Kansas is the only state that has a special fund appropriated by the legislature to support students who are deaf-blind in their educational programs. This fund is adminsitered by the Kansas State Department of Education. The Kansas Deaf-Blind Fund is used to offset costs associated with educating students who are deaf-blind and who have current certification on the Kansas Deaf-Blind Census. The Kansas Deaf-Blind Fund provides funding in the following areas; (1) assistive technology (including adaptive equipment), (2) consultation, and (3) evaluation as described in the Kansas Deaf-Blind Fund Brochure (PDF). Students with current certification can be awarded up to $3000.00 per fiscal year from July 1 to December 31 based on fund availability and approval by the staff of the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and are given on a first come, first serve basis.
The fund becomes available to students with severe multiple disabilities beginning December 31. Students with severe multiple disabilities also can be awarded up to $3,000.00 per fiscal year based on fund availability and KSDE staff approval.
Local education agencies can submit applications for the Kansas Deaf-Blind Fund no sooner than May 15 of the fiscal year. The applications will be date stamped in order of receipt and held until July 1 when they can be processed. The criteria for receiving funds are outlined in The Kansas Deaf-Blind Fund Question and Answer Application (PDF). The application for the Kansas Deaf-Blind Fund must be submitted to the Kansas State Department of Education. The Kansas Deaf-Blind Project at the University of Kansas only accepts applications for certification, training and technical assistance.
A summary of the distribution of funds is reported on an annual basis titled The Kansas Deaf-Blind Fund Report (PDF). This report provides information on the amount of funds that were distributed under each funding category (e.g., assistive technology, evaluation, etc.). It also provides the delineation of funds by local education agencies.
