2004N-0221 - Medicare Modernization Act Section 107(f) - Study on Making Prescription Pharmaceutical Information Accessible for Blind and Visually-Impaired Individuals; Establishement of Docket

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  
FDA Comment Number : 
  

  
EC3
  



  

  

  



  

  
Submitter : 
  

  
Ms. Suzanne Ressa
  

  
Date & Time: 
  

  
06/10/2004 04:06:50
  



  

  
Organization : 
  

  
Helen Keller National Center
  



  

  
Health Professional
  


  

  
Category : 
  


  

  
Issue Areas/Comments 
  


  

  



  

  
 A. Information About the Population of Interest

  


  

  


  

  



  

  
2. Is there an appropriate way to divide this population into subpopulations to better evaluate needs and beneficial technologies?
  


  

  



  

  
 Individuals with deaf-blindness can be separated into groups depending on their communication needs.  For example; some individuals with deaf- blindness use American Sign Language to communicate while others use the oral/aural modalities.  Some individuals use low vision devices such as the CCTV to read printed information while others may use contracted or uncontracted Braille.

  


  

  


  

  


  

  



  

  
1. What is known about the population of people who are blind and visually-impaired in the United States 
  


  

  



  

  
 There is a large and growing population of individuals with deaf-blindness in the US. The causes for deaf-blindness are vast and they include Usher Syndrome, Rubella Syndrome, Norrie Disease, Charge Syndrome, KID Syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injury, the aging process etc.  Deaf- blindness is associated with all ages and all socioeconomic groups.  The comorbities can include: developmental disabilities, diabetes, Autism, neurological impairments etc.