FAQs

What do we mean by the “DeafBlind” community?

The DeafBlind community includes:

• Deafblind individuals

• Professional and volunteer interpreters (deaf and hearing)

• Other professionals involved with deaf-blindness

• Family members of deaf-blind people

• Many other friends

A deafblind person cannot see or hear at all, right?

Many deafblind people have some useable vision, some usable hearing, or both. A “deaf-blind” person may be:

• Totally blind and totally deaf

• Totally blind and hard of hearing

• “Hard of seeing” and totally deaf

• “Hard of seeing” and hard of hearing

Most deaf-blind people also experience change in their degree of vision and/or hearing over time. Many people have Usher syndrome (hearing loss with Retinitis Pigmentosa), which results in a degenerative loss of vision over many years.

What do deaf-blind people do for work?

Most of the deafblind people in Seattle are employed full-time. Some deafblind people are employed at public utilities, with state government, at private companies, and as service providers at agencies that serve deaf and deafblind individuals. A large number of deafblind people work at Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind. At the present time, the need for additional, more diverse job opportunities is great.

What about housing? Can deafblind people live independently?

The majority of deafblind individuals in the Seattle area live independently. Many live alone, some live with spouses or roommates.

What do deafblind people do for fun?

Everything! In addition to personal sports and hobbies, there are community social and recreational activities conducted for and by deafblind people. Some of these include:

• Banquets

• Dances

• Picnics

• Business meetings of Washington State Deaf-Blind Citizens (WSDBC)

• Special social and support groups for segments of the DeafBlind community

The Lighthouse for the Blind sponsors an annual weeklong Deaf-Blind Retreat in Seabeck, WA and the Deaf-Blind Community Classes twice a month during the school year.