Child Count for the Deafblind Census

Memo Information

Memo Number

LS-23-040

Memo Date

1/12/2023

Memo Type

Administrative

Unit

Learning Services

Regulatory Authority

20 U.S.C.A. Section 1400 et seq. (IDEA)

Response Required

Attention

Federal Programs; Superintendents; Principals; Technology Coordinators; Test Coordinators; General Business Managers; Teachers; School Counselors; Equity Coordinators (Disability/Race/Gender/National Origin); Data Stewards (SIS; eSchool; eFinance; TRIAND)

Primary Contact Information

Name

Jennifer Bishop

Phone Number

501-352-9197

jennifer.bishop@ade.arkansas.gov

Secondary Contact/s Information

Name

Tracey Soto

Phone Number

501-682-4222

tracey.soto@ade.arkansas.gov

Memo Reference

No references available.

Memo Text

The Division of Elementary Secondary Education (DESE) Office of Special Education Deafblind Project for Children And Youth with Sensory Impairments (CAYSI) is disseminating the annual federal census of children in Arkansas, birth to age 22, who have been identified as eligible for services under the category of deafblindness. The purpose of this Commissioner’s Memo is to assist CAYSI staff in the identification and reporting of children in the state who are deafblind. CAYSI is required to submit this report to the U.S. Department of Education each year.

Please consider all the children served by the district to determine those individuals who might qualify. If a district is unsure about a child’s eligibility, CAYSI staff will review the child's information and make the final determination as to his or her eligibility. Students do not have to be completely deaf and blind, nor do they need to be identified as eligible for services under the category of Deafblind on the district’s December 1 child count. Often these children are identified on the December 1 report as eligible for services under categories such as intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, or other health impairments. For consideration for CAYSI services, the child must have some degree of both vision and hearing loss or?have cognitive impairments that limit the use of both senses.?

Districts will receive an email from CAYSI through “Service Provider Portal Link'' for any children in the district who have already been identified and are listed on the deafblind registry. LEAs will review and update student’s information through electronic submission in CAYSI’s SI2 database system. As a reminder, no paper copies of each child’s census will be mailed. Instructions on how to submit electronically with a one-time password protection will be included in the email. For each child that the district believes may qualify as having combined hearing and vision loss, and is not currently on the deafblind registry, please make a referral online or contact CAYSI at 501-682-4222.

Cooperation by the district is appreciated in assisting CAYSI’s efforts to identify and maintain accurate information on children with deafblindness across the state of Arkansas. No response is required if the district does not have children with dual sensory impairments.

CAYSI is supported through a federally funded grant administered by the DESE Office of Special Education. CAYSI provides technical assistance through on-site consultation, training, and other resources for teachers, agency personnel, and families who have children identified and listed on the deafblind registry.

For additional information or questions, contact Jennifer Bishop or Michelle Alvarez at 501-682-4222 or by email to jennifer.bishop@ade.arkansas.gov or michelle.alvarez@ade.arkansas.gov.

Helpful Links:
Child Count for the Deaf-Blind Census Documents: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/special-education/children-and-youth-with-sensory-impairments
CAYSI Referral Application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1O2eE0XYjXCQt7w3MRYcTBfVKeb-5OwNBnebOwmAshik/edit

Attachments

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