National Family Association for DeafBlind

06/06/2026

INCREDIBLE NEWS ALERT!!

DeafBlind students are being seen and heard in powerful ways through the introduction of The Helen Keller Education Act!

This new bill marks a meaningful step toward ensuring DeafBlind students are recognized and equipped with the resources they need!

Click the link below to read the full press release from Co-Sponsors Rep. Morgan McGarvey and Rep. Andrew Garbarino. Link to the full bill text can be found there as well.

https://mcgarvey.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-mcgarvey-and-garbarino-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-improve-education-resources-for-deafblind-children

Stay tuned for more information and next steps!

The Official U.S. Congressional website of Morgan McGarvey

05/22/2026

IDEA Part D is a lifeline for the DeafBlind community: funding the state DeafBlind projects that provide critical educational and developmental services to youth with combined hearing and vision loss.

The stakes for our families couldn’t be higher as we aim to ensure Part D stays federally funded and maintained.

The DeafBlind DATA Act would require the U.S. Census Bureau to establish an accurate, centralized count of the deafblind population for the first time. (We can better protect what we can count! 💛)

Watch as Kristi and Darlene break down why protecting IDEA Part D and passing the DeafBlind DATA Act are essential steps toward ensuring our community gets the services and support we deserve.

05/14/2026

“Self advocacy could be expressed outside of being linguistic. It could be expressed through the body in a variety of different ways.”
– Susan Bruce, Ph.D., professor emerita, Boston College, special education consultant

From the latest module in the “Teaching Children Who Are Deafblind” series, “Preparing for Life After High School” https://www.nationaldb.org/products/modules/pd/preparing-for-life-after-high-school/

05/12/2026

A few weeks ago, history was made! 👊

The first-ever DeafBlind Caucus meeting was held in DC! Alongside the meeting, some fierce advocates spent the week championing the DeafBlind Data Act.

Here’s a look back at that moment as and shared why the caucus matters and why data is everything for our community.

Since our visit, we’re excited to share even more representatives have signed on to the DeafBlind Data Act.

More highlights to come! 🖤

04/17/2026

As the DeafBlind Caucus held its inaugural meeting, its co-chairs came together with a shared vision. This moment marks a new era of visibility, advocacy, and leadership for our community. 🤟🏼💛 Thank you
Rep. April McClain Delaney and Rep. Morgan McGarvey for giving us all a seat at the table!

04/17/2026

Track the DeafBlind DATA Act: https://bit.ly/4tTCG8u

HR 2947 is a bipartisan bill that changes something that might surprise you: right now, the U.S. Census Bureau collects data on people who are deaf and people who are blind. However, it doesn’t collect data to count the DeafBlind community.

That means we don’t have a reliable national count of how many DeafBlind Americans there are.

No accurate count = no accurate funding, no targeted services, no real policy. This bill changes that by requiring the Census to publish that data every year. It’s a simple bill with real, meaningful impact!

We’re so grateful Rep. April McClain Delaney led the charge and sponsored this bill. Our team spent time on Capitol Hill advocating for this bill this week - and we’re excited to see Representative Wesley Bell as a new cosponsor, with (hopefully) more to come! 🤟

04/15/2026

Inaugural DeafBlind Caucus Meeting: a quick video recap! 🤟

It’s been a busy day between the Caucus meeting and visiting representatives, and we’re so excited to share some meaningful soundbytes from the first-ever DeafBlind Caucus meeting here on Capitol Hill. More to come!

For now, enjoy a quick meeting recap as you get a glimpse into the meaningful work happening on the Hill today and how our representatives are showing support for the DeafBlind community.

04/15/2026

🤟 is officially the newest member of the DeafBlind Caucus!

Not only is he the newest member, but he also shared meaningful words during the Caucus meeting from his own experience in school systems where students desired more access to communication.

Thank you, Representative Bell, for supporting the DeafBlind community!

04/15/2026

The Inaugural DeafBlind Caucus Meeting marked a meaningful and long-overdue step forward. 👏 (Video recap coming soon!)

We at NFADB are deeply grateful to Caucus Sponsor , Co-sponsor , and their dedicated staff for their leadership and partnership in helping elevate the voices and needs of the DeafBlind community. This work matters not just in policy, but in the day-to-day lives of our families.

We’re just getting started! More to come as we share highlights from the next couple days at Mission On The Hill.

This is an important moment (and an exciting week) for the DeafBlind community across the United States.

04/12/2026

We are overwhelmed with the outpouring of unity from across the country! Families, friends, and DeafBlind individuals have donated to provide refreshments for the inaugural DeafBlind Caucus meeting next week. This collage will be displayed as a symbol of gratitude to the members for their leadership in ensuring the Deafblind community is supported on the Hill!

If you would like to be included, donate $10 via Venmo to or donate online at nfadb.org/donate. Then email a photo of yourself or your DeafBlind loved one to [email protected].

Go to NFADB.org to learn more!
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Alt text: A collage is displayed with numerous photographs of DeafBlind individuals and their families from across the country.