VSAP collaborates with the I-Team, the I-Team Early Intervention Project, the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 9 East Network: Vermont Program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Children’s Integrated Services- Early Intervention, and the Vermont Agency of Education to:

• Identify children with combined vision and hearing loss as early as possible:
  • 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 allows the project 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.
• Provide support and networking opportunities for family and team members.
• To provide quality technical assistance and training to families to strengthen home-community-school partnerships
  • 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 for examples and more information on Assistive Technology.
• To collaborate with statewide partners to support the education of children and young adults with combined vision and hearing loss and to provide quality technical assistance to early intervention and school teams in the use of evidence-based practices to improve educational outcomes and to improve access to the grade level general education curriculum.
  • This initiative pairs VSAP with the I-Team to provide technical assistance and training to teams and families in the planning and delivery of effective instruction to improve learning outcomes for learners who are deafblind. Through specific tools and collaborative teaming, the educational team and family work together to develop strategies to support learners who are deafblind in achieving general education outcomes with appropriate individualized supports and accommodations.
• To provide intensive training and technical assistance to teams in the development and implementation of intervener services:
  • VSAP works with local teams including the family to support the increase of knowledge around the unique learning needs of individuals with combine vision and hearing loss. Intervener.org defines an intervener as a person who “works consistently one-to-one with an individual who is deafblind” and “who has training and specialized skills in deafblindness.” VSAP’s goal is to increase the number of interveners and professionals with training in deafblindness in the state to enhance educational and developmental outcomes.
• Provide intensive training and technical assistance to teams and families in the area of Transition Planning for learners who are deafblind age 14 or older.
• Collaborate and coordinate with local, state, and national agencies to increase awareness of the unique needs of learners who are deafblind and to inform policy development related to their needs in Vermont.