Superintendent Report
June 27, 2013
I was appointed Superintendent of USDB in August 2009, at the beginning of the 2009-10 school year.
Four general goals were established by the administrative team for the Utah School for the Blind and
four goals were established for the Utah School for the Deaf.
Utah School for the Blind
Goal #1 – Early Braille Literacy
The Blind School committed to assess every blind-visually impaired student using the Learning Media
Assessment and to adhere to Utah Code which states that, “In developing an IEP for each blind student,
there is a presumption that proficiency in Braille is essential for the student to achieve satisfactory
educational progress.”
Instruction in Braille has increased significantly and pre-Braille instruction begins in the Parent Infant
Program.
Utah Code also requires that the State Board of Education establish, through educator licensing, a
demonstration of competence in reading and writing Braille. USB administration in collaboration with
USOE is establishing a process for ensuring that teachers of the visually impaired are proficient in
reading and writing Braille.
Goal #2 – Provide Quality Accessible Materials
The Utah State Instructional Materials Access Center (USIMAC) has dramatically increased production
and quality of product. All but one district and nearly all charter school now opt in for USIMAC services.
The next steps for USIMAC are to utilize staff during off season production times serving requests from
higher education, other education entities in other states, and private sector. This strategy will allow
USIMAC to maintain professional staff and to reduce the cost of services to public education.
Goal #3 – Expanded Core Curriculum
Budget cuts over several years reduced and eliminated Expanded Core Curriculum activities for many
B/VI students. Services and activities have been reinstated and programs now reach more children with
greater intensity.
The needs of children with vision loss are still not being fully achieved. Additional students need to have
access to more comprehensive services.
Goal #4 – Establish Low Vision Clinic
Low vision clinic facilities have been built in Salt Lake and Ogden. USB has employed a Doctor or
Optometry and certified low vision specialist. The LV staff is coordinating with assistive technology staff
to provided services in the metro areas and planning regularly scheduled clinics in rural areas. USB is
moving to cross train assistive technology staff in Low Vision. A collaboration agreement with Moran
Eye Center to provide Ophthalmological services is in process
Low Vision services and diagnostics need to be expanded and made accessible statewide.
Utah School for the Deaf
Goal #1- Emphasize Early Intervention
Parent Infant Program services expanded to include Toddler Groups, Home Demonstration Center,
intensive audiological services, home and center-based Deaf Mentor, in addition to home-based
intervention. Intensity of service options has increased.
Future needs include expanding accessibility of Deaf Mentor services and increasing opportunities for
families to utilize the Home Demonstration Center.
Goal #2 – Provide Differentiated Instruction
The Parent Infant Program was separated by disability, PIP Deaf/hard of hearing and PIP Blind/Visually
Impaired. PIP D/HH early intervention teachers specialize in ASL/English or Listening and Spoken
Language in order to provide differentiated and specialized instruction based on language and
communication mode.
Early intervention and preschool teachers are being required to have endorsement in early childhood.
Preschool teachers are receiving support; EI teachers need USDB support. Specialized professional
development for teachers in the components of ASL/English including Oracy is an on-going need.
Teachers seeking Auditory-Verbal certification needs to be supported by providing access to approved
AV coursework and mentoring from certified AV therapists or educators.
Goal #3 – Establish Collaborative Partnerships
Agreements have been established with Baby Watch and Utah State University. An agreement with the
University of Utah, for deaf, blind, and deafblind, is ready to be approved. A collaborative agreement
with Early Hearing Detection and Intervention to provide assistance with child find and diagnostics is
close to approval.
USD would like the responsibility of providing statewide ASL interpretations services, which we believe
would improve accessibility of quality services, especially in rural areas, and also provide consistency.
USD would also like to provide audiological services including cochlear implant support to all school-age
children. USD should try to establish a partnership with Primary Children’s Medical Center and
University Hospital to provide CI mapping, possibly using remote programing.
Goal #4 – Increase Technology Access
USDB students have greater access to personal computing. iPads are being used by individual students
in USDB classes, by students in the Parent Infant Program, and by itinerant teachers serving children in
district and charter schools. Access to social media is being supported by USDB within approved
guidelines. USDB’s goal is one-to-one computing access.
Assistive technology, including assistive listening devices (personal and classroom) is being made
available to students. USDB would like to provide these devices to all sensory-impaired students,
including students in 3% districts.
Moving Forward:
 In addition to supporting early childhood endorsement, USDB needs to complete the process of
supporting the Deafblind Specialist endorsement of our teachers in DB services.
 USDB needs to utilize the USBE approved placement guidelines (decision trees) and districts
need to be encouraged to support the process.
 The professional standards matrixes for USD, USB, and Related Services needs to have funding
to implement.
 UDSB needs a Student Data System to help inform individual student and program decisions.
 USDB needs an effective Education Foundation to fund projects that are beyond the scope of
Legislative appropriation.