DeafBlind Community Resources & Insights
Featured Essays by Mark G. Hubers
Great Reading courtesy of Mark G. Hubers
An engineer with Usher Syndrome digs through medical journals and writes about what the system misses. Explore his insights by visiting Mark’s Substack Publication Site (opens in a new tab).
Select Educational Articles
- The Hope Nobody Explains (opens in a new tab)
— One Patient, 50 Trials, and the Guidance Gap That Affects Us All. - The Hearing Side of Usher Syndrome (opens in a new tab)
— An honest exploration of living with profound sensory changes. - The Trick Your Eyes Do for Your Brain (opens in a new tab)
— Analyzing the deep mechanics behind structural vision adjustments.
Scams, Fraud, and Digital Identity Abuse
As technology evolves, predatory bad actors are increasingly using advanced methods to target older individuals and people within the disability community. Scammers now actively exploit systems like Video Relay Services (VRS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to attempt identity theft and financial fraud (0:56).
Use the verified consumer toolkits and video guides below to learn the warning signs, protect your personal credentials, and report fraudulent activities safely (14:36).
Accessible Video Resource Guides
- Senior Linkage Line Presentation (ASL & CC):
Review the Minnesota Senior Linkage Line Video Guide on Medicare Waste, Abuse, and Fraud (opens in a new tab). This comprehensive educational presentation details how to detect improper billing codes and protect your health data (0:21). - AARP Case History (ASL & CC):
Watch the AARP Short Feature Story on Gift Card Exploitation Schemes (opens in a new tab). This brief feature shares a first-hand account from a victim to illustrate how modern financial scammers manipulate emotion and urgency (21:16). - Sorenson Security Tips (ASL & CC):
Watch the Sorenson Communications Guide on Avoiding Digital Scams (opens in a new tab). This video delivers native sign language tips for safely tracking daily online interactions and phone calls. - Internal Revenue Service Warning (ASL, Audio & CC):
Watch the IRS Federal Alert Video on Tax Scams Targeting the Deaf Community via VRS (opens in a new tab). Learn why the real IRS will never cold-call you demanding immediate payment over video relay networks (0:56). - Social Security Administration Protection Hub:
Explore the Social Security Administration Official Scam Awareness Portal (opens in a new tab). This registry provides official identification tracking resources and a safe channel to report imposter letters or phone messages.
National Disability Institute Financial Center
- Avoiding Identity Theft: Financial Resources for People with Disabilities (opens in a new tab).
— Curated safety guidelines for shielding critical account data. - Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Specialized Resilience Resources (opens in a new tab).
— Focused guides tracking alternative financial programs and asset verification safety. - Official Federal Identity Theft Recovery Steps Portal (opens in a new tab)
— Interactive checklist to help secure and restore compromised credentials. - Minnesota Department of Public Safety Help for Crime Victims (opens in a new tab)
— State support networks and resource connections. - Download the Official Minnesota Identity Theft PDF Toolkit (opens in a new tab)
— Direct link to download the comprehensive recovery workbook. - FINRA Investor Foundation Identity Theft Victim Recovery Checklist PDF (opens in a new tab)
— Structured step-by-step documentation workflow for reporting fraud.
Minnesota Attorney General Consumer Protection Handbooks
- Guarding Your Privacy: Comprehensive Personal Security Guide (opens in a new tab).
— State guidelines on tracking your data footprint. - Identity Theft and Computers: Digital Defense Measures (opens in a new tab).
— Core rules for password management and software updates. - Personal Information Breaches: Immediate Reporting Action Guide (opens in a new tab).
— Legal steps to take if an organization compromises your data.
Additional Support and Community Organizations
Minnesota DeafBlind Association (MDBA)
Since 1979, the Minnesota DeafBlind Association (MDBA) has been the only DeafBlind-led nonprofit organization in Minnesota dedicated to providing information, education, advocacy, and services for DeafBlind people and their communities. Learn more by visiting the Minnesota DeafBlind Association Web Portal (opens in a new tab).
Leader Dogs for the Blind: Graduation Milestone
LEADER DOG GRADUATION — A very special milestone group, as only about 5% of each individual litter successfully completes the rigorous training to become a certified guide dog.
Celebrating the May 2025 graduating class of Leader Dogs for the Blind! Five proud clients smile alongside their beautifully trained guide dogs, who sit alertly at their feet. This inspiring group features Ade Haugen with black Labrador Orbit, Gordan with yellow Labrador Bruce, Dave with black Labrador Oby, Chelsea with yellow Golden-Labrador cross Jasmine, and E’mon with black Golden-Labrador cross Shadow. Standing proudly behind the new graduates are their dedicated instructors—Chelsea, Emily, and Mary—in front of the official organization logo.
Specialized Awareness and Alert Resources
- IRS Informational Release: Identity Thieves Misusing Video Relay Services (PDF in a new tab)
— Technical review of how phone translation protocols can be manipulated by scammers (0:56). - AARP Fraud Watch Network Digital Identity Protection Alerts (opens in a new tab)
— Rolling news tracker detailing emerging global exploitation trends. - National Council on Aging: Guide to AI Scams for Older Adults (opens in a new tab)
— Safety breakdowns covering deepfake voice replication and automated messaging. - USSFCU Security Corner: What Older Americans Need to Know About Fraud (opens in a new tab)
— Financial management frameworks for checking account patterns. - National Council on Aging: Understanding Deepfakes and Spotting Schemes (opens in a new tab)
— Visual guides detailing how to cross-examine suspicious video calls. - Download the Senior Planet National AI Resource Guide (PDF in a new tab)
— Comprehensive digital manual covering emerging computer technology trends.
The Usher Syndrome Coalition
The Usher Syndrome Coalition is the core of the global Usher syndrome community, working to connect those living with Usher syndrome to resources, research, and each other. Explore their deep tracking library through the Usher Syndrome Coalition Global Portal (opens in a new tab).
Advocacy and Communication Access Services
- ThinkSelf Minnesota Deaf Advocacy Services (opens in a new tab)
— Dedicated programs providing native communication support, literacy paths, and legal advocacy.
State-by-State Disability Law Centers Contact Directory
If you encounter layout barriers, communication exclusions, or require regional advocacy support, use this structured database to connect with your state’s protection program.
To message a center, highlight the email text block below to copy it natively into your communication application.
| State Area | Organization Title | Direct Contact Email Address |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program | adap@adap.ua.edu |
| Alaska | Disability Law Center of Alaska | akpa@dlcak.org |
| Arizona | Arizona Center for Disability Law | center@azdisabilitylaw.org |
| Arkansas | Disability Rights Arkansas | info@disabilityrightsar.org |
| California | Disability Rights California | legalhelp@disabilityrightsca.org |
| Colorado | Disability Law Colorado | dlcmail@disabilitylawco.org |
| Connecticut | Disability Rights Connecticut | info@disrightsct.org |
| Delaware | Disabilities Law Program | datkins@declasi.org |
| Florida | Disability Rights Florida | advocate@disabilityrightsflorida.org |
| Georgia | Georgia Advocacy Office | info@thegao.org |
| Hawaii | Disability Rights Hawaii | info@drhawaii.org |
| Idaho | Disability Rights Idaho | info@disabilityrightsidaho.org |
| Illinois | Equip for Equality | equipforequality@equipforequality.org |
| Indiana | Indiana Disability Rights | info@indianacityrights.org |
| Iowa | Disability Rights Iowa | info@disabilityrightsiowa.org |
| Kansas | Disability Rights Center of Kansas | info@drckansas.org |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Protection & Advocacy | KYPandAinquiry@gmail.com |
| Louisiana | Disability Rights Louisiana | info@disabilityrightsla.org |
| Maine | Disability Rights Maine | advocate@drme.org |
| Maryland | Disability Rights Maryland | virginiak@mdlclaw.org |
| Massachusetts | Disability Law Center | mail@dlc-ma.org |
| Michigan | Disability Rights Michigan | mroberts@mpas.org |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Disability Law Center | dschaffer@mylegalaid.org |
| Mississippi | Disability Rights Mississippi | amaclaine@drms.ms |
| Missouri | Missouri Protection and Advocacy Services | mopasjc@earthlink.net |
| Montana | Disability Rights Montana | advocate@disabilityrightsmt.org |
| Nebraska | Disability Rights Nebraska | info@disabilityrightsnebraska.org |
| Nevada | Nevada Disability Advocacy & Law Center | lasvegas@ndalc.org |
| New Hampshire | Disabilities Rights Center New Hampshire | advocacy@drcnh.org |
| New Jersey | Disability Rights New Jersey | advocate@drnj.org |
| New Mexico | Disability Rights New Mexico | info@drnm.org |
| New York | Disability Rights New York | mail@drny.org |
| North Carolina | Disability Rights North Carolina | info@disabilityrightsnc.org |
| North Dakota | Disability Rights North Dakota | info@drnd.org |
| Ohio | Disability Rights Ohio | disabilityrightsohio@disabilityrightsohio.org |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Disability Law Center | info@okdlc.org |
| Oregon | Disability Rights Oregon | welcome@droregon.org |
| Pennsylvania | Disability Rights Pennsylvania | intake@disabilityrightspa.org |
| Rhode Island | Disability Rights Rhode Island | info@drri.org |
| South Carolina | Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities | info@pandasc.org |
| South Dakota | Disability Rights South Dakota | sdas@sdadvocacy.com |
| Tennessee | Disability Rights Tennessee | gethelp@disabilityrightstn.org |
| Texas | Disability Rights Texas | mfaithfull@disabilityrightstx.org |
| Utah | Disability Law Center | azahradnikova@disabilitylawcenter.org |
| Vermont | Disability Rights Vermont | info@disabilityrightsvt.org |
| Virginia | disAbility Law Center of Virginia | info@dlcv.org |
| Washington | Disability Rights Washington | info@dr-wa.org |
| West Virginia | Disability Rights of West Virginia | info@drofwv.org |
| Wisconsin | Disability Rights Wisconsin | info@disabilityrightswi.org |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Protection & Advocacy System | wyoming@wpsn.org |