Royal+Institute+for+Deaf+and+Blind+Children

The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children is an organisation that aims to educate students with hearing and vision impairments. “RIDBC’s primary purpose is to provide high quality educational services to children who have significant hearing and/or vision impairment, including children who have additional disabilities” (Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Students, 2011).

The RIDBC provides a number of support systems in the family home, in mainstream schools and in regional areas. They provide a number of services including: - For vision impairment - For hearing impairment - For multiple disabilities - For deafblindness - Regional & rural services (RIDBC Teleschool) - Advice and diagnostic services - RIDBC Assessment Unit - RIDBC Community Support Services - Therapy services - Research The website is a resource that could be used by teachers who are teaching students with either vision or hearing impairments or both. It contains a large amount of information and useful resources such as deaf and blind simulation activities (to put you in your student’s shoes), causes of deafness and blindness, how students cope (such as lip-reading, sign language, braille and large print), getting around and links to further internet resources.

The RIDBC can be found [|online], or there are a number of offices that teachers can visit. Contact details are below:


 * General enquiries: ** If you have any queries about our services, please phone us on(02) 9871 1233 or email info@ridbc.org.au .

**Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Chief Executive: Chris RehnTelephone: (02) 9871 1233 (TTY/V)Email: <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">online@ridbc.org.au **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children – North Parramatta **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Principal: Sandi AmblerTelephone: (02) 8838 1400 (TTY/V) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">**<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children – Nepean **Director: Melissa SangalangTelephone: (02) 47334239 (TTY/V) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">**<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children – Hunter **Director: Wendy DornTelephone: (02) 49428455 (TTY/V) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">**<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">RIDBC Teleschool (Regional/Remote services) **RIDBC Teleschool, please contact Melissa McCarthy, RIDBC Teleschool Manager on the number (02) 9872 0821 References: <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 115%;">Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Students, 2011, http://www.ridbc.org.au/