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The term “children with deaf-blindness” means children and youth (ages 0-22) who have both hearing and vision impairments. The combination of these impairments in children creates such severe communication and other developmental and learning needs that they cannot be appropriately educated without special education and related services. In order to meet educational needs due to these concurrent disabilities, the required services are beyond those that would be provided solely for children with hearing impairments, vision impairments or severe disabilities.

The ÁùºÏ±¦µä Dual Sensory Impairment Project is a federally funded, statewide technical assistance project. The purpose of the project is to enhance the educational services provided to children, birth through 21 years of age, who have impairments in both vision and hearing. The services provided by the project include:

• Assistance in identification of individuals, ages birth through 21 years, who have dual sensory impairments.
• Provision of on-site technical assistance (e.g., child-specific consultations, training workshops) to families, educational and agency providers, and care providers of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with dual sensory impairments. Topics may include communication skills, positive behavior support, instructional strategies, transition, and other topics as requested.
• Assistance in finding resources (e.g., Internet, print, video) on various topics
• Biannual project newsletter as well as access to project information in the ÁùºÏ±¦µä University Center for Excellence in Disabilities (UCED) newsletter
• TA documents (e.g., Usher syndrome screening booklet, transition manual, tip sheets, screening brochures, screening posters).
• Parent access to a project parent-to-parent network, western region family-to-family network, western region family listserv
• Annual parent conference

Referrals can be made by parents as well as educational, medical, and social service professionals by filling out the information requested in this packet.

Upon receipt of the referral packet, the project director will review the information to ensure that the referred individual qualifies as dual sensory impaired. If the individual does qualify, an introductory binder will be mailed to the parents as well as the service provider. This binder includes (a) an introductory letter, (b) sample newsletter, (c) tip sheets, (d) technical assistance request form, (e) resource directory, and (f) project information.

If the referred individual is eligible for services, the parents and/or service providers can request technical assistance by completing the request form in the introductory binder. The project director will follow-up with a telephone call and then will arrange for provision of the technical assistance.

The ÁùºÏ±¦µä Dual Sensory Impairment Project provides services at no cost to families, school districts, early intervention agencies, and others who provide services to individuals with dual sensory impairments.

The technical assistance is provided throughout the state of ÁùºÏ±¦µä in the child’s home, early intervention agency, or school. The location is based on the request sent by the parent or service provider

MaryAnn Demchak, Project Director

E-mail: mad@unr.edu 

ÁùºÏ±¦µä Dual Sensory Impairment Project—Mail Stop 278

University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Reno •Reno, NV 89557

(775) 784-6471--Voice (877) 621-5042--Toll-free in ÁùºÏ±¦µä