USH Ambassador for West Virginia

Hi! My name is Barb Calhoun and I live in “Almost Heaven”, West Virginia! I am deafblind and if you are feeling overwhelmed looking for a West Virginia contact, I know how you feel and you have come to the right place! I’m the WV ambassador for Usher Syndrome Coalition and I’m here to guide you to resources. I look forward to building connections in West Virginia!

You may contact Barb at ambassador.wv@usher-syndrome.org

Resources for West Virginia

  • The Usher Syndrome Coalition's "USH Trust" is the largest international contact database of children and adults with Usher syndrome, and our most powerful tool to connect, inform, and support individuals within the Usher community. Those who join the USH Trust are also the first to learn about the latest research opportunities. Information in the USH Trust is confidential and is not shared outside of the Coalition.

  • Individuals with Usher syndrome who are passionate about research have a new data collection program to join. The Usher Syndrome Data Collection Program, or USH DCP, is powered by RARE-X, a program of Global Genes a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating research in the rare disease community. By entering your health information into this secure platform, you will become part of a global database of de-identified information available to researchers worldwide. That means that only you can see your data. Only you can change your data. Your personal information (name, email address) will not be shared without your permission. As the DCP grows, more researchers will become aware of Usher syndrome. This can lead to the development of clinical trials, new treatments, and new therapies. YOU hold the key to unlocking future research discoveries.

  • Providing technical assistance to families and educational teams who serve learners with combined hearing and vision loss in West Virginia
    (birth to 21 years old).

  • Program and services for youth and adults with combined vision and hearing loss.

  • Provides free telecommunication evaluation, equipment, and training to children and adults with significant vision and hearing loss who qualify. iCanConnect is a national program authorized under the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program.

  • A national volunteer organization created to empower the voices of families of individuals who are deaf-blind and to advocate for their unique needs.