This series of three studies identified an experimental research gap in the field of deafblindness. Study 1, a descriptive study, identified types of articles published, and research designs used, in 37 peer-reviewed special education journals. A total of 4,854 articles published from 2012 through 2017 were examined to determine types of articles…

The present study evaluated a systematic instructional package including the system of least prompts (SLP) to teach differentiation and selection of tangible symbols to continue activities for two children with complex support needs and deafblindness (DB). A multiple probe design across three symbols was used to evaluate the intervention package…

This article describes one family's journey with their child, Teresa, who was diagnosed with a mild-to-moderate hearing loss in her left ear and a condition known as hypotonia shortly after birth. Through the course of several tests and diagnoses over the years, Teresa was diagnosed as deaf-blind. After Teresa's needs outgrew what Maryland School…

This descriptive study identified types of articles published, and research designs used, in 37 peer-reviewed special education journals. A total of 4,854 articles published from 2012 through 2017 were examined to determine types of articles and research methods informing policy and practice during the 6-year period and contributing to…

Very little is known about how unidentified dual sensory loss (DSL) may affect education and academic outcomes for students with extensive support needs (ESN). We used data from a teacher survey on over 100,000 students with ESN who take U.S. statewide alternate assessments to identify the number of students with known and suspected DSL and the…

The annual National Deafblind Child Count is the world's first and longest-running count of children who are deafblind. Begun in 1986 on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education, it represents a collaborative effort between the National Center on Deafblindness (NCDB) and state deafblind projects throughout the country, including those in the…

This study examined parents' perceptions of constraints that impact the attainment of independent walking in children with CHARGE syndrome. This syndrome is a multifaceted syndrome including a degree of vision and hearing loss at birth. The Dynamic Systems Theory (DST) was used as an ecological lens to provide insight into the complexity of issues…

To date, no evidence-based practices are identified for working with students who are deafblind (DB). No evidence-based practices have been identified for teaching basic self-help skills such as dressing. The present study examined the efficacy of an intervention package including the system of least prompts (SLP; i.e., SLP and least-to-most…

Deaf students are no less likely than their hearing counterparts to obtain good grades and pass courses in higher education. Despite this, under half the number of deaf pupils, compared to hearing pupils, go straight from school to university, and when there, face an array of challenges that hinder their HE experience [Sachs, D. (2011). Inclusion…

At the specific request of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE), the Office of Support and Accountability conducted a follow-up review of the West Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind (WVSDB), April 27-28, 2022, to obtain specific information regarding progress the school has made in addressing the areas of noncompliance identified as…

The term deaf-blind suggests a complete absence of hearing and vision; however, the term actually refers to a population of individuals whose severity of hearing loss and vision loss is varied in some degree from moderate to total loss (Wiley, Parnell, & Belhorn, 2016; Zeza & Stavrou, 2015). According to the Individuals With Disabilities…

Despite the importance of writing skill development, we know very little about how writing instruction is provided to students with visual impairments (VI) with and without co-occurring disabilities (e.g., multiple disabilities, deaf-blindness). The purpose of this study was to survey a national sample of U.S. teachers of students with visual…

Deafblind children and young people often perform poorly in education and social settings. The extent of this attainment gap is unknown. Following the Joanna Briggs protocol, a scoping review was conducted with the aim of establishing the barriers to and facilitators of academic and social success for this cohort. A database search was conducted…

Background/Context: Federal laws require equitable access to education for students with disabilities through educational placement in the least restrictive environment (LRE). However, research has determined students with significant support needs (SSN) are overrepresented in segregated educational placements. Focus of Study: This study explores…

The annual National Deaf-Blind Child Count is the world's first and longest-running count of children who are deaf-blind. Begun in 1986 on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education, it represents a collaborative effort between the National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB) and state deaf-blind projects throughout the country, including those in the…