This manual describes a Kansas program which is working toward full inclusion of students with deaf blindness through the MAPS approach (which stands for Making Action Plans or the McGill Action Planning System). An introduction stresses the value of integration and the focus of MAPS on the student's abilities and not his/her weaknesses. The MAPS…

This guide was developed to assist families and professionals working with people having severe disabilities to improve the overall quality of life these individuals experience. An introduction contrasts new attitudes (such as emphasizing individual strengths and personal control and autonomy) with existing practices which often focus on students'…

This final report describes a 3-year project to provide services to all children (approximately 144) between 0-21 years with deaf blindness in Colorado. The project addressed seven areas: (1) information for identification, (2) technical assistance to develop services, (3) home-based services to infants and toddlers, (4) transition services, (5)…

This monograph is a compilation of the knowledge gained by the Technical Assistance Center (TAC) of the Helen Keller National Center, from training and technical assistance activities conducted with state interagency teams serving youth and young adults with deaf-blindness. The book views interagency collaboration as essential in achieving…

This paper presents a summary of best practices for communication assessment and intervention with individuals who are deaf/blind and have a severe intellectual impairment. Focus is on individuals who have difficulty both receiving and understanding auditory, visual, and tactual information. The impact of sensory losses on communicative…

The California State guidelines are presented for identifying, assessing, and providing services to deaf blind individuals. Chapter 1 focuses on identification with sections on definition, etiology, referral, and unique educational needs (e.g., vision, audition, behavior, daily living). Chapter 2 discusses student assessment. Sections cover:…

The paper examines issues in early intervention with deaf blind infants. Considered are the effects of definitions of deaf-blindness on service provision and on the training of preservice students in this area. Appropriate programs entail intervention methods that address the usage of residual vision and audition as well as the development of…

Computer assisted video instruction (CAVI) was tested as a way to improve four teaching behaviors of a paraprofessional who was responsible for the instruction of a deaf-blind, severely retarded six-year-old student in a rural school. Direct observation revealed that CAVI was effective in modifying three of the target behaviors. (Author/DB)

This final report describes Oklahoma State Department of Education activities designed to improve technical assistance to special education programs and related services for children and youth with deaf-blindness. Specifically, activities of the project included: (1) training professionals, paraprofessionals, and related service providers…

This final report summarizes the activities of the North Dakota Deaf-Blind Services program, a 4-year federally funded project to ensure exemplary programs and services for children and youth with dual sensory impairments (DSI) throughout North Dakota. These priorities were met through the systematic identification of children with deaf-blindness,…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of a 4-year federally funded project to improve the capacity of state, regional, and local educational services to meet the needs of learners with deaf-blindness and their families throughout the state of Tennessee. The project provided individualized technical assistance and support to…

This study surveyed the parents/guardians of 97 youth (ages 18-24) throughout the United States who are deaf-blind and who left school in June 1996. The survey was conducted 18 months after these youth had left school. Following an introduction, this report first presents findings related to characteristics of the youth in the areas of…

This fact sheet about students who are deaf-blind provides information on orientation and mobility (O&M) training. It begins by describing orientation and mobility skills, and emphasizes the need for a team approach in the development and implementation of O&M instruction. Instructional strategies are described, including initial assessment of O&M…

This manual was developed as part of the New England Center Pilot Project (NECPP), a 3-year federally funded program focusing on the inclusion of young children with deaf-blindness within regular educational programs in Massachusetts. The NECPP provides consultation during transition to inclusive programs and offers technical assistance, staff…

This workbook pulls together materials intended to help train individuals who are deaf-blind or have other severe disabilities with the transition from school to the adult world. Topics covered in the main body are: legislation concerned with transition services; appropriate procedures and getting started; transition planning process; questions to…