara.Mason@Perkins.org
Deafblind@Perkins.org
(617) 972-7500 voice
(617) 924-5525 TTY
Southeast Mentorship Project (SEMP)
Plans to implement Deafblind interpreter mentoring activities.
Wendy Watson, Coordinator
thewendys@earthlink.net
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Granite State Independent Living Foundation (GSLIF)
http://www.gsil.org/deaf_services.htm
Interpreter referral service, advocacy, peer support groups, IL skills training services, social programs, recreational programs, orientation and mobility services, New Hampshire phone link.
Erica Marden
erica.marden@gsil.org
21 Chenell Drive
PO Box 7268
Concord, NH 03302-7268
(603) 228-9680 (v)
(800) 826-3700 (v/TTY)
http://www.NHBVI.com
http://www.nhbvi.com
Website sponsored by Assistive Services to Schools for Education, Technology & Training (ASSETT), The Carroll Center, Multi-sensory Intervention through Consultation and Education (MICE), New Hampshire Association for the Blind (NHAB), New Hampshire NAPVI, and Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired (SBVI).
New Hampshire Association of the Blind
http://www.sightcenter.com/resources/
McGreal Sight Center
25 Walker Street
Concord, NH 03301
Tel: 603-224-4039
Tel: 1-800-464-3075
Seacost: 603-431-9401 services@sightcenter.com
PUERTO RICO
Information on Deaf-Blindness- Puerto Rico http://www.tr.wou.edu/dblink/people/statefact/showstate.cfm?state=PR&display=Puerto+Rico
RHODE ISLAND
Office of Rehabilitation Services
http://www.ors.state.ri.us
VR Services, IL program, social services program.
Linda Hughes
lhughes@ors.state.ri.us
(401) 222-2300 x423
(401) 421-7016
Alliance of Dual Sensory Impairment
Jessica Tunison
jessicat@ors.state.ri.us
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Division of Disabilities and Rehabilitation ServicesKnud Hansen Complex Building A
1303 Hospital Ground
St Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802
Fax: 340-774-7773
Beverly Paskett, Administrator
bcplaskett@hotmail.com
340-774-0930
VERMONT
Division of Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI)
http://www.dad.state.vt.us/dbvi
Deaf Independence Program (DIP)
http://www.vcil.org/core-services/peeradvocacy/dip/index.html
Deaf Peer Advocate Counselor (PAC) support, IL services, advocacy, information and referral, peer group support, telephone equipment distribution program.
Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (VABVI)
http://vbimail.champlain.edu/main/adult.htm
VR and social services, IL services, orientation and mobility instruction, peer assisted learning and support groups.
Vermont Project for Children and Youth with Deafblindness
sedelman@zoo.uvm.edu
Center on disability and community inclusion.
ccloning@zoo.uvm.edu
(802) 656-8554
REGIONAL RESOURCES
Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) -- New England Regional Office (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island)
Information, on-site assessment, consultation, training and recommendations for meeting individual goals, assistance with application process to HKNC for evaluation and/or training, links for consumers-to-consumers and families-to-families, consultation, technical assistance and in-service, advocacy, coordination, and development of services, collaboration on transition from youth educational programs to post-secondary services, informational materials and presentations about needs and capabilities of individuals who are Deafblind.
Mary Ellen Barbiasz, New England Regional Representative
HKNC1MEB@aol.com
(781) 259-7100 voice/TTY
National HKNC Office at Sands Point, New York
http://www.helenkeller.org/national/
New England Center Deafblind Project (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire)
http://www.necdbp.org/index.htm
Child identification, in-service training, workshops, evaluations, on-site consultation, resources, parent groups, work with state and local agencies.
* Central Office (Massachusetts)
Barbara Mason, Project Director
Barbara.Mason@perkins.org
(617) 972-7502
(617) 972-7515 voice
(617) 924-5525 TTY
* Connecticut
Board of Education and Services for the Blind
Karen Olson, Education Consultant
karen.olson@po.state.ct.us
(860) 602-4000
* Maine
Charlotte Cushman, Education Consultant
cweir@cisunix.unh.edu
(603) 226-2900