About AADB

Last Update:
Thursday, March 6, 2008

Who We Are:

AADB is a national consumer organization of, by, and for deaf-blind Americans and their supporters. "Deaf-blind" includes all types and degrees of dual vision and hearing loss. Our membership consists of deaf-blind people from diverse backgrounds, as well as family members, professionals, interpreters, and other interested supporters.

AADB is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization governed by a board of directors, the majority of whom are deaf-blind. AADB receives funding from grants, membership fees, and tax-deductible donations.

Our Mission:

To ensure that all deaf-blind persons achieve their maximum potential through increased independence, productivity, and integration into the community.

Our Activities:

Information Clearinghouse: provides Information, referral and technical assistance on topics related to deaf-blindness.

An AADB/American Red Cross partnership, where AADB members can participate in ARC's programs and services (such as blood drives and CPR classes) and ARC employees/volunteers can be involved with AADB.

National Task Force on Deaf-Blind Interpreting is a collaboration between AADB, the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, and the National Consortium of Interpreter Education Centers. This collaboration will enhance the quality of interpreting services for deaf-blind people, and increase the number of interpreters qualified to work with them.

AADB-L: AADB sponsors a listserv available to its members where people can discuss important issues in the deaf-blind community and offer feedback on AADB's programs and services. To subscribe to AADB-L, people can send a blank email to aadb-L-subscribe-request@tr.wou.edu.

National Conferences: Hundreds of people come together for support and networking, and to learn about such issues as leadership and employment.

The Deaf-Blind American (DBA) magazine is available to AADB members and is published quarterly in large print, Braille, email and disk. It covers the latest in technology and research, AADB happenings, and conference news. To receive the DBA, you can join AADB as a member.

AADB E-News is a newsletter provided when the DBA is not published. Any interested person can subscribe to this newsletter by sending a blank email to AADB_E-News-subscribe-request@tr.wou.edu. On this website, anyone can also view the latest or back issues.

Advocacy projects: AADB provides advocacy, trainings; workshops, and involvement with legislators, manufacturers, and other entities on behalf of deaf-blind people.

Contact Us:

For information on specific projects, membership, the upcoming conference, or to make a tax- deductible donation, please contact us.