The Kansas Deaf-Blind Project includes a list of resources available for educators, families, administrators and service providers who are interested in the education and training for students who are deaf-blind.
There are several projects in Kansas affiliated with the Kansas Deaf-Blind Project. These projects include contact information and activity descriptions about these projects are located by accessing Deaf-Blind Projects in Kansas.
| The Kansas Deaf-Blind Library | |
| Description: | The Kansas Deaf-Blind Library is located in the Kansas Instructional Resource Center at the Kansas State School for the Blind. The loan library is available to educators, parents, service providers, paraeducators, administrators, siblings, university students, university professors, or anyone who is interested in the education of infants, toddlers, children, and young adults who are deaf-blind. The library consist of videos, DVD's, CD ROMS, books, manuals, and binders. Some of the materials are available in Spanish. Those items are indicated on the CD ROM or online listings as SPANISH VERSION. |
Inclusive Network of Kansas (INKS): Field-Based Technical Assistance and Professional Development |
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| Contact: | Dr. Jean Ann Summers, Director 785.864.7602 (voice) 785.864.3434 (TTY) Peter Griggs, Project Coordinator 785.864.4950 (voice) 785.864.3434 (TTY) |
| Description: | The Inclusive Network of Kansas is a group of highly qualified practicing professionals who provide customized technical assistance (TA) for students who have sever disabilities including deaf-blindness, their educators, service providers, and families. The Project Coordinator matches the TA request to the skills of the field based consultant (FBC) who provides TA activities. The FBC maintains contact (e.g., on-site consultation, phone, mail, and email) with the student's team as many times as needed. The cost of TA is free to the local education agency or Part C provider. In addition to the provision of customized TA, this project provides professional development training several times a year on a variety of topics, including but not limited to sensory integration, interpreting for students who are deaf-blind, nonsymbolic communication, and strategies for teachers to use who have students with cortical vision impairments (CVI). This project is housed at The Beach Center on Disability at the University of Kansas. |
Outcomes for Children who have Deaf-Blindness following Cochlear Implantation (CICDB) |
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| Contact: | Dr. Susan Bashinski, Site Investigator, 252.737.1705 (voice); Kathleen Stremel, Site Administrator, 913.677.4562 ext. 15; (voice); 913.677.4562 (TTY) Dr. Ella Taylor, Project Director, 503.838.8391 (voice); 503.838.8821 (TTY) Lisa Buckler CCC-A, Lead Audiologist, 816.932.1660 (voice) |
| Description: |
The Midwest Ear Institute-St. Luke's Hospital, The National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness, Teaching Research Institute from Western Oregon University, and the University of Kansas along with 16 participating states is conducting research study "to establish a database to facilitate decision-making by families considering a cochlear implant for their children who have both hearing and vision losses." The 16 participating state deaf-blind projects are: Kansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Children who are deaf-blind and between the ages of 12 months to 12 years of age who recently have received a cochlear implant and those children who are in preparation of receiving a cochlear implant are eligible to participate. Currently, there are 8 Kansas families who have participated. Each family who agrees to participate in the study's activities receives $100.00. These activities include completing:
All data are coded and housed at Teaching Research Institute at Western Oregon University to maintain confidentiality. If you or you know of a family who would be interested in participating, please contact The Kansas Deaf-Blind Project Project Coordinator at phone: 785-864-3992 (V) |
| Promoting Communication Outcomes for Children with Deaf-Blindness through Adaptive Prelinguistic Millieu Teaching (PMT) Strategies | |
| Contact: | Dr. Nancy Brady, Co-Principal Investigator, 785.864-4295 |
| Description: |
The Schiefelbush Life Span Institute and the Beach Center on Disability at the University of Kansas in collaboration with the Indiana Deaf-Blind Services Project at Indiana State University are conducting a research study to determine the effectiveness of prelinguistic milieu training on increasing communicative gestures and vocalizations for children, ages 3-7 who are deaf-blind. Twelve children separated into four cohorts from Northeast Kansas and six children separated into two cohorts from Indiana (replication sites) are participating in the study. Each of the participants receives intensive intervention with project staff for four days a week over a period of four to five months. Criterion is met when a participant demonstrates at least one intentional communicative act per minute for three consecutive sessions. Preliminary outcomes are favorable. The children who have completed the study demonstrated an increase in rates of communication, as well as different forms of communication, and increases in different communicative functions. This is the final year of the study. There are tentative plans for an assessment guide and training manual that will be developed. These materials will be disseminated nationally. |
Hilton-Perkins Parent Grant |
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| Contact: | Project Director, The Kansas Deaf-Blind Project; 785.864.3992(V) 785.864.3434 (TTY) |
| Description: | The Hilton Perkins Foundation for Deaf-Blind awarded a grant to establish a parent organization in Kansas. The purpose of the organization is to form an active incorporation for families of children who are deaf-blind in Kansas. Parent Focus Group meetings were held around the state to determine if parents wanted to have a formal incorporation, what it would look like, who would be the executive officers, and what the activities would be that would be of most benefit for parents and family members. A needs assessment survey was conducted along with a parent focus group survey. Although the numbers were low in attendance at the meetings, the needs assessment and focus group survey revealed a strong interest in networking with other parents and family members. The group is in the beginning stages of collecting more information to determine how best to reach family members in a geographically diverse state. |
| The Kansas Deaf-Blind Consortium | |
| Contact: | Jon Harding, Facilitator, 913.677.4562 (V/TTY) Rebecca Rosenthal, Co-Facilitator, 785-267-6100 (V/TTY) |
| Description: | The Kansas Deaf-Blind Consortium is a group consisting of agency representatives, schools, state and local projects, consumers, and family members who are interested in providing services to children and adults who are deaf-blind. The goal is to increase access, equity and quality of services to for individuals with deaf-blindness and their families through collaborations and developing partnerships among critical stakeholders. The group uses a case study approach to assist in breaking barriers and offering supports for individuals who are deaf-blind to achieve success. An example of a promising activity that was designed and implemented by a subcommittee of the consortium is the Support Service Provider Program that is being piloted in the Johnson County area. Additionally the consortium leverages their resources to provide training that result in child, service provider, or family outcomes. |
