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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

DeafBlind Certification

Q: What does it mean for a student to be certified DeafBlind?

A student is certified on the state and national registry if they are between birth and age 21 and have a combination of vision and hearing losses (with or without additional disabilities).

Certified students fall into one of the following eligibility categories:

  • Both senses profoundly impacted: Totally deaf and totally blind.

  • One sense profoundly impacted, one partially impacted:

    • Visually impaired and totally deaf.​​

    • Hard of hearing and totally blind.

  • Both senses partially impacted: Visually impaired and hard of hearing.

  • Any of the above with additional disabilities.

  • At-Risk infants/toddlers: An infant or toddler with a diagnosed loss in one sensory area who is considered at risk for dual sensory loss.

Benefits of Certification:

Once certified, the student is:

  • Included on the national and state deafblind census.

  • Given first priority for accessing the Kansas Deaf-Blind Fund.

  • Eligible to receive free technical assistance from the Kansas Deaf-Blind Project.

Q: How does a student become certified?

To be certified, a student must meet the Kansas deaf-blind criteria based on official evaluations. Their educational team must submit an Application for Certification (available on our Certification & Eligibility page) along with the following required documents:

  1. Current Vision Evaluation

  2. Current Hearing Evaluation

  3. Current IEP or IFSP

  4. Signed Parental Consent Form (included on the application)

 

Processing Time: The Kansas Deaf-Blind Project will review the application and notify both the family and the school contact person of the determination within 30 days of receipt.

Q: How long is a student certified Deaf-Blind?

Standard certification lasts for three years, provided all criteria are met and complete documentation is submitted.

Exceptions to the 3-Year Rule:

Aging Out: Certification automatically ends when the student turns 22.

Moving States: If a child moves out of Kansas, their certification will end. They will need to be recertified on their new state's deaf-blind registry through that state's deafblind project.

Provisional Certification (1 Year): If a required report (vision, hearing, or IEP/IFSP) is missing or outdated, the student may be granted a temporary, one-year provisional certification. This must be renewed within one year by submitting the missing documentation.​

Q: Who conducts the required evaluations and reports?

To ensure clinical accuracy, evaluations must be completed by specific, qualified professionals:

Vision Evaluations - Must be conducted by one of the following professionals:

  • board certified ophthalmologist;

  • board certified optometrist who specializes in low vision (unless a pathological condition exists);

  • board certified pediatric neurologist who specializes in ophthalmology [only if a Visual Evoked Response Test (VER) is required].

Hearing Evaluations - Must be conducted by one of the following professionals:

  • certified audiologist who meets American Speech and Hearing Association certification requirements (including a Certificate of Clinical Competency-CCC);

  • board certified otolaryngologist-ENT (if a pathological condition exists);

  • board certified pediatric neurologist who specializes in audiology [only if a Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response Test (BAER) is required].

Educational Report:

  • An IEP or IFSP must be conducted by the student's educational team.

Q: What information must be included in the evaluations or reports, and what is optional?

To be considered for deaf-blind certification, the application must include a current IEP/IFSP and current vision and hearing evaluations (completed within the last year).

Below are the specific components required for each document, along with optional supporting reports.

What are the guidelines for eligibility for certification for the Kansas Deaf-Blind Project registry?

 

Eligibility is determined by the information submitted in the vision, hearing and educational reports. In general, eligibility for deaf-blind certification is determined by the following:

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Required Components:

1. Vision Evaluation
The medical vision report must detail:

  • Visual Acuity: Near and distance measurements (with correction, if applicable).

  • Clinical Details: Diagnostic etiology, date of onset, presence of nystagmus, and ocular motor functioning.

  • Visual Field & Function: Any field limitations, general visual functioning, and chronic conditions that significantly interfere with the student’s visual learning mode.

  • Treatments: Current medical interventions or treatment plans.

  • Note: If a student's complex healthcare needs prevent standard testing, a physician must document the necessity of a Visual Evoked Response (VER) test.

​

2. Hearing Evaluation

The audiological report must detail:

  • Loss Profile: Degree and type of hearing loss, date of onset, and diagnostic etiology.

  • Auditory Function: Overall hearing functioning and any auditory processing loss.

  • Impact & Technology: Chronic conditions interfering with auditory learning, current hearing with correction/amplification, and cochlear implant specifications (if applicable).

  • Treatments: Current medical interventions or treatment plans.

  • Note: If a student's complex healthcare needs prevent standard testing, a physician must document the necessity of a Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) test.

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3. Educational Report (IEP/IFSP)

The student's current educational plan must include:

  • Assessments: Names of formal and informal assessments and strategies used.

  • Performance & Goals: Present levels of academic/functional performance, assessment results, and measurable annual goals.

  • Preferences: Student and family goals/preferences.

  • Services & Accommodations: Specified supports (e.g., assistive technology, hearing aids, magnification, communication systems) that directly reflect the student's combined, concomitant vision and hearing losses.

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Optional Supporting Information:

While not required for initial certification, teams are highly encouraged to submit additional functional assessments to support the application:

  • Functional Vision Assessment (FVA): Conducted by a Teacher of the Students with Visual Impairments (TVI).

  • Functional Hearing Assessment: Conducted by a Teacher of the Deaf or Hard of Hearing (TDHH).

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Why include these? These functional reports provide invaluable context regarding the specific modifications, accommodations, and environmental adaptations a student needs to successfully participate in their educational program.

 

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Q: How do I apply for funding through the KS Deafblind Fund?

The Kansas Deaf-Blind Fund is administered by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) to offset the costs of specialized technology, consultations, and educational accommodations.

Eligibility and Deadlines:

  • Student Requirement: Students must be certified on the active Kansas Deaf-Blind Census through the Kansas Deaf-Blind Project to qualify.  

  • Application Window: Applications must be submitted between April 1st and August 10th. All submissions are reviewed by KSDE for final approval.

Step-by-Step Application Process:

The funding application must be submitted electronically by a Local Education Agency (LEA) administrator or authorized designee.

  1. Access the Portal: Navigate to the KSDE Common Authentication Page and log in with your administrator credentials.

  2. Navigate to KGMS: From your applications list, select the Kansas Grants Management System (KGMS).

  3. Open the Deaf-Blind Application: Once inside KGMS, locate the application using this pathway:

    1. Select the relevant School Year.

    2. Click on the Deafblind Grant Type.

    3. Click the DeafBlind link to open the form.

Deafblind Fund Resources:

Use these helpful tools to guide your application:

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