Helen Keller Education Act
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Many children who are DeafBlind in this country are NOT receiving a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). The Helen Keller Education Act will help alleviate this problem by recognizing the critical role that interveners play in providing access for these children in educational settings.
Helen Keller, perhaps the most well-known individual with deafblindness, had the constant one-to-one services of Anne Sullivan who provided Helen with clear and consistent access to information about people and things in her environment and who taught her to communicate. This was critical to Helen's ability to learn, interact, and function in the world. Just as Helen Keller received this service from Anne Sullivan, so can children who are DeafBlind receive services from Interveners, individuals with training and specialized skills in deafblindness.
Intervener services
For children and youth who are DeafBlind, access to learning, communication, and interaction is not available because of their combined vision and hearing loss. This is a critical problem because the natural flow of visual and auditory information is blocked, distorted, and/or inconsistent for these children. an Intervener would provide access by being a bridge to the world. It would be unthinkable to deny a deaf child their right to an interpreter who provides access for him to language and communication. No one would argue that a child in a wheelchair has the right to a ramp that would give him access to his school. yet children who are DeafBlind are denied this access in educational settings every day. According to the December 1, 2023, National Child Count, there are 11,134 children and youth who are DeafBlind ages birth through 21 years int his country. Of those children, only 9% are receiving Intervener Services.
The Helen Keller Education Act
Intervener Services are an integral component of the Helen Keller Education Act. This act states that Intervener Services be listed as a related service under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). FAPE can be provided with the support of an Intervener who provides access to learning and interaction in educational environments. Just as Interpreter services are listed as a related Service under IDEA for children who are deaf/hard of hearing, so should Intervener Services be designated as a Related Service for children who are DeafBlind.
My daughter who is DeafBlind had struggled in school for 11 years. When I asked for an intervener, my district said 'no.' In order to get her intervener services, I had to enroll her in a private school setting. There, my daughter finally began making progress accessing her world, increasing her learning, and forming relationships with peers. As a parent of a child with deafblindness, I strongly support the Helen Keller Education Act.
To learn more about the National Intervener & Advocate Association, please contact Linda Alsop, linda.alsop@usu.edu
To learn more about the Helen Keller Education Act, or to co-sponsor, please contact trevor.oconnor@mail.house.gov in Rep. McGarvey's office.