A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n
Biennial Evaluation Report - FY 93-94 Chapter 305
Services for Children with Deaf-Blindness
(CFDA No. 84.025)
I. Program Profile
Legislation: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part C, Section 622 (20 U.S.C. 1422) (expires September 30, 1995).
Purpose: The purpose of the Services for Children with Deaf-Blindness program is to help State education agencies, local education agencies, and early intervention agencies assure special education, related services, and early intervention services to children with deaf-blindness, to facilitate the transition from educational to other services, and to support related research, demonstration, dissemination, and other projects.
Funding History
| Fiscal Year |
Appropriation |
Fiscal Year |
Appropriation |
| 1969 | $1,000,000 | 1986 | $14,355,000 |
| 1970 | 4,000,000 | 1987 | 15,000,000 |
| 1975 | 12,000,000 | 1988 | 14,361,000 |
| 1980 | 16,000,000 | 1989 | 14,189,000 |
| 1981 | 16,000,000 | 1990 | 14,555,000 |
| 1982 | 15,360,000 | 1991 | 12,849,000 |
| 1983 | 15,360,000 | 1992 | 13,000,000 |
| 1984 | 15,000,000 | 1993 | 12,832,000 |
| 1985 | 15,000,000 | 1994 | 12,832,000 |
II. Program Information and Analysis
Population Targeting
Eligible applicants are public and nonprofit private agencies, institutions, and organizations, including Indian tribes, the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the Department of Interior (if acting on behalf of schools operated by the Bureau for children and students on Indian reservations), and tribally controlled schools funded by the Department of Interior. Services
This program supported 49 State and multi-State projects, two technical assistance projects, a national clearinghouse, and 12 demonstration and other awards. There are three primary ways in which funds are used in the program:
- Grants to single and multi-State projects to support (1) early intervention, special education, and related services as well as vocational and transitional services to infants, toddlers, children, and youth with deaf-blindness whom States are not otherwise obligated to serve and (2) technical assistance to agencies providing such services.
- Cooperative agreements providing technical assistance to agencies and organizations regarding transitional services for deaf-blind adolscents. These awards are directed primarily at capacity building.
- The Clearinghouse on Children Who are Deaf-Blind provided indepth responses to 489 inquires. Areas of greatest interest included assessment, assistive devices, communication, curriculum, medical issues, and available resources. Information developed and disseminated by the Clearinghouse included resources lists, newsletters, consumer and family-related information, and providing linkages with networks and databases.
- Research and demonstration grants supporting activities in a wide variety of areas including validation and utilization of exemplary practices and the development of innovative interventions.
- A symposium was conducted to identify critical issues, best practices and recommend future directions in the provision of education and related services to children with deaf-blindness and to explore ways in which resources could be used at the Federal, State, and local levels to address these topics.
III. Sources of Information
- Fourteenth Annual Report to Congress on Implementation of the IDEA (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, 1992).
- Proceedings of the National Symposium on Children Who are Deaf-Blind (J.W. Reiman and P.A. Johnson, Eds, Monmouth, OR: Teaching Research Publications).
IV. Planned Studies
None.
V. Contacts for Further Information
- Program Operations:
- Charles W. Freeman, (202) 205-8165
- Program Studies:
- Barbara Vespucci, (202) 401-3630
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