2026 Service Provider/Professional Needs Assessment

The 2026 Illinois DeafBlind Project Service Provider/Professional Needs Assessment can be completed by individuals or on behalf of agencies. Responses are used to support immediate needs and set future priorities. It should take about five minutes, depending on your level of detail. On Monday, February 23 a $50 Amazon gift card will be raffled to those who indicate in Question 9 that they want to enter the raffle. Non-federal funds are used for the raffle. Thank you for your time and input, and all you do for children and youth in Illinois!

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* 1. Please tell us about yourself. Check any/all that apply.

I am responding as an individual.

I am representing an agency.

I am involved in early intervention.

I am involved with school-aged children and youth.

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* 2. Specifically, how do you support the development and education of children and youth? Please check all that apply to you.

Administrator

Audiologist

CFC Service Coordinator or Program Manager

Coordinator of Vision or Hearing Services

Early Intervention Provider

Higher Education Faculty

Interpreter

Intervener for Students who are Deaf-Blind

Nurse

Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Paraprofessional

Teacher- General Education

Teacher – LBS 1

Teacher – TDHH

Teacher – TVI

Therapist – Occupational Therapy

Therapist – Physical Therapy

Therapist – Speech and Language Therapy

Social Worker

Other (please specify)

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* 3. What is your experience serving children and/youth who are deaf-blind? Please check all that apply.

I do not know - I am not sure how to identify a child/youth as being deaf-blind.

I know how to identify a child or youth as deaf-blind, but have never served one.

I have served one or more children/youth in the past who were deaf-blind.

I am currently serving one or more children or youth who are deaf-blind.

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* 4. What is your awareness of the National DeafBlind Child Count and the Illinois De-Identified Child Count Reporting System?

I have not heard of the DeafBlind Child Count or the Illinois Child Count Reporting System

I have heard of the National DeafBlind Child Count, but did not realize Illinois participates

I have heard of the National Deafblind Child Count and have referred children for eligibility for project services, but was unaware that children could also be reported (de-identified) without identifying information.

I have heard of the National Deafblind Child Count and have referred children for eligibility for project services. I am aware of the Child Count Reporting System, but have not had students to report.

I have heard of the National Deafblind Child Count and have referred children for eligibility for project services, and if families were not interested in project services I have reported children without identifying information using the reporting system.

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* 5. Which topics below are important to you or your team for professional development? Check as many as apply to you.

DeafBlindness

Awareness and Engagement

Prelinguistic and Emergent (beginning) Communication Skills

Proficient (advanced) Communication and Language Skills

Access to the General Education Curriculum and Instruction

Concept Development

Meaningful Social Connections

DeafBlind Instructional Techniques

DeafBlind Relevant Assessments

Assistive Technology

Literacy (Emergent to Advanced)

Transition Planning - Early Intervention to Early Childhood

Transition - Post-secondary (14-21)

Vocational Experiences

Other (please specify)

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* 6. Which ways do you or your team prefer to receive professional development? Please select as many ways of receiving information/learning that appeal to you.

Finding things related to deafblindness on my own on websites

Getting an email with a curated list of links to fact sheets, videos, and other information

Brief phone consultations on a topic that is related to a specific student

Loan of materials (Deaf-Blind Simulation kit, videos, books)

Synchronous online webinars related to deafblindness

Synchronous in-person trainings related to deafblindness

Asynchronous online trainings related to deafblindness

Attending state or national conferences related to deafblindness

Taking college or university classes linked to deaf-blind standards

Coaching (virtual and/or in-person) on specific deaf-blind techniques

Other (please specify)

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* 7. What factors are relevant to you when choosing professional development activities? Please rank these factors.

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* 8. Would you like to be on our Constant Contact email list to learn about honorariums, trainings, and other opportunities? If yes, please write your name and email below.

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* 9. If you would like to be enrolled in the annual needs assessment responders Amazon gift card raffle, please enter your name and email below.

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* 10. If you are not making a specific request for professional development, this is your final question. Is there anything else you would like to say? Thank you! If you would like to discuss professional development, please complete Question 10.

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* 11. If you would like to discuss professional development options now, please add your contact information. If you are an individual and not representing an agency, just put an "X" in that space. Thank you!

Name

Company

Address

Address 2

City/Town

State/Province

ZIP/Postal Code

Email Address

Phone Number