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South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind

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What is Deaf-Blindness

Definition of Deaf-Blindness


The federal definition of deaf-blindness for school-age children:

"Deaf blindness means concomitant hearing and vision impairments, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for children with deafness or children with blindness." (IDEA, 2004)

The federal definition of deaf-blindness for children between birth and three years of age: 

"Concomitant hearing and vision impairments or delays, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and intervention needs that specialized early intervention services are needed."