Indiana Deaf-Blind Services Project

The information provided on this page is intended to help you in your reporting efforts by answering your questions about the registry and reporting process. It discusses what it means to qualify as deaf-blind and provides examples of students who are eligible for the registry and the Project's services.
 

INDIANA DEAF-BLIND REGISTRY

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE INDIANA DEAF-BLIND REGISTRY?

The Indiana Deaf-Blind Services Project is responsible for conducting the federally required annual count of Indiana infants, toddlers, children and youth who are deaf-blind or are at risk for deaf-blindness. The census information is vital to planning and implementing services for deaf-blind children and young adults, their families, and educators. 
The Project compiles a variety of information on the students within the state who have combined vision and hearing losses and forwards it to the National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB) for the federal deaf-blind registry. Other state and multi-state deaf-blind projects across the United States, Puerto Rico and the Pacific Trust Territories collect this same data and submit it to NCDB to be compiled into the National Deaf-Blind Census.
 

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE NATIONAL DEAF-BLIND REGISTRY?

The National Deaf-Blind Registry is used to supplement the Office of Special Education Program's federal Child Count, which only includes children as deaf-blind when deaf-blindness is their sole disability. Since the majority of children with deaf-blindness do have additional disabilities, more detailed information is required. So, NCDB collects additional information for all children with combined vision and hearing losses, including those with additional disabilities. The National Deaf-Blind Census represents the first, longest running, and most comprehensive registry of infants, toddlers, children, and young adults who have combined vision and hearing loss.
 

WHY SHOULD A CHILD BE REPORTED TO THE INDIANA DEAF-BLIND REGISTRY?

By reporting a child to the Indiana Deaf-Blind Services Project Registry, the educator, the child, and his or her family are eligible for services from the project free of charge. 
 

WHO SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE INDIANA DEAF-BLIND REGISTRY?

Any child, birth through 21 years of age, who has a combined vision and hearing loss, including those with additional disabilities, should be reported. 
 

INDIANA DEAF-BLIND REGISTRY DOCUMENTS

Indiana Deaf-Blind Registry: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): This document provides answers to questions on who should be reported and how, as well as examples of children and youth who would be considered to be “deaf-blind.”

Indiana Registry of Persons Who are Deaf-Blind Form: This is a blank registry form that can be downloaded and completed to report new students to the registry.

Combined Vision and Hearing Loss: The Meaning of Deafblindness: This is an INDBS Fact Sheet that discusses the causes of deaf-blindness, describes the broad range of students who are considered deaf-blind, and provides typical examples of students who should be reported.

Indiana Deaf-Blind Registry Referral Form: This is a simple referral form to provide Project Staff with basic contact information so that they can follow-up and verify if a student should be reported to the registry.

The Deaf-Blind Registry is collected annually after the state December 1 child count and is considered a "snapshot" of the children and youth who fit the definition of being deaf-blind as of December 1. Although the main registry reporting activities are conducted one time per year, a child may be added or removed from the registry at any time during the year.  The Indiana Registry of Persons Who are Deaf-Blind Form may be downloaded, printed out, completed and mailed to the Indiana Deaf-Blind Services Project, Blumberg Center, College of Education, University Hall 009, 401 North 7th Street, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809. 

Anyone can refer a child to the Indiana Deaf-Blind Services Project to be included on the registry. After verification of deaf-blindness is received by Project staff, the child¹s family, teachers, and related support personnel will be eligible for technical assistance. Registry information is completely confidential and no names or identifying information is submitted to national child count.