Foreword

Foreword This issue of the Annals is devoted to the topic of rubella-caused deafness, and more particularly to the thousands of children born deaf, many with additional impairments including blindness, as a result of the 1963-65 rubella epidemic. These youngsters are approaching adulthood and soon will become eligible for postsecondary education, rehabilitation , and/or other social services. But both their numbers and the special needs of many among them are likely to overtax our services unless we plan now. Craig Mills, in a charge to participants in the recent conference Deafness and Rubella: Infants in the 60's, Adults in the 80's stated that as a result of the information presented at that conference they were probably "the best informed group in America on the educational and rehabilitation significance of the sequelae of maternal rubella." The purpose of this special issue is to share more widely the information and perspectives presented at that conference. The backgrounds of the authors of the following articles reflect many of the kinds of services needed by children and adults whose deafness is due to maternal rubella, including the vital services of parents and of concerned deaf and deaf-blind people themselves. While the emphases of the different articles overlap, they do have an ordered sequence. William Castle and Richard Silverman, in the introduction and the opening article, set the stage for the following articles and for state, regional, and national planning. Stephen Preblud and his coauthors describe rubella from the standpoint of its past and future occurrence in relation to the national immunization program initiated in 1969. Raymond Trybus and his colleagues, together with the guest editor, then offer some statistical descriptions of students at the elementary/secondary and postsecondary levels whose deafness is due to rubella. In these two articles, they also make projections of numbers likely to qualify for postsecondary education and rehabilitation services. The next three articles by Stella Chess, McCay Vernon, Theodore Lockett, and their respective coauthors focus on children with maternal rubella who, in addition to their deafness, have other disabilities including neurological disorders and blindness. One implication of these articles is that for many, rehabilitation will be a lengthy process, and for some, spanning a lifetime. Bonnie Fairchild, Albert Pimentel, and Robert Smithdas then present the compelling perspectives of parents of deaf children, of deaf adults, and of deaf-blind adults respectively. All three bring experience as national leaders and advocates to their presentations. Articles by Barry Griffing and Hollis Wyks then follow. They address some of the implications of what we know about deaf children with maternal rubella for planning a spectrum of postsecondary educational, vocational training, and independent living services to meet their needs as adults. Craig Mills closes with a summation and a charge aimed at all of us who, though our specialties may differ, share a responsibility to all deaf children and adults who are entitled to our services. William Castle in his introduction acknowledges the numerous national organizations, institutions , and agencies which cosponsored the conference and directly or indirectly this issue of the Annals. As editor of this issue, I would like to add a special thanks to each of the authors , to Kathleen Clarke and Hugh Summers of the Annals office, and to the several staff at NTID who made it possible to meet a tight deadline. In his keynote, Richard Silverman speaks fondly of Jimmy, an Australian child who was born deaf in 1941 as a result of rubella. In the same year, but in Canada, another child named David was also born deaf as a result of the same worldwide epidemic. Today both Jimmy and David are living fulfilling, productive lives. David is my brother. E Ross StuMess Guest Editor 960 A.A.O. ¡November 1980 ...