Understanding Deafblindness

How is Deafblindness defined?

Deafblindess refers to having both hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational problems that the student cannot be accommodated in special education programs designed solely for students having hearing or visual impairments.

To meet the eligibility criteria in Oregon, a student must meet one or more of the following minimum criteria: (a) The student meets the minimum criteria for both vision impairment and hearing impairment; or (b) The student meets the minimum criteria for either vision impairment or hearing impairment and demonstrates inconsistent or inconclusive responses in an assessment of the other sensory area; or (c) The student meets the minimum criteria for either vision impairment or hearing impairment and has a degenerative disease or pathology that affects the acuity of the other sensory area.

The team must also determine that the student's disability has an adverse impact on educational performance, and that the student needs special education services as a result of the disability.

How is Deafblindness identified?

For a student suspected of having deafblindness, the evaluation must include (a) The minimum evaluation procedures for hearing impairment and vision impairment; (b) If the student demonstrates inconsistent or inconclusive responses in an assessment of one sensory area, a functional assessment must be administered by a state licensed educator of the visually impaired, a state licensed educator of the hearing impaired or an audiologist licensed by the State.