The Wisconsin Deafblind Technical Assistance Project (WDBTAP) is the only agency in Wisconsin which assists Deafblind Children.
Programs designed to serve Deaf or hard-of-hearing children only, or Blind and Visually-impaired children separately cannot meet the needs of Deafblind children even when working together. The combined sensory loss requires unique approaches to the additional challenges of each disability when addressed separately.
The Wisconsin Deafblind Technical Assistance Project (WDBTAP) provides:
- Assistance in determining if a child has a combined vision and hearing loss and qualifies as deafblind.
- Demonstrations of strategies and techniques to use with children who have combined vision and hearing loss.
- Deafblind specific information and resources.
- Access to materials via our Lending Library (equipment, toys, technology, books, etc.)
- Assistance with transition (from childhood into adult services).
- Conferences and seminars for families and professionals to learn and train on Deafblind Disability.
- Quarterly Newsletter, “The Beacon”.
- Private social media groups.
The Department of Public Instruction uses 12 disability categories, including:
Autism
Blind or visually impaired
Deaf and hard of hearing
DEAFBLIND
Emotional Behavioral Disability
Intellectual disability
Orthopedic disability
Other health impairment
Significant Developmental Delay
Specific Learning Disabilities
Speech and
Language
Traumatic
Brain Injury
Note that Deaf – HOH and Blind – Visually Impaired are separate from Deafblind.
Wisconsin Statutes and administrative rules did not address this until 2021.
Deafblindness has the lowest rate of incidence. However the highest levels of intervention are required to address the combined sensory loss, and additional disabilities which these children typically have.
Deafblindness is a disability of access that may bring great challenges, both to the children who live with combined vision and hearing losses, but also to the parents and educators who live or work with these children.
The Wisconsin Deafblind Project is here to assist parents and service providers to better understand the learning needs of the child who is deafblind and acquire strategies that have proven successful with other children who are deafblind.
The Department of Public Instruction does not record Multiple Disabilities when reporting to the Federal Government.
An estimated 85% of children with DeafBlindness have 4 or more disabilities.
This means Deafblindness is under-reported in Wisconsin. (and also nation-wide)
As disabilities are added to these children, the challenge to provide equal access to education becomes far more difficult.