1. New York Deaf-Blind Collaborative Susanne Morrow - Project Director Chris Russell – Project Coordinator Clara Berg – Family Specialist Suzanne Chen – Outreach Coordinator Eneida Lamberty – Project Assistant Patricia Rachal – Principal Investigator

2. Early Identification & Referral Instructional Practice Families Related Services -Interveners -Hearing & Vision Providers Related Services -Interveners -Hearing & Vision Providers Transition To increase the number of children who are identified as deaf-blind between the ages of 0-3, and to improve their developmental and functional outcomes. To increase the number of students receiving instruction from educational teams using evidence based practices that will lead to improved academic and functional outcomes. To increase productive partnerships between families & service providers and to support family advocacy efforts leading to the increased use of evidence based practices in home, school, and community. To increase the number of certified interveners in NYS working in educational settings and to increase the number of vision and hearing providers implementing evidence based practices with children and youth who are deaf-blind. To increase the ability of educational and adult service systems to be responsive to the unique transition needs of deaf-blind youth and their families, supporting them in achieving valued life outcomes. NYDBC INITIATIVES

3. EI & R – Medical Community Completed o Developed medical brochure o Mass mailing through MSSNY (Medical Society of the State of NY) through president, Dr. Paul Hamlin o Designed new eligibility chart o Created Referring a Child Checklist o Developed Deaf-Blind Advisors of New York (DBA-NY) Statewide network of professionals to increase identification and awareness o Outreached & created referral list of neuro- ophthalmologists and audiologists

4. EI & R – Medical Community On-Going o Initiated DOT phrase in EMT (Electronic Medical Records) "Combined vision and hearing loss- contact NYDBC (with NYDBC contact info)." o Outreach to Care Management Coordinators System of Social Workers connected to hospitals for aftercare of NICU/PICUs (URMC) o TA in long-term medical facilities (St. Mary’s Hospital for Children) o Connecting with hospitals who also have outpatient services to children with multiple disabilities o Outreach to NICU & PICU programs in downstate NY

5. Total number of newly identified children between 0-5 since 10/1/13 = ~25

6. EI & R – Medical Community Future Activities o Replicate hospital outreach in upstate NY o Develop NYDBC postcard for medical offices o Presentation by Dr. Neinke Dosa on DB awareness to other medical doctors o Connect with Visiting Nurse programs throughout NYS o Connect with Care At Home program in NYS o Identify ICD 9 codes specific for DB and provide awareness to providers