Governor Declares Deaf-Blind Awareness Week to Promote Oklahomans’ Needs and Abilities

OKLAHOMA CITY—In order to increase public awareness of the special needs and abilities of Oklahomans who are deaf-blind and others with severe sight and hearing impairments, Governor Brad Henry has declared June 24-30 as Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week in Oklahoma.

Helen Keller remains one of the best known Americans who was deaf-blind, despite the fact that she died nearly 40 years ago. While most deaf-blind people have some limited vision or hearing, Helen Keller had none, which makes her international success as an author and lecturer that much more remarkable.

“Deaf-blindness cuts off the two primary channels through which a person receives and gives information, so it is very difficult to get information and express your wants and needs,” said Joan Blake, Specialist on Deaf-Blindness for the Division of Visual Services in the Department of Rehabilitation Services.

“In addition, other people don’t know how to communicate with a person who is deaf-blind, so potential employers or friends may turn away, which is another loss on top of the dual sensory disabilities.”
While specific employment numbers are not available for deaf-blind workers, U.S. Census data indicates that 38.2% of Oklahomans with all types of disabilities, ages 16 to 64, are employed, compared to 74.6% for individuals in the same age range with no disabilities.

As Visual Services’ liaison to Oklahomans who are deaf-blind, Blake focuses on accessibility in the workplace, employment opportunities and independent living skills training that helps consumers who are deaf-blind function more independently in the community.

“That’s what I’m here for -- to teach Oklahomans who are deaf-blind how to use technology and their natural communication skills, so they can find ways to communicate effectively,” Blake said. “Every single client has a unique set of circumstances with different levels of hearing and vision loss, so Visual Services staff adapt our services to meet their specific needs.
“I’d also like for people to know that many people are eligible for our services who were not born with hearing and vision loss,” she said. “We have services for Oklahomans who have age-related conditions that happened gradually over the years as well as those who have some use of their vision and hearing. These are my clients too.”

In addition to evaluation, counseling and guidance, some of the services available through Visual Services include adaptive technology, education, vocational rehabilitation, communication assistance, mobility training and job placement. The agency also offers information, referral and advocacy and may provide job coaches who go with eligible consumers to job sites to help them resolve work-related issues.

“I have personally seen about 200 people who are deaf-blind, but there are many more who need assistance,” Blake explained. “You don’t serve them once because their vision and hearing is always changing. What worked last year is not working this year. In order to keep them employed at the same level, we need to add more equipment, more job accommodations.”

Visual Services sends some Oklahomans who are deaf-blind to the Helen Keller National Center in Sands Point, New York for weeks of assessment and intensive training customized to the individual’s needs and wants.

“It takes a little more effort to educate someone who is deaf and blind because the receptive channels are blocked,” Blake said, “but with creativity, there is no reason they can’t learn to do the things that anyone else can do.

“People with vision and hearing loss can be taught different ways of doing things and gathering information -- not with their eyes and ears, but with their fingers.

“They can do many jobs very well and can live in their own homes assisted by special technology like vibrating signalers and raised markings on appliances that they can feel,” Blake explained. “They can do whatever anyone else can do. About the only thing they can’t do is get in the car and drive.”

The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services also operates the School for the Deaf in Sulphur and the School for the Blind in Muskogee. Both schools serve children with deaf-blindness from birth through age 21.

For more information about available services for Oklahomans who are deaf and blind, contact Joan Blake at (405) 522-3417 or e-mail .

(###)