VIDBE-Q 2026 Volume 71 Issue 3
concerning this subject, particularly regarding how parental involvement and
confidence directly intersect with the unique developmental trajectories of these
children. Leveraging my position as project manager of the Nebraska Deafblind
Project, I have been able to network with peers across the United States to gather a
dataset from the families that they serve, focusing on key variables such as special
education self-advocacy, perceived social support and broader attitudes toward
dual sensory losses and disabilities in general. At this writing, I am beginning the
data cleaning process with the definitive goals of defending this study in the early
fall of 2026, marking a significant milestone in my academic and professional
journey.
Looking beyond my dissertation, I plan to continue my research within the
family sphere, specifically pivoting to explore the often -overlooked sibling-related
aspects of families raising a child with a low-incidence disability. This interest is
deeply rooted in my personal experience as parent in a family equation where the
intensive needs of one child can easily eclipse the individual needs, wants and
aspirations of their siblings. Research suggest that typically developing siblings
often experience unique pressures such as growing up faster, as a result of a family
dynamic where parental time and resources are disproportionately allocated. I am
particularly interested in employing a mixed-method research approach to
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