NYDBC (New York Deaf-Blind Collaborative) – Procedures
Submitting a Request for Services
Anyone (family members, professionals, etc.) can submit a request for technical assistance for a child or young adult who is deaf-blind.
The request can be made either by calling us or emailing us or by submitting a TA Request Form. This form contains basic information about the person who is making the request and why.
You can submit this form in two ways:
- Download the form, fill in the necessary information, and send it as an attachment to NYDBC@qc.cuny.edu; or
- Open the PDF document, print it, and fax it to us at 718-997-4883.
A staff person will typically respond to your request within two business days.
Registering an Individual who is Deaf-Blind
NYDBC is required to maintain a census of children and youth who are deaf-blind in New York State. We do this as it helps us develop our services guided by the demographics of the population. If you would like to register an individual who is deaf-blind you have these options:
- Download the census form (click here); then email it to NYDBC@qc.cuny.edu or fax it to us at 718-997-4883; or
- Email us and we will send you a secure and encrypted link where you can submit the information online.
Determining the Type of Technical Assistance (TA)
The type of technical assistance you receive is determined collaboratively by the stakeholder (professional, educator, etc.) and the project staff. This decision is based on the level of need as well as the extent to which you, the stakeholder, want to be involved. This is a fluid process that typically evolves over time, starting at more basic levels such as information dissemination, and progressing through more intense levels of intervention such as child-specific TA or transdisciplinary team development.
Guiding the Technical Assistance Process
The project will develop a TA action plan with you that will guide the services. This action plan includes activities and actions for which each party is responsible, with specific outcomes that you, the stakeholder, and we, the project, hope to achieve. The action plan evolves as the stakeholders’ knowledge, skills, and practice change over time.
Evaluating the Impact of Technical Assistance
NYDBC is accountable to the federal government, and is required to show measurable outcomes for the TA that is provided to all stakeholders. Therefore, an evaluation component is associated with all four levels of TA. It is important for TA recipients to understand that receiving this evaluation data is critical for the continuation of NYDBC support. Evaluation levels are proportionate to the level of intensity of TA that is provided. The more intensive the TA, the more intensive the evaluation component will be. NYDBC is committed to seeing improved outcomes in children, professionals, and systems. Embracing a multitiered evaluation process will assist us in addressing this issue.