Frequently Asked Questions about Deafblindness
About Registering a Child with the Project
About Special Education and the Student who is Deafblind
What is deafblindness?
The federal/state definition reads as follow: “Deafblindness” refers to concomitant hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational problems that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for students with deafness or students with blindness. NJAC 6A:14-3.5 (c)7 This definition means that an individual will be considered deafblind if s/he presents both a hearing and vision impairment that requires related modifications and adaptations to instruction and/or communication. Therefore, most individuals who are deafblind have some degree of vision and some degree of hearing.
Who does the project serve?
Children and youth, ages 0-21 years of age with an identified hearing AND vision loss, or who does not seem to “functionally” use his/her vision AND hearing*
*A child may have a combination of a documented loss in either vision or hearing, however, it has been noted by team/family members that the child does not seem to be using the other sensory channel “functionally”, although it may be documented as “normal”.
Who funds the project?
The project is funded for a period of 5 years through the federal Office of Special Education (OSEP) under a grant for Technical Assistance and Dissemination.
What is the goal and related objectives of the project?
To assure the provision of high quality education programs within natural environments/ supported inclusive settings for infants, toddlers, children and youth who are deafblind.
- To facilitate a Statewide (NJ) Commmunity of Practice on the Education of Students with
Deafblindness that includes family members, deafblind adult consumers, early intervention, general
and special education personnel, state and local education agencies. - To develop and implement a well coordinated and responsive centralized system for professional
development (including on-site coaching support) specific to the needs of students who are deafblind. - To develop and implement a statewide initiative for the early and on-going identification of infants,
children youth with deafblindness. - To communicate and collaborate with the National Consortium for Deafblindness and all relative U.S.
Department of Education, Office of Special Education program funded activities.
About Registering a Child with the Project
How do I register my child and/or request services?
Call NJCDB at 609-771-2768 or through our website www.njcdb.org
What information will be helpful in registering and /or requesting services?
- Child’s most vision report
- Child’s most recent audiological report
- Child’s most recent IEP or IFSP
- Caregivers/teacher/physician/nurse/other service provider documented concerns regarding child’s
vision and hearing
Who can request services?
Members of a child’s educational/medical team including
- Parent/caregiver
- Physician
- Service Coordinator
- Teachers
- Related Service provider
- Administrator
How does NJCDB provide services?
The project uses two types of service delivery including:
Community of Practice Cohorts: Which include family, service providers, consumers and others interested in sharing, as well as gaining knowledge and skills through a variety training activities specific to the following topics:
- Families
- Early Identification
- School Age Children
- Schools and Programs for the Deaf
- Transition
Program Clinics: Technical assistance, anchored to a child, providing the educational team training related to identified request and related needs, using distant learning and on-site coaching:
Program Development
- Review of present program, requested needs and LEA commitment
- Identification of needs and delivery of training activities related to development of appropriate
educational goals, strategies and evaluation.
Transition
- Person Centered Planning
What kinds of issues would the Project address through TA?
Examples of possible Technical Assistance focus areas:
- Appropriate assessment tools, goals, accommodations for school or community
- Accessing and adapting general education curriculum and environment
- Impact of sensory loss and related strategies to support education and communication
- Transition planning for entering school, as well as through the high school years toward exist from
school into Adulthood, including living and employment options; - Assessment and intervention strategies to support challenging behaviors.
About Special Education and the Student who is Deafblind
How should Local Education Agencies (districts) classify students with deafblindness?
A student with a combined vision and hearing loss(regardless of other disabilities), who is identified eligible for special education and related services should be classified within the category of 6A:14-3.5(7)
State (NJ) Definition of Deafblindness:
“Concomitant hearing and visual impairment, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational problems that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for students with deafness or students with blindness”