Deaf-Blind Registry

Each year, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), requires Alabama to conduct an Annual Deaf-Blind Census. Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind conducts the required annual statewide Census for Alabama in partnership with The University of Alabama at Birmingham and other state agencies. 

The Census collects information about individuals from birth to 21 years of age who have dual sensory loss. This data collection is for all infants, toddlers, and children (birth through age 21) who are: Deaf-Blind or at risk for dual sensory loss; Enrolled in Early Intervention or special education programs and/or receives services as of December 1, 2013, Child Count. Reported students do not have to be completely deaf or completely blind to be included. Individuals included should have a mild, moderate or severe hearing loss AND a mild, moderate, or severe vision loss that impacts learning. Students should benefit from instruction specific to the presence of dual vision and hearing loss.

If you have questions or would like to join our listserv, contact Megan Trescott at 256-474-0995 or via cell at 256-592-0315 or trescott.megan@aidb.org.

This information is used to study trends of etiology, to obtain information about classroom placement, ages and school districts where children are located, and to plan training and individualized services and technical assistance for teachers, parents and service providers. Examples include, but are not limited to Early Intervention Services and Coordination; Individualized Education Plan, Individualized Plans for Employment, and Personal Futures Planning development; Transition Services; Assistive Technology Assessments, Professional Development and Training; Caregiver Support Groups and Parent Conference Calls; Information Sharing and Dissemination; Braille and Large Print/Interpreting Service Coordination; Vision and Hearing Assessments and much more!