VIDBE-Q Volume 69 Issue 3
Karen Koehler
kkoehler@shawnee.edu
Doug Sturgeon
dsturgeon@shawnee.edu
Shawnee State University
Over the past 10 years, Ohio has been focused on addressing ongoing
shortages of qualified professionals who can serve the needs of students with low
incidence sensory disabilities. Research demonstrated a need to increase the
number of preparation programs in Ohio to address the shortages, especially
prevalent in rural areas of the state (Howley & Howley, 2010; Howley et al.,
2017). In response, the Deans Compact on Exceptional Children convened a Low
Incidence Committee to provide expert advice on how to begin addressing these
challenges and to build support and advocate for systemic change in Ohio. In 2017,
the Low Incidence Sensory Disabilities (LISD) Collaborative was formed, and
efforts began to create the first of four higher education programs to train low
incidence sensory disabilities professionals. The first program established in 2017
New Certificate in Deafblindness Education:
Addressing Ohio's Priorities
