VIDBE-Q Volume 67 Issue 4
Image 3
Image Description: A smiling male college graduate is wearing a black cap and
gown with an orange stole, multicolored cord, and medallion around his neck.
Standing next to him is his smiling sister.
Some progress has been made in that the U.S. Department of Education
started to include interveners in a 2008 Request for Proposals (RFP) related to
funding the state deaf-blind projects. Within the field, the first national intervener
competencies were developed in 2004 and updated recently to include 75
competencies. "Recommendations for Improving Intervener Services" was
published by NCDB in 2012. As a parent, I appreciate the recognition and
progress that has been made, but it is frustrating knowing that every day, children
in the world's richest country sit in classrooms without access to communication
around them. EVERY CHILD who is deafblind should be considered for
intervener services.