The Arkansas Project for Children with Deafblindness is preparing its annual federal census of Arkansas children from birth to age 21 who have been identified as deafblind. The Project is required to submit this annual report to the US Department of Education on the children identified as deafblind in the State of Arkansas. The purpose of this Director's Memo is to assist in the identification of children in Arkansas who are deafblind for purposes of this annual report.
Attached is a "National Census Information Form" to use to refer or identify children who may be eligible for follow-up by the Project. It has been simplified as much as possible, and includes all the information required by the US Department of Education for the annual Deafblind Census. (**See Note)
Children referred to the Project do not have to be totally deaf and totally blind, nor do they have to have been identified as deafblind on the December 1 Child Count, in order to meet the eligibility requirements of the Project. They must, however, have both vision and hearing impairments to some degree, or have cognitive impairments that limit the use of both their vision and hearing. (The definition of deafblindness is included on the last page of the attached "National Census Information Form.")
Please consider all the children you serve to determine who might qualify for followup by the Project, and complete a "National Census Information Form" on each child you think may be eligible. Again, a child does not have to have been counted as deafblind on the December 1 Child Count to be eligible for followup by the Project. Often these children are counted on the December 1 Child Count as having Mental Retardation, Multiple Disabilities or Other Health Impairments. If you are unsure about a child's eligibility, please complete a "National Census Information Form" to refer him or her to the Project. Project staff will make the final determination of eligibility on all children referred.
The Project is a federal grant administered through the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), Special Education that provides technical assistance to educators and agency personnel who serve children identified as deafblind and to the families of those children. On-site consultation is available to the teachers of students identified as deafblind. Parents of identified children are eligible to participate in parent activities sponsored by the Project, as well as receive mail-outs, newsletters and other forms of technical assistance.
Please return the completed form(s) not later than March 15, 2002 to the address indicated below. The return address is also listed on the last page of the "National Census Information Form."
We appreciate your cooperation in our efforts to identify children who are deafblind residing within the State of Arkansas. If you have any questions or need additional information, you may contact Darleen Riley Tripcony, Project Family Consultant, at 501-682-4222, or via email at dtripcony@arkedu.k12.ar.us.
Return completed form(s) by March 15, 2002 to:
Arkansas Project for Children with Deafblindness
Arkansas Department of Education, Special Education
#4 Capitol Mall, Room 105C
Little Rock, AR 72201
Attention: Darleen Riley Tripcony
**Note: If there are children residing in a district who have already been identified as deafblind by the Project, the district will receive a separate letter from the Project identifying those children. A "National Census Information Update Form" will be enclosed with the letter, with instructions for providing updated information on those children.