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Special Populations
Deaf Blind
The Louisiana DeafBlind Project 2009-2013
The Louisiana Services to Children and Youth with Deafblindness Project, administered through the Louisiana Department of Education, Division of Educational Improvement and Assistance, is designed to improve state, regional and local capacity to meet the unique needs of children and youth with deafblindness and their families through multi-level technical assistance, thereby resulting in enhanced services and improved outcomes for students. This project will address the established goals by providing training and technical assistance to parents, local school systems, and institutes of higher education, other service providers and state agencies. Statewide needs assessment data from parents, teachers and service providers (2007) determined that the activities of training and technical assistance should address literacy, communication, assistive technology, early identification, adult transition, and the distinctive challenges presented to students with deafblindness in addressing the general education curriculum within the least restrictive environment.
Students experiencing loss in the sensory areas of vision and hearing often experience isolation from events and activities. The educational and environmental information that is missed due to this sensory loss can lead to students failing to attain age-appropriate milestones in communication, language, and concept development which can seriously and adversely affect their educational outcomes. To meet these needs, this project has as its purpose to aid the state by assisting in the early identification of children and youth with deafblindness and to promote the delivery of age-appropriate curricula in the least restrictive environment. The project aims to achieve this by providing information, training opportunities and technical assistance to parents, school systems, and institutes of higher education and agency personnel.
Consequently, this project is designed to achieve the following outcomes: 1) student services will reflect the general education curriculum within natural settings; 2) standardized procedures for early identification will be applied; 3) parents, teachers and service providers will have an increased knowledge of appropriate educational practices for this population as well as available services; and 4) students will have increased options for participation in post school opportunities.
Deafblind 1508 definition
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Louisiana DeafBlind Census
The Louisiana DeafBlind Project maintains a census of individuals with deafblindness ages birth through 21 year of age. The census provides information that is used to identify training needs and areas of concentration in the state as well as a mechanism for distributing information for parents and educators. Below are links to a brochure explaining the census and the three-page individual census form. If you know someone with deafblindness or whom you believe has deafblindness, please forward this information so the information can be completed and included in the Deafblind census.
Deaf Blind Brochure
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Deaf Blind Census Form
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Louisiana State Resources
Louisiana Services for Children and Youth with Deafblindness Project
Louisiana Department of Education
P.O. Box 94064
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804-9064
Project Director: Joyce Russo
joyce.russo@la.gov
(225) 342-0520 Voice
Deafblind Services
Louisiana Rehabilitation Services
8225 Florida Blvd.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806-4834
(225) 925-4157
Louisiana Career Development Center for the Deaf and Deafblind (LCDC)
520 Convention
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802
(225) 387-0889 Voice/TTY
Affiliated Blind of Louisiana
409 W. St. Mary Blvd.
Lafayette, Louisiana 70506
(318) 234-6492
Louisiana Acadiana Deaf-Blind Citizens, Inc.
Attn: Dan Arabie, President
409 W. St. Mary Blvd.
Lafayette, Louisiana 70506
E-mail: LSUCajunDan@cox.net
Videophone Direct: (337) 984-1731
| For more information contact: |
| Joyce Russo |
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Education Program Consultant 2
Joyce.Russo@la.gov
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(225) 342-5880 Fax
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