What is Technical Assistance? It is another way of saying "help" or "information" – in this case, ILDBP provides help and information for individuals supporting children and youth with deaf-blindness. This ILDBP Brochure 2021 provides some basic information, and the Menu of School and Professional Services and Menu of Family Services provide more details.
ILDBP offers a wide variety of types of technical assistance designed to meet a wide variety of needs and support the largest number of people possible. What might work for you?
General technical assistance
This is for people looking for general information. ANY person might use general information! Examples include newsletters, links to other groups and topics related to DeafBlindness. It may also include free materials you can download, or requesting materials from our library.
Targeted technical assistance
This is for people that have a child or student with DeafBlindness in their life, or are likely to in the future. These services require some degree of commitment from both ILDBP and the participants. Examples of activities include taking distance trainings that last a few weeks, attending conferences where ILDBP will be presenting, ongoing distance consultation with a Deaf-Blind Specialist or Family Engagement Coordinator, family contacts at targeted ages, the annual family conference, webinars, and other activities.
Current offerings can be found in the "What's New" section of the website.
Intensive technical assistance
Like it sounds, intensive technical assistance is intensive. People who request intensive technical assistance are usually facing larger challenges. Student-focused intensive technical assistance is available for students already eligible for services (download the Referral for Eligibility Form here). It requires that ILDBP and the family or school commit to an ongoing relationship with multiple activities. Activities would include distance "homework" as well as face-to-face interactions. Intensive technical assistance should lead to changes in student instruction, home or school environments, or policies and programs that impact individuals with DeafBlindness. This form of technical assistance is a very individualized and negotiated service. To refer an eligible student for intensive technical assistance, please download the Request for Technical Assistance form here. To discuss system and program intensive TA, please call Michelle Clyne at 630-790-2474 or email Michelle Clyne.
Early Intervention
The Illinois DeafBlind Project (ILDBP) does not provide early intervention services, but we provide support for families and service providers in the early intervention services. This brochure describes the role of ILDBP in early intervention. To refer an infant or toddler for eligibility or technical assistance, please use the Referral for Eligibility Form and the Request for Technical Assistance form.
Technical assistance may be requested on many topics. The most common topics requested include:
- DeafBlindness
- Prelinguistic Communication Skills
- Emergent Communicator Skills
- Proficient Communicator Skills
- Access to Instruction/the General Education Curriculum
- Concept Development
- Meaningful Social Connections
- Components of IFSP/IEP
- Instructional Strategies
- Assessment Strategies
- Assistive Technology
- Literacy (Emergent to Advanced)
- Transition Planning - Early Intervention to Early Childhood
- Transition - Post-secondary (14-21)
If your agency may potentially serve children and youth who are deaf-blind, you are eligible for free technical assistance from ILDBP. Please take a moment to fill out the Educator Needs Assessment Survey so we can keep current with state needs and address your professional development priorities.