Ohio Center for Deafblind Education Services
OCDBE is a federally funded technical assistance and dissemination project designed to improve academic achievement and adult-transition results for Ohio children who are deafblind (DB). For more than 30 years, Ohio’s DB project has worked with local districts and their schools, state agency personnel responsible for IDEA Part B and Part C implementation, state and national parent and professional association representatives, and a variety of other partners committed to improving results for all children.
Click here for Who We Are: an Overview of OCDBE Services (PDF).
OCDBE’s Four Overarching Strategies
Implement targeted services intentionally and strategically, based on identified needs
Collaborate with partners to significantly increase awareness of the needs of the diverse population of children who are DB
Intensify efforts to encourage the early identification and referral of children who are DB to OCDBE, early intervention, and delivery of Pre-K-12 services to improve results for children who are DB
Develop the capacity of Ohio’s system of regional technical assistance (TA) providers (i.e., its statewide system of support) to improve results for children who are DB, thereby increasing the quality, consistency, and “reach” of project services
OCDBE services are designed and delivered using a tiered TA model and provided to designated groups, which include students who are DB, parents and family members of children who are DB, general and special educators, early intervention providers, related services providers, agency providers, regional state support team and educational service center personnel, and state agency personnel. OCDBE’s goal is to continuously strengthen and extend the capacity of Ohio’s Pre-K-12 education system to prepare children who are DB to be college/career ready upon graduation, improving each child’s opportunity to live independently, be economically self-sufficient, and be a full and participating member of his/her larger community. The key priorities of Ohio’s statewide DB project are to meaningfully engage families of children who are DB and the educators servicing children with deafblindness and to support the development and application of skills needed to improve postsecondary opportunities, while supporting the consistent and statewide delivery of high-quality consultation, professional development, and training to designated groups.
Annually, OCDBE conducts the Ohio Deafblind Census of children and youth with DB. The census is submitted for inclusion in the National Deafblind Child Count as required by the Office of Special Education Programs, US Department of Education. Census results are used to determine funding and services provided by each state project for the deafblind.
Additional OCDBE Resources and Information
Who We Are – Overview of OCDBE Services
Who We Are – An Overview of OCDBE Services describes a variety of no-cost services available to children, birth through 21 years, who are registered on the Ohio Deafblind Census. Services include no-cost professional learning opportunities, trainings, and consultation for families, educators, and service providers.
Do you know a child who is deafblind?
Do you know a child who is deafblind? is a rack card designed to be used in locations with information display racks. The rack card includes information about deafblindness, services provided by the Ohio Center for Deafblind Education, and how to register a child on the census.
English version
Decision Tree: Risk Factors and Behavior Suggesting Possible Vision and/or Hearing Concerns in Young and School-Age Children
The Decision Tree flow chart of risk factors and behavior for vision and hearing to consider in determining if a child may have a vision and/or hearing loss, suggested next steps for follow-up to any concerns, and what to do if a hearing and/or vision loss is confirmed.
English version
Making Sense of Early Intervention
Making Sense of Early Intervention highlights ways to meet the unique needs of a child, under the age of three, with vision and/or hearing loss and to maximize his or her strengths and includes specific information on Early Intervention services, supports and resources.
English version
Transition Resources Toolkit
The Transition Resources Toolkit provides federal, national, Ohio and professional resources to assist IEP post-secondary planning and IEP development and transition to adulthood.
English version
Postsecondary Transition Consultation Services
Postsecondary Transition Consultation provides the IEP team with information to support a student’s needs when planning for postsecondary transition services.
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