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Interveners and Qualified Personnel
The focus of this initiative is to promote:
- Recognition, training, certification, and use of interveners
- Recognition, training, certification, and use of teachers of the deaf-blind
- Professional development for teachers, related service providers, and others who work with children who are deaf-blind
Our goal is to create sustainable change at local, state, and national levels to ensure that all children who are deaf-blind are being served by personnel with expertise in deaf-blindness.
Initiative Lead
Technical Assistance & Support
Information
NCDB works with partners throughout the field of deaf-blindness to identify useful information, promising strategies, and success stories to support the use of interveners and teachers of the deaf-blind and inform advocacy and policy efforts. (See “Tools for Technical Assistance” below for links to resources developed to date.)
Open Hands, Open Access (OHOA) Deaf-Blind Intervener Learning Modules
The OHOA Modules were designed to increase awareness, knowledge, and skills related to intervention for students who are deaf-blind. NCDB developed the modules and now provides consultation, technical support, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities to state deaf-blind projects, colleges, and universities that are using OHOA for a variety of purposes, including:
- Intervener training
- Teacher preparation
- Educational team training
- Professional development
Click here for information on how to request TA related to OHOA.
Beginning in September 2017, NCDB is conducting an Intervener Training Pilot Project. The project, which will only be offered once, incorporates the OHOA Modules and is designed to help state deaf-blind projects create their own intervener training systems and increase the number of certified interveners in the United States.
Intervener Certification
NCDB developed the National Intervener Certification E-Portfolio (NICE) system as an option for interveners to demonstrate they have met Council for Exceptional Children competencies. We now provide consultation and technical support to the Paraprofessional Resource and Research Center (PAR2A Center), which manages the review process and awards certificates, and to state deaf-blind projects that support interveners as they develop NICE portfolios.
NCDB is collecting perspectives of both interveners and mentors as they work through the NICE process.Development and Support for Teachers of Students Who Are Deaf-Blind
For many years, families and professionals have recognized a great need for highly trained, certified teachers of students who are deaf-blind. NCDB has joined in this effort by partnering to promote qualified teachers and coordinating a personnel preparation work group.
Initiative Background & Data Facts
Learn more about the intent of this national initiative and the unique role it plays to promote recognition of the need for qualified personnel for students who are deaf-blind.
Tools for Technical Assistance
Network Collaborations
Current Initiative Activities
