Low+Incidence+Populations+(DHH+&+VI)

Deaf & Hard of Hearing (DHH) Services
Deaf and Hard of Hearing services have an all inclusive range of services that can meet the diverse needs of our deaf and hard of hearing students and their individual language and communication goals.

 Speech language pathologists and a contract audiologist work closely with our department to insure that our students are receiving the support that they need to be successful.  For more information on DHH staff, services & resources go to their web page. Deaf & Hard of Hearing (DHH) Services  
 * Master level deaf and hard of hearing teachers,
 * Sign language interpreters that can sign ASL and Signed Exact English
 * Cued language transliterators for students with or without cochlear implants
 * Language facilitators for students with cochlear implants and hearing aids
 * Deaf/blind intervenor

Vision Impaired (VI) Services/Orientation & Mobility (O&M) Services
 Within the New Hanover County School system, itinerant vision instructional services and orientation & mobility related services are offered to support the education of students with low vision and blindness.

__Itinerant Vision Services__
The Teacher of Students who are Blind/Visually Impaired (TVI) reviews medical eye reports, observes, assesses and, if needed, provides direct, collaborative, and/or consultative intervention, as determined by the IEP team, based on each individual student’s needs.

 From the NC Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities: Visual impairment, including blindness, means an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a child's educational performance. The term includes both partial sight and blindness. A visual impairment is the result of a diagnosed ocular or cortical pathology.  To be determined eligible in the disability category of visual impairment, including blindness, a student must have: A visual acuity between 20/70 and 20/200 in the better eye after correction, to be considered visually impaired. A visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye after correction, or a peripheral field so contracted that the widest diameter subtends an arc no greater than 20 degrees, to be considered legally blind.  The disability must have an adverse effect on educational performance, and require specially designed instruction.

**__Orientation and Mobility__**
 As a related service to students with a qualifying visual impairment, O&M instruction enables students…“to attain systematic orientation to and safe movement within their environments in school, home and community.” (NC Policies Governing Services for Students with Disabilities, NC 1500-2.28)  The Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) conducts observations, assessments, and teaches skills associated with safe travel for students who are blind/visually impaired, including orienting to an environment; use of specific travel techniques, such as sighted/human guide; and travel tools, such as the long cane.   <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: verdana,sans-serif;">For more information on VI staff, services & resources go to their web page. Vision Impaired/Orientation & Mobility Services <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: verdana,sans-serif;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: verdana,sans-serif;"> =<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: verdana,sans-serif;">Resources: =

GAP Guide to Access Planning: Communication Access & Hearing and Hearing Assistance Technologies for Teens and Young Adults

The purpose of this checklist is to guide you, and your parents or caretakers and the professionals who provide you support, information about the acquisition of important skills and activities that lead to successful transitions from high school to independent living, a job, college, or vocational training. This checklist should be completed with the help of your teachers, parents or others who are responsible to assist in your transition planning.*


 * This Checklist was adapted for deaf and hard of hearing teens from the work of several previous authors including Eileen Humphrey, Passage Director/Transitional Counselor, Klein ISD, Klein, TX; Barbara Martinez, Career Guidance Program, Texas State Commission for the Blind; Marty Lee, Community Services Director, Indiana School for the Blind, & Judy Ackerman, Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission.

Pepnet2 Deaf & Hard of Hearing

Pepnet 2 (pn2) is a federally funded project whose mission is to increase the education, career, and lifetime choices available to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Pepnet 2 recognizes the full range of postsecondary education, training and employment options available for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and strives to enhance the capacity of those institutions to appropriately serve this diverse population. Pn2 is a national collaboration of professionals with expertise in a broad array of content areas and a variety of environments, including research, technology, personnel development, media production, and technical assistance.

Our resources include:

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 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: MyriadPro-Regular,'Myriad Pro Regular',MyriadPro,'Myriad Pro',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Live, one-on-one assistance in a variety of communication modes,
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: MyriadPro-Regular,'Myriad Pro Regular',MyriadPro,'Myriad Pro',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">In-person and online training,
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: MyriadPro-Regular,'Myriad Pro Regular',MyriadPro,'Myriad Pro',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Materials that are downloadable, printable or available as hardcopies

**Additional Pepnet2 Resource for Transition Planning**
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">In the past, institutions may have taken a “wait and see” approach to the planning of accommodations for students with disabilities. However, many institutions are taking a proactive stance to planning for how students with disabilities will access the full spectrum of programs and events available on campus. <span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Pro Active Planning Document for Post Secondary