Interveners and Deafblindness

09/22/2025

Attention Interveners, parents, consumers, service providers and interested individuals.

Ask YOUR representative in the U.S. Congress to join the DeafBlind Caucus. Caucuses are effective forums for members to advocate for a particular cause. To find your congress person, use the link in comments and insert your address in the box provided.

Thank you to Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-MD) for leading this as well as the founding members: Representatives McClain Delaney (D-MD), Carson (D-IN), Cline (R-VA), DeLauro (D-CT), Dingell (D-MI), Doggett (D-TX), Gottheimer (D-NJ), Kiggans (R-VA), McGarvey (D-KY), Mullin (D-CA), Norton (D-DC), Riley (D-NY), Suozzi (D-NY), Takano (D-CA).

Supporting Organizations: American Association for the DeafBlind (AADB), DeafBlind Community of Texas, Deafblind Community United, Helen Keller National Center (HKNC), National Association of the Deaf (NAD), National DeafBlind Coalition, National Family Association for DeafBlind (NFADB), National Intervener and Advocate Association (NIAA), New York Deafblind Advocates.

If your Representative is listed, let them know you appreciate their support. If your Representative is not listed, contact them and urge them to join the DeafBlind Caucus. It’s easy.

I'm honored to launch the bipartisan Congressional Deafblind Caucus with ! This Caucus isn’t about politics—it’s about people. The Deafblind comm...

09/21/2025

More information on DeafBlind Projects that didn’t receive funding.

The department says the IDEA Part D grants weren't continued because they don't align with Trump administration priorities.

09/19/2025

Wisconsin is one of eight states where federally funded programs for deafblind youth were recently cut. Parents say it's a lifeline.

09/19/2025

More than $30 million for teacher training and parent resources will no longer flow as scheduled.

09/12/2025

Call your U.S. Senators’ offices, especially if you live in West Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, or Texas.

09/12/2025

Interveners and Deafblindness shares especially for those in the following states: WV, FL, NC, SC, OH, PA, or TX

URGENT: Braille Training Grants Eliminated

For the first time in decades, there will be no federal support for braille training in the U.S. The Department of Education has cut all three national Braille Training Grants, This will impact children, adults, and the professionals who serve them.

This decision means:
❌ No new resources for TVIs to teach braille literacy
❌ No additional training for Vision Rehabilitation Therapists
❌ No professional development or innovation to address the braille literacy crisis

We need you to act NOW.
Call your U.S. Senators, especially if you live in WV, FL, NC, SC, OH, PA, or TX. Ask to speak with a senior staffer and make it clear: braille is literacy.

This is not about budgets, it’s a policy choice erasing national braille training.

Every state benefits from these programs.

Calls matter. Emails won’t be enough. Share this message widely and make sure braille remains a national priority.

09/12/2025

Interveners and Deafblindness shares:

Grant writers are rushing to appeal and families are trying to cope as a federal grant supporting services for Oregon children who are deafblind could be cancelled.

09/11/2025

Wisconsin is one of eight states to lose federal funding for their DeafBlind Project. They have until Thursday to appeal. Read this from their State Superintendent.

News: State Superintendent Dr. Underly Condemns Sudden Termination of Federal Funding for Deafblind and Special Education Programs Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 09/09/2025 02:36 PM CDT View as a webpage / Share FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASETuesday, Sept. 9, 2025 State Supe...

09/11/2025

IMPORTANT INFORMATION!!

Citing concerns about DEI, the U.S. Department of Education has halted funding for programs that support students with combined hearing and vision loss in eight states. “How low can you go?” one advocate asked. “How can you do this to children?”

09/03/2025

Let's celebrate Louisiana's first intervener!!!!

08/04/2025

. Online Intervener training begins Monday, August 25, 2025.
Questions, please contact Linda.Alsop@usu.edu
Please share.

07/29/2025

Thank you to Rep. April McClain Delaney and Rep. Morgan McGarvey for forming the DeafBlind Congressional Caucus! Please ask YOUR member of congress to join.