History of Deafblind Education in Russia

Very few countries have such a long tradition of teaching deafblind children as Russia. In 2009 we celebrated the centennial of teaching the deafblind. The term "deafblind" is now commonly used to describe people with a simultaneous condition of little or no useful sight and hearing, although formerly they were referred to as "blind deaf-mute." Both terms will be used in this book. The old term is used when referring to older publications and organizations, in all other cases the new term "deafblind" will be used.
The history of teaching the deafblind in Russia may at certain times appear inconsistent and interrupted. But it is unbroken in essence, and is comprised of a chain of people passing on to others their desire to help the deafblind and their families while also striving to better understand how exactly they can assist. Such history is enlightening not only in the pedagogical or scientific sense of the term, but in the moral sense as well. It greatly reflects the history of our country and some distinguished scholars in various fields participated in it. A small number of specialists and deafblind people were involved in the history of teaching the deaflblind; however, those who did participate, well-known and not so well-known, left their mark.
This book presents the biographies of three famous Russian scholars and teachers of the deafblind, and describes their experience of working with deafblind since the beginning of the 20th century.