-MEMORANDUM–
TO:
Birth to Three Coordinators
Parent Educator Resource Centers
WVSD&B Outreach Services
FROM:
Ruth Ann King
WV SenseAbilities Project Coordinator
WV Department of Education
DATE:
March 10, 2015
SUBJECT:
WV SenseAbilities Census of Children with Deafblindness
Each year as part of the reporting requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA), children and youth who are deafblind must be counted. This is for children birth to twenty two
in West Virginia who have a combined vision and hearing loss. With your cooperation, 112 West
Virginia children who are deafblind were identified last year. This count constitutes the deafblind
census which is used to support the funding of West Virginia's Deafblind grant, West Virginia
SenseAbilities. West Virginia's Deafblind Project, funded through the United States Department of
Education, provides in-service training, technical assistance, workshops, and resource materials to
districts and agencies serving these children.
Many states throughout the country appear to be undercounting students who are deafblind. It
is possible that many of those children are being reported as intellectual disabilities on the December
Child Count. The federal definition of "Deafblind" is as follows:
For infants and toddlers receiving Part C early intervention services,
deafblindness is defined as:
“Concomitant hearing and vision impairments or delays, the combination of
which causes such severe communication and other developmental and
intervention needs that specialized early intervention services are needed.
Part of this group is children considered functionally deafblind. Children who are functionally
deafblind are typically so severely impaired that their visual-auditory acuity cannot be determined
using conventional measures, the child requires adaptations in both auditory and visual modes of
instruction, or the child does not respond to auditory or visual stimuli in the environment. If, in your
professional opinion, a student appears to be functioning as if he/she has both a vision and hearing
impairment, include him/her in the census. Students who are cortically deaf and have vision
impairment should be included as well as students who are cortically blind and have a hearing
impairment. Remember that a student may be eligible for special education under another category
(e.g. PMI), but also have vision and hearing losses. This count does not change the eligibility
category.
2014-2015 Census of Children with Deafblindness
March 10, 2015
Page Two
Each child should have a documented loss of vision and hearing or indication of Cortical Visual
Impairment or Central Auditory Processing Disorder. Instructions for completion of the census are
included to assist you. Please copy the attached forms as needed. Also, be sure to keep an extra
form so you can register additional students when they are located during the year.
The census is due in the Office of Special Programs by April 10, 2015. Information may be
sent via FAX to (304) 558-3741 to the attention of Annette Carey or mailed to:
Annette Carey
Office of Special Programs
Bldg 6 Room 304
1900 Kanawha Blvd E.
Charleston, WV 25305-0330.
Thank you for your cooperation and assistance with this very important task. If you have
questions, please call Ruth Ann King at (304) 558-2696 (V/TDD) or email at raking@k12.wv.us .
PH/AC/RK/jv
Attachments
c:census2014
WEST VIRGINIA CENSUS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH
WHO ARE DEAFBLIND
2012-2013
INSTRUCTIONS
1.
Read the cover memorandum for definitions. All students meeting the definitions should be
reported on the census.
2.
Complete a separate form for each student.
3.
In accordance with the requirements for confidentiality as specified in the regulations for
"Privacy Rights of Parents and Students" (34 CFR Part 99), the names of children who are
Deafblind are coded for reporting purposes.
4.
All students who are Deafblind should be listed regardless of how they are listed in your
December Child Count.
5.
Forms are due by April 1, 2013.
6.
If you have additional questions about the census, please call Ruth Ann King, at (304) 5582696. You may email at raking@access.k12.wv.us
7.
If you do not have any students who qualify as Deafblind, please check the box below and fill
out your name and address and return.
8.
Report all students known to you as of December 1, 2012.
9.
Return forms to:
Annette Carey
West Virginia Department of Education
1900 Kanawha Boulevard East
Capitol Building 6, Room 304
Charleston, West Virginia 25305
We appreciate your cooperation!
We do not currently have any students who qualify as Deafblind by any of the definitions.
Name: _______________________________________________________________
County School District or Agency: __________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________
City: ________________________ State: _________________ Zip Code: _________
Telephone: (________) ________________________
WVDE - ISS – 046
1-04