Download Deaf-Blind Overview

PROJECT REACH
SERVICES:
HOW WE FIT IN EARLY
INTERVENTION
Jean Deptolla – Project Reach
Project Reach:
Illinois Deaf-Blind Services
 Federal
Grant
 Serving
Children and youth, ages
birth-21, who have a combined
vision-hearing challenge
 Free
services throughout state of
Illinois
What does Deaf-Blind mean?
Combined vision-hearing challenge
 Does not have to be totally deaf and
totally blind
 In Illinois, 446 youth considered to be
deaf-blind (2011)

How many Young Children in
Illinois Are Deaf-Blind?
 As
of December 1, 2011, 34
children birth through 2 years
were receiving services from
Project Reach.
Common causes of deaf-blindness
 Anoxia
 Prematurity
 CHARGE
 Syndromes
Syndrome  Traumatic Brain
Injury
 Encephalitis
 Usher Syndrome
 Meningitis
 Down
Hearing Eligibility
 At
least at 26 dB hearing loss, with
amplification, in the better ear
 An
auditory processing disorder
 Unable
to use hearing for education,
as determined by educational team
Vision Eligibility
Corrected visual acuity poorer than 20/70
in better eye;
 Restricted visual field of 20 degrees or less
in the better eye;
 Cortical blindness; and
 Does not appear to respond to visual
stimulation, which adversely affects
educational performance as determined by
the educational team .

HOW DO WE KNOW A CHILD HAS A VISION
AND HEARING IMPAIRMENT?
Eye doctor report
 Newborn hearing screening
 Audiological/ABR
 DTH/DTV report
 Parents’ report vision and hearing
problems
 NICU reports vision and hearing problems
 Diagnosed condition that puts child at risk
 IFSP team concerns/recommendations

HOW TO REFER A CHILD
Referral Form A (see handout) include
parents’ permission
 Medical reports as available
 Send, email or fax to Project Reach

WHAT OUR SPECIALISTS WILL
DO
Contact family to determine if the child is
eligible for services
 Describe services to family and ask how
we can help through technical assistance
 Write a report to reflect the results of our
visit and any recommendations that we
might have
 With consent share information with other
service providers

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
May include meeting with other therapists
working with child
 Will vary with each child
 May include specialist being involved in
the transition from EI to School
 May continue until the child turns 21

THANK YOU!
QUESTIONS?
 EVALUATION FORM
