Resources Catalogue for people who are deafblind

Picture of hand opening resources catalogue book

Welcome to the Resources Catalogue for people who are deafblind in Ireland. Use the Text Search box to find resources that contain specific words. Use the checkboxes, to filter the resources for a user group(s) and/or filter by resource type(s). Alternatively, scroll through the catalogue alphabetically below. We do not recommend any item in this catalogue but hope that it will provide a good starting point for your investigations.

Active Learning Space

With Active Learning Space, Dr. Lilli Nielsen’s techniques emphasise simple ways to change the environment so that a child becomes an “active learner”. This website is a significant resource providing lots of ideas for stimulating learning and having f …

Adam and Friends

These fun toys are big, strong, and versatile. The website allows searching by numerous categories including visual, auditory and tactile. Some toys ship from the UK and may result in expensive shipping so ring to check before you buy.

Amazon Echo

Amazon Echo are a range of smart speakers which use voice control and the Amazon Alexa virtual assistant. They are capable of voice interaction, music playback, making to-do lists, setting alarms, streaming podcasts, playing audiobooks, and providing w …

Anne Sullivan Centre

The Anne Sullivan Centre, a charity part-funded by the Health Service Executive, provides residential accommodation in apartments and houses beside the centre and a day service. The centre itself provides a multisensory room, jacuzzi room, gym, meeting …

Anne Sullivan Foundation

The Anne Sullivan Foundation (ASF) is a national organisation that raises awareness of deafblindness, carries out charity fundraising, training and research and runs outreach and advocacy services. It also funds and manages various projects that have a …

Audible And Vibratory Liquid Level Indicator

The Liquid Level Indicator can be placed on a mug to help prevent hot or cold liquids from overflowing while making a drink. The indicator detects two different levels of liquid. It emits an intermittent beep and series of vibrations to indicate when t …

Back Tap – iPhone

Back Tap, a feature available on iPhone 8 and onwards, allows for actions to be assigned to a double or triple-tap on the phone’s back. For low vision users, they can set the double back tap to trigger the Magnifier, which also got a recent Apple updat …

Bellman Alarm Clock Classic

A vibrating alarm clock for deaf and hard of hearing people. It is easy to set up, with a loud audible alarm and a powerful vibrating pad that goes under the pillow. The audible alarm can be tuned to different frequencies depending on which pitch is ea …

Bellman Visit 868 Bed Shaker

This powerful vibrating pad wakes even heavy sleepers and is suitable for people with up to profound deafness. Place it under or inside your pillow and plug it into any of the Bellman Receivers (no batteries required). It comes with a 2m cable and oper …

Bellman Visit 868 Flash Receiver

A bright flashing light receiver for use with the Bellman Visit paging system. The flash receiver has unique flashes and an indicator to tell the user what they are being alerted to, while the lid can rotate to direct the flash to where the user can se …

Bellman Visit 868 Mobile Phone Sensor

This device is a mobile phone sensing transmitter for the Bellman Visit paging system. This sensor detects when the screen on the user’s phone lights up, alerting them to SMS messages, phone calls, or any other notification. Perfect for use with smartp …

BeMyEyes

This free iOS and Android App connects blind and low vision users with sighted volunteers or company representatives for visual assistance through a live video call. This App is suitable for those with some hearing as it is using audio that the user an …

BlindShell Classic

The BlindShell Classic is the most accessible cell phone for visually impaired and blind people. With a physical keyboard and more than 30 applications and functions, it integrates a smartphone’s most useful functions into a user-friendly and straightf …

BlindShell Classic LITE

The BlindShell Classic LITE has all the basic functions of any usual phone. However, it is fully vocalised, and the user interface is custom-tailored for the blind and visually impaired. The BlindShell Classic LITE has all the main features of the Blin …

BrailleSense Polaris Mini

BrailleSense Polaris Mini is a collaboration of Braille and mainstream technology that is controlled with touch gestures as you read its output in Braille. It was built with people who are deafblind in mind and has a built-in vibration motor which can …

Brailliac: Braille Tutor

Brailliac is an Android App which provides a fast and fun way to learn Braille. While not accessible to those who are fully deafblind it may help those who are supporting them in learning braille and so it appears in the results list when filtering by …

Bridge Interpreting Service

Bridge provides interpreting services. To book an interpreter email or call for a quote.

Bright Ears

Bright Ears is a company that creates inclusive dolls to empower children and promote inclusiveness through play. They can be Disney characters or customized to look like the child. They have a range of features, including cochlear implants, hearing ai …

Bump Bump Braille Learn

Bump Bump Braille Learn is an iOS and Android App which covers the entire alphabet, and the ins, and outs of braille. It is accessible with VoiceOver. While it is not accessible to those who are fully deafblind, the App could be used by the people who …

Carri O Donnell

Carri is a self-employed Sign Language Interpreter based in Limerick. Carri also has experience in providing close-vision Irish Sign Language/English Interpretation and tactile Irish Sign Language/English Interpretation services for people with deafbli …

CHARGE Syndrome Australasia

‘Understanding CHARGE Syndrome’ is a free online course that aims to improve understanding and awareness of CHARGE. Members of the public will increase their knowledge of CHARGE-related issues and those in the CHARGE Community will be empowered to crea …

Child Vision

ChildVision is dedicated to the education and therapy needs of blind and multi-disabled children in Ireland. ChildVision provides assessment, early intervention, education, therapies and nursing and residential services. They also provide a wide range …

Chime

Chime is the National Charity for Deafness and Hearing Loss. They provide dedicated information and advice on hearing loss, deafness and tinnitus. They run weekends for those newly diagnosed and provide social and support groups, in addition to Chime’s …

Chime Store

An online shop created by Chime, the National Charity for Deafness and Hearing Loss founded in 1964, which offers a range of assistive technologies for home, school, and the workplace. The shop offers the option to shop by product categories or by bran …

Communiclock Radio Controlled Talking Calendar Clock

This talking clock has a large button on the top, clear setting buttons, good colour contrast in black and pearl white. Features five alarm sounds and an optional hourly announcement that announces the time on the hour every hour when activated. The sq …

Concise ISL

Concise ISL is an Irish Sign Language (ISL) video dictionary App that contains approximately 1000 signs. It is useful for those supporting people who use Irish Sign Language either with residual vision or tactilely. Each sign contained within Concise I …

Connect 12 Electronic Magnifier (new generation)

The newly redesigned Connect 12 combines a high-performance digital magnifier with the versatility of a tablet, plus integrated access to newspapers or magazines from online libraries. The simple interface gives you all the tools you need in one place …

Cork Deaf Association

The Cork Deaf Association (CDA), which is a charity part-funded by the Health Service Executive, aims to support and empower the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Communities in Cork city and county. It provides a wide range of supports to people who are Hard o …

Council of Irish Sign Language Interpreters

The Council of Irish Sign Language Interpreters (CISLI) is the national representative association for sign language interpreters in Ireland. CISLI was established in 2011 after the Irish Association of Sign Language Interpreters ended in 2007. They wo …

Deaf Village Ireland

The Deaf Village Ireland (DVI) is an inclusive state-of-the-art facility providing sporting, social, religious, heritage, educational, community and cultural services and amenities for Deaf and hard of hearing people in Cabra, Dublin 7. It has an integ …

Deafblind Folding Cane

This deafblind walking cane from The Mobility Shop is a traditional deafblind cane. It is white and red with a white tip. Please ensure this is the tip you require as not all canes and tips are compatible. This Cane also features a wrist strap for the …

Deafblind International

Deafblind International (DBI) is an international not-for-profit membership organisation focused on deafblindness. They connect individuals who are deafblind, their families, professionals, researchers, developers, service-organisations, libraries, uni …

Doro Ring Plus

The RingPlus has a sound pick-up sensor which should be attached over the telephone buzzer. It is suitable for use with most telephones, videophones, digital phones, and door entry systems. The RingPlus may be used flat or wall-mounted. The RingPlus is …

Feach

Feach is a voluntary organisation and support group for parents of blind and visually impaired children. They provide peer support on issues such as education, social opportunities, and practicalities of daily life.

Fighting Blindness

Fighting Blindness’s vision is to cure blindness, support people living with sight loss and empower patients. They promote and facilitate the research and development of therapies which are accessible to all people affected by sight loss. They also pro …

Finger Guard

This tool will protect your fingers while preparing food and chopping ingredients. It is made from high impact plastic, is suitable for right-handed or left-handed users and can be washed on the top shelf of a dishwasher. It can be purchased from the N …

Fuddy Duddy

Fuddy Duddy is an inclusive toy company for children based in Wexford. In addition to brands such as Melissa & Doug, they also carry specialized products such as tactile letters, weighted blankets, phonics games and more.

Google Home

A range of voice-controlled smart speakers with a built-in assistant. These speakers facilitate listening to music, podcasts, radio stations, and audiobooks. You can talk to Google to get answers to the questions you want including the latest on the we …

Grace App

Grace is a simple picture communication iOS App that allows non-verbal people to communicate effectively, by putting pictures together to make sentences. The App stores a basic picture vocabulary of Foods, Things I like, Places, Colours, Sizes and Shap …

Halo Go Re-Chargeable Magnifying Lamp 2.25x

This portable lamp with a magnifier comes with a USB rechargeable battery. The brightness remains consistent for a whole 8 hours. The LEDs circle the magnification lens for uniform lighting over a project. Offering 5 dioptres (2.25X) magnification lens …

Health App – Medical ID

In the Health iOS or Android App, you can create an emergency Medical ID that contains information about your medical conditions, allergies, medications, and more. First responders and others can view this critical information directly on your smart ph …

Home Loop System LA240

The LA240 Loop System provides a practical solution for hearing aid users to listen more easily to their TV or Audio equipment via the “T” or “Loop” program of their hearing aid. With no direct connection between the user and a TV or Audio equipment th …

Honeywell Bell Push Button

The Honeywell Bell push button provides a new way to identify who is at the door. With the new Secret Knock function, family members and friends can be identified by their unique melody or colour flash when they arrive.

iDentifi

iDentifi is a free App available in the App Store that provides more ease for visually impaired individuals in daily tasks. It uses artificial intelligence that allows the user to click a photo and recognize objects, brands, colours, facial expressions …

Introduction to Deaf Interpreting Programme

At the School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences at Trinity College Dublin, they launched “Introduction to Deaf Interpreting.” This program will provide modules that introduce them to linguistics, ethics, interpreting theory and practice. …

Irish Deaf

Irish Deaf organises Irish Sign Language (ISL) and Speech to text service, Deaf awareness training and sells sign language books, DVDs and merchandise. The ISL classes are offered in classes at a centre for adults. The online ISL classes are for both c …

Irish Deaf Society

The Irish Deaf Society supports the Irish Deaf Community and their families by providing advocacy services, resources in Irish Sign Language, a wide range of classes for Deaf adults and Irish Sign Language classes for all.

Irish Deaf Youth Association

Irish Deaf Youth Association (IDYA) is an organisation that caters to people 18-30 in Dublin. They also cater activities to 13 to 17-year-olds through Irish Deaf Teens. Their goal is to provide socialisation to young people and provide inclusion throug …

Irish Guide Dogs

Irish Guide Dogs is Ireland’s national charity dedicated to helping people who are vision impaired and families of children with autism to achieve improved mobility and independence. Based in Cork, the organisation is an accredited member of The Intern …

Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind

The Irish Guide Dogs core purpose is to enable people with sight loss and families of children with autism to lead better lives, become more independent and more mobile. In addition to providing guide dogs and related training, the organisation provide …

Irish Remote Interpreting Service

The Irish Remote Interpreting Service (IRIS) is a service from the national Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS). IRIS provides a live video link to an Irish Sign Language interpreter. You arrange a video link appointment (e.g. skype for business) …

JAWS

JAWS, Job Access With Speech, from Freedom Scientific, is a popular screen reader, developed for computer users whose vision loss prevents them from seeing screen content or navigating with a mouse. JAWS provides speech and Braille output for the most …

Just Big Text

Just Big Text allows you to create huge text screens on your iPhone to communicate with others. You have complete control over typeface, text, and background colors. Just Big Text screens can be created on-demand, or you can create and save them for fu …

Kentalis International

Kentalis International is an organization based in the Netherlands that supports people who are hard of hearing, deaf or deafblind, or who have a language development disorder (TOS) or multiple communicative disabilities. They hold online information m …

Kids Doodle

High contrast simple drawing app. Dowload from the App Store for Apple devices or the Play Store for your Android devices.

Lámh Time App

The Lámh Time App features Lámh signs for use at home and at school. With the app, Lámh users have opportunities to see Lámh signs in context and in sentences, for the classroom, the kitchen, at the playground, etc. Live-action is combined with colourf …

LEGO Braille Bricks

The LEGO Braille Bricks have arrived in Ireland. Schools and education centres can order them through the National Centre for the Blind for Ireland. The concept is a play-based methodology that teaches braille to children who are blind or vision impair …

Let’s Play Guide

The ‘Let’s Play Guide’ was written for the Royal National Institute of Blind People by two parents, Karen Newell and Rebecca Atkinson, who both have extensive expertise in play for children with vision impairment. Karen coordinates the Facebook communi …

MBraille

MBraille is a mobile braille App available on Apple App Store. It also provides a third-party keyboard available on iPhones and iPads. With MBraille, you can type, edit and send tweets and text messages using contracted or uncontracted English braille. …

Mr Sketch Scented Marker Pens

Mr Sketch Scented Marker Pens contain twelve different watercolour markers. Each colour can be identified by a fruity scent. Black smells of liquorice, red of cherry, blue of blueberry, green of mint, turquoise of mango, dark green of apple, pink of me …

MyClearText

MyClearText provides high quality on-site and remote speech-to-text reporting. The client can choose the layout and colour scheme of the text and background. They can also provide overlaid subtitles via software called Text-on-Top. They also provide a …

National Council for Special Education

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was set up to improve the delivery of education services to persons with special educational needs arising from disabilities, with particular emphasis on children. They provide support for children with …

National Council for the Blind of Ireland

The National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) provide a wide range of services including general advice and information on sight loss, assistive technology advice and training, emotional support and counselling, low vision solutions, rehabilitat …

National Council for the Blind of Ireland Labs

NCBI Labs is the technology department within NCBI and offers a number of services to people with sight loss including technology support, assessments, demonstrations, and training. They offer a dedicated support line and email address for technical su …

National Council for the Blind of Ireland Online Shop

The National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI), the national sight loss agency, has created an online shop that allows access to a range of products that otherwise would only be available in their Dublin and Kilkenny charity shops.

NCSE Visiting Teachers

The Department of Education and Skills (DES) provides funding for visiting teachers for children who are deaf/hard of hearing or blind/visually impaired. See the website below for further information, including a link to a referral form and contact det …

NonVisual Desktop Access

NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA) is a free, open-source, portable screen reader for Microsoft Windows. It is light-weight, easy to configure and both functional and powerful.

NVDA Screen Reader

The NVDA Screen Reader from NV Access is a free program available on any PC that can run Windows. They believe in accessibility for all and have made this available in multiple languages and can be carried on a USB stick for easy use. NVDA works with w …

Paths to Literacy

Perkins School for the Blind and Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired host this very useful website full of resources. It has a specific deafblind section – see additional weblink below.

Perkins eLearning

The Perkins School for the Blind has become more accessible with the eLearning pages. Perkins has a collection of blogs, activities, videos, and more. In the educational hubs, users can access a research library and have a section on assistive technolo …

Perkins: Webcasts

Perkins School for the Blind eLearning section offers webcasts on deafblindness. The videos are all around 30 minutes and cover a range of topics, including videos based on Charge Syndrome.

Premier Captioning & Realtime Ltd

Premier Captioning & Realtime Ltd provides realtime speech to text verbatim reporting in Ireland. Communication Access through Realtime Transcription (CART), often known as Speech-To-Text transcription (STT) is a method of providing access to meetings, …

Proloquo2go

Proloquo2Go is a picture-based App that is suitable for children or emerging communicators. It is an Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) application for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch devices that provide a ‘voice’ for people who cannot or h …

Ramble Tag

The Ramble Tag is a guidance aid, designed to be worn on the upper arm or wrist of a sighted-guide. It acts as a simple alternative to linking or holding arms, offering more independence to the person who is deafblind while increasing comfort for both …

Rare Diseases Ireland

Rare Diseases Ireland, previously known as the Genetic and Rare Disorders Organisation (GRDO), is an organisation founded in 1988. It works to advocate for the rare disease community. The mission is to ‘act as a national alliance for voluntary groups r …

RNIB Playing Guide

Whether you are a parent, teacher, or carer of a child with vision impairment, this play guide aims to get you started creating fun-filled playtimes for your child to develop and explore their senses. This guide also provides tips and ideas from other …

Royal National Institute of Blind People: Technology and Useful Products

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is one of the UK’s top charities for sight loss and has compiled a collection of technology and useful products. They offer sections on guides and factsheets, news about the latest technology, technol …

Seeing AI

Seeing AI is a free App from Microsoft that is currently supported on iOS. This one tool does the job of many other Apps and includes bar code scanning; screen reading; facial, colour, currency and scene recognition. This product is still under develop …

SeeTV Duo Glasses

The SeeTV Duo glasses from Pamtrad Seeing Solutions, UK, provide 2.1x magnification and are designed to make watching TV easier and more comfortable. They have individual focus adjustment wheels for each eye and will focus on objects from distances of …

Sensational Kids

Sensational Kids makes early intervention services such as speech and language therapy and occupational therapy affordable and accessible for children with additional needs. With Child Development Centres located across the country in Leinster, Munster …

Sensational Kids Shop

This Irish Sensational Kids Shop provides a wide range of learning resources and toys, and the ability to shop by skill or learning needs. These are products that children will love playing with while helping them to learn and develop!

Sense: Technology

Sense is a UK charity that provides support to everyone with complex disabilities and people who are deafblind. Their technology section provides access to computing aids, entertainment and virtual assistants, mobile technology, and alternative and aug …

Sight and Sound Technology

Sight and Sound Technology are a provider of hardware and software to the blind, visually impaired, and those with learning and reading difficulties. Their product solutions have been specifically designed to improve quality of life whether at work, at …

Sign Language Interpreting Services (SLIS)

Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS) is the national Sign Language Interpreting Service for Ireland. They provide a referral service for people who use Irish Sign Language to find a qualified interpreter. They also support organisations in how to …

Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock

This vibrating alarm clock has good strong vibrations, up to 113dB alarm and can also have a flashing display. The clock is mains powered with a battery backup for the clock feature. Other features include display dimmer and flashing alert lights in al …

Sonic Shaker Alarm Clock

This vibrating travel alarm clock has good strong vibrations and a 90dB alarm. The clock is easy to set and use, with vibrate only, beep only or vibrate with beep modes. There is also a test button to try out the different modes. You may wish to put th …

St Joseph’s House for Adult Deaf and Deafblind

St Joseph’s House is a unique residential community for Deaf and Deafblind adults whose residents come from all over Ireland, and further afield in some cases, and enjoy a full and active community life supported by a range of professional staff, train …

Suzanne Carey

Suzanne Carey in an independent interpreter who has been involved with the Deaf Community since 2001. She regularly provides close-vision Irish Sign Language/English interpreting services for people with deafblindness. She graduated from the Centre for …

Tactile Measuring Tape

Strong imperial tape measure, 60 inches long made of plastic-coated fabric enabling you to measure by touch to the nearest half-inch. Different sized round eyelets mark every foot, inch and half-inch. This device can be purchased online through the Nat …

Talking Calculator

A comprehensively featured iOS App calculator for both adults and children. This calculator has large colorful buttons, optional high contrast, full VoiceOver support, and the option to use speech for answers, button names, and formulas.

Tap-n-See Now

Little Bear Sees has created the Tap-n-See Now App for children using iOS devices. This App is created for children with significant visual impairment, specifically Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI). It comes with simple high contrast pictures and paren …

The Learning Store

The Learning Store provides a wide range of toys and learning resources, including sensory products such as chewables, tactile balls and light panels. They also offer to try and source relevant items that you need, which they do not already have availa …

The Sounding Out Machine

The Sounding Out Machine is an Assistive Reading App for iOS. It helps children focus on challenging words in their texts, and then models how to sound out those words. Children use the Word Window to isolate and enlarge a difficult word. Then he Sound …

Thinking Toys

Thinking Toys is an Irish-based company that specializes in “special toys for special kids.” The online store offers a wide range of products, including sensory, education, and even a section on adult-oriented products. They have also created an info c …

Toobaloo

The Toobaloo magnifies the voice, causing the child to hear their sounds and words more distinctly. Ease reading, speech, comprehension and pronunciation challenges with the Toobaloo. Created by a teacher, the Toobaloo is an educational tool designed …

Toys Like Me

This range of toys includes those with hearing aids, cochlear implants, glasses and wheelchairs. You’ll find toys from a range of manufacturers including some mainstream ones such as Lego and Sylvanian Families. These toys can be purchased online throu …

Usher Syndrome Ireland

Usher Syndrome Ireland’s mission is to promote and increase awareness of Usher syndrome in Ireland, and to be a reliable source of information about the condition, particularly for newly diagnosed families. They will also provide a supportive community …

Visual Scheuler Planner

Visual Schedule Planner is an iOS App designed to give an individual an audio/visual representation of the “events in their day”. In addition, events that require more support can be linked to an “activity schedule” or “video clip” to help model the ta …

Voice Dream Reader

This is a text-to-speech App that synchronously highlights the text as it is being read for those with a visual impairment. This product can also be purchased as part of Voice Dream Suite.

Voiceitt

Voiceitt is an App due to be released in 2021 on the Apple App Store. This app uses data from how the user speaks to create a unique dataset. Voiceitt can be used to assist the user in being understood and help them to be heard. In addition, it can use …

VoiceOver – iPhone

VoiceOver is a screen reader built into Apple Inc.’s macOS, iOS, tvOS, watchOS, and iPod operating systems. Using VoiceOver, the user can access their Macintosh or iOS device based on spoken descriptions and, in the case of the Mac, the keyboard. With …

Widgit

Widgit is a website with visual resources that can be downloaded, some of which are free. They also sell communication software. Widgets products use symbols to support text. These symbols help people read, understand and communicate. Their software ca …

World Federation of the Deafblind

The World Federation of the DeafBlind (WFDB) is a non-profit, representative organization of national organizations or groups of deafblind persons and of deafblind individuals worldwide. The aim of WFDB is to be a forum of exchange of knowledge and exp …

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