The DeafBlind have a strong culture built on their shared experiences. It is important to understand this culture when you work with individuals who are DeafBlind. Remember, because deafblindness is a spectrum, the culture that a client is most comfortable with will depend on how and when the person lost his or her hearing or vision.

Here are some key features of the DeafBlind culture and how this culture differs from the Deaf or Blind culture:

Feature	Deaf	Blind	DeafBlind
Self-Identity	Deaf	Vision impaired Blind	DeafBlind Deaf-Blind Deafblind Blind-deaf
Language	American Sign Language (ASL)	Native spoken language (English, Spanish, etc.)	ASL Native spoken language
Preferred Communication	ASL	Speech Braille Assistive Technology	ASL Speech Braille Assistive Technology
Value	Waving Tapping Circular seating Flashing lights Waving hands (applause)	Touching Tapping Secured seating	Touching Tapping Secured seating Vibrations Stomping feet Pounding tables