VSAP Project Activites

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This past year...

Some highlights of VSAP achievements include identifying 8 more children for the Vermont Census, enrollment of 3 new paraeducators to support children with dual sensory access impairments, an increased quality of service for children with CVI, and an increased use of distance technology. These are just a few of VSAP's successes in addition to their main project services (listed below).

VSAP Focuses on...

Census: Identifying Students with Dual Sensory Impairments

The VSAP has the responsibility of identifying all children in Vermont who have, or are at risk of having, dual sensory impairments (deafblindness). Once a child is identified in the Census, it will allow us to follow the educational progress of that child from early intervention through exiting school as a young adult. Each year a student is included in the Census, their families and team members are offered supports and resources by the Project to address their sensory access needs.

CVI Community of Practice

This initiative is a high quality training tool designed to increase the number of Vermont professionals proficient in CVI screening, assessment, and intervention planning. CVI Partners are paired with CVI Mentors who provide them with field coaching and co-attend visits in order to increase knowledge of, and ability regarding, CVI.

Deafblind Advisor Training

The main topics covered in this type of training include: the impact of combined vision and hearing loss on learning, assessment tools, Individualized Family Service Plan and Individualized Educational Program development, assistive technology, communication and language development, functional skills development, and supports to access the general education curriculum.

This intensive training has and will continue to:

• increase service provider knowledge and skills in the field of deaf-blindness relative to effective practices
• provide data on TA and training outcomes for learners, families, service providers, and state systems
• provide "face to face" and web-based trainings along with phone conferencing, onsite coaching and home study assignment
• build capacity through recruitment and training of service providers.

Technical Assistance

Using research based practices and technology, The Vermont Sensory Access Project helps to provide interdisciplinary technical assistance and training to families and educational team members of students with dual sensory impairments. Visit the AT Tryout Center at CDCI for examples and more information on Assistive Technology.

Last modified July 25 2012 12:45 PM