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Eligibility and Services

What is Deaf-Blindness?

Federal Definition of Deaf-Blindness

Deaf-blindness means concomitant hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for children with deafness or children with blindness.
34 CFR, Part 300, Subpart A, Sec. 300.7(c)(2)

Infants and toddlers with disabilities means “individuals from birth through age two who need early intervention services because they are experiencing developmental delays…in one or more of the following areas: cognitive development; physical development, including vision and hearing; communication development; social or emotional development; adaptive development; or have a diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay.”
34 CFR, Part 300, Subpart A, Sect. 303.16

Who is Eligible for Services?

Individuals who are eligible for services include infants, toddlers, children, and youth (birth through age 21) who are deaf-blind or are suspected of being deaf-blind. Individuals may function as if they have such impairments when they respond inconsistently or inconclusively during clinical evaluations and/or to visual and auditory stimuli in the environment.

Who Can Request Technical Assistance And Training?

Family members and care providers who have a child identified as deaf-blind by the Idaho Project.
Parent Technical Assistance Request Form PDF
Personnel from public and private schools and agencies who serve children who are deaf-blind. Service providers with a child identified by Idaho Project staff may request technical assistance or training.
Service Provider Request Form PDF
The term “technical assistance” is used in education, government, and industry to mean “consultation.” It means assistance from Idaho Project staff to help a family or service provider address any instructional or programming challenges. It can also be combined with training to provide information about areas such as communication and language, visual and auditory adaptations, and transition to adulthood. Idaho Project staff understands the uniqueness of deaf-blindness and the profound impact that a combined vision and hearing loss can have on all area of development.

What Services are Provided?

Assistance in identification of individuals, birth through 21 years of age, who have combined vision and hearing loss
Provision of on-site or distance technical assistance (e.g., consultation, training) to families, school and agency personnel, and care providers of infants, toddlers, children, and youth who are deaf-blind
Monthly mailer sent to families and service providers of age-relevant information
Annual summer training
Lending library of toys, switches, books, instructional manuals, and DVDs on topics related to deaf-blindness
All services are provided free of charge

Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (Grant No. ###). Information contained within this site does not reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, and no official endorsements should be inferred. Project Officer, Susan Weigert.

Idaho Project for Children and Youth with Deaf-Blindness