It gathers, develops, and disseminates information on recruitment, pre-service preparation, employment opportunities, and attrition and retention issues. The clearinghouse also maintains current data on personnel supply and demand. It also is developing a college and university database that identifies which personnel preparation programs include assistive technology programs. The clearinghouse responds to individual requests for information, provides free publications, conducts custom searches on selected topics, and provides referrals to other organizations. It is a federally funded project of the Academy for Educational Development operated by the Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education.
Materials are available in alternate formats and in Spanish.
The clearinghouse serves people who are deaf-blind, parents, educators, researchers, employers, and others. The clearinghouse produces a free newsletter, Deaf-Blind Perspectives , published three times a year. It includes summaries of agency services, rolodex cards, and postcards to send for additional information. DB-LINK's focus is children and youth. Over 85 NICD publications related to hearing loss and deafness are available for a nominal fee.