Child Count

Make Every "CHILD COUNT" 

A purple paper clip

Each year in December, state projects serving children who are deaf-blind report on children identified in their state.  Our project uses the Child Count to connect educational teams, including families, with trainings, information, and networking opportunities related to deaf-blindness.

The Child Count serves to meet federal grant requirements for both the state and national technical assistance projects. It serves as a common data collection and reporting mechanism for use across the country in order to identify trends and needs in deaf-blindness. Understanding trends helps to guide the trainings and supports needed nationally.

For more information on the National Child Count. please visit the National Center on Deaf-Blindness. 

Child Count FAQs

Q: My child has vision loss but does not receive vision services. Can he/she still be on the Child Count? 

As long as vision and/or hearing impacts their access to education, they can be eligible to be on our Child Count and receive support from the VDBP. 

Q: I think my child has a vision loss, but it is not diagnosed yet. Can he/she still be on the Child Count?

The child can be on our Child Count under the category of “Further Testing Needed” up to 1 year while the team works on getting a diagnosis. For that year, the family and team can receive support from the VDBP. 

**All children diagnosed with progressive loss, such as Ushers Syndrome are eligible for the Child Count***

For more information on the December 1 Deaf-Blind Child Count, please contact Hilary Hodes (hhodes@vcu.edu).