A graphic image of California state map with text California Deafblind Services across the map.

November 2026: CDBS Connections

Image Source: Adobe Stock

November has arrived with shorter days and much cooler nights. It is also the time of year where family and friends gather and celebrate the harvest and each other. Our team wants to celebrate all we learn and gain from our connections and relationships with families and educators across the state. We appreciate your trust and partnership. We’re also grateful for our collaborative partner agencies and advisory committee members and the support and resources they offer. We hope you find the resources and updates in this monthly edition relevant and helpful.

The 2026 Deafblind Census is Open

Our funder, the U.S. Department of Education, requires CDBS to conduct an annual child count to determine the number of children / students in California who are deafblind. Our charge is to identify every child / student from birth to age 22 who is deafblind, regardless of their IEP eligibility category, as students with deafblindness meet a variety of eligibility categories. This information is provided to the National Center on Deafblindness for the national Deafblind Child Count and this information impacts policy and practice at local, state, and national levels.

For purposes of this annual census, a person is considered to be deafblind if they are both blind/visually impaired and Deaf/hard of hearing, ranging from mild to severe, or they function as if they have both a hearing and vision loss based on inconsistent responses to the environment or inconclusive responses during hearing and vision exams. We would generally encourage you to count students if they have classroom accommodations related to both vision and hearing.

Pre-printed forms to confirm or update the information were mailed to educational agencies in mid-October. If your LEA / District / SELPA / County Office of Education / Early Intervention Agency has reported children / students with deafblindness in the past three years, you should be receiving forms to confirm. We ask that the updated forms / information please be returned to us by December 1st, 2026. You can find additional copies of the blank form and other census documents and FAQs on the census page on our website: https://cadeafblind.org/census/

If you have questions about the census or need assistance, please email Brian Devereux, CDBS Administrative Specialist, at devereux@sfsu.edu.

Resource Guide Identification of Children with Deafblindness: Resources for School Administrators

School administrators play an important role in supporting the identification and referral of children who are deafblind. We are please to share this guide from the National Center on Deafblindness that provides information and resources to help school administrators increase their knowledge of deafblindness and strategies they can use to ensure that children who are deafblind are identified, referred, and receive appropriate services.

CDBS Staff on the road…

Our CBDS team was thrilled to attend and present at the California Early Start Programs Symposium (ESPS) and the California Early Childhood Special Education Symposium (CalECSE) in October. We made so many great connections, reunited with fellow educators and parents, and learned so much from other professionals serving our youngest learners.

The websites for the Early Start Neighborhood and CalECSE have a variety of useful resources. We’re excited for ongoing collaboration opportunities with these early intervention and early childhood partners.

Website: CA Early Start Neighborhood

Website: CA Early Childhood Special Education

UPCOMING EVENTS

Family Training Workshop from TASK

In collaboration with California Deafblind Services, OCDEAF, and Beyond Blindness, TASK presents the following workshop in their series:

Navigating ITPs and Adult Services

Wednesday, November 18th

This workshop focuses on developing the Individual Transition Plan (ITP) and navigating the child's movement from school to post-school activities. This includes post-secondary and vocational education, employment, adult services, and community participation. It covers other system criteria and application processes, such as those of the Department of Rehabilitation and Regional Center. Additionally, the workshop discusses the different types of support available to help individuals live independently and within the community. This workshop will be conducted on Zoom. ASL and Spanish interpretation will be provided.

Flier for the TASK Training and Registration Information

SAVE the DATE

31st Annual Lowenfeld-Akeson Early Years Symposium: Foundations First: Translating Sensory Needs into Early Learning

Saturday, February 6, 2027, from 9:00am-3:30pm

California School for the Blind in Fremont, CA

Families and professionals in the Bay Area, you won’t want to miss this symposium for families and professionals serving babies and young children who blind, low vision, or deafblind. This in-person event is co-hosted by California Deafblind Services, California School for the Blind, Lighthouse Little Learners, the SF State University Visual Impairments Program, and the California Association of Parents of Children with Visual Impairments.

Tanni Anthony, PhD, Director of Access, Learning, and Literacy: Exceptional Student Services and co-director of the Colorado Deafblind Project, Colorado Department of Education, will present the keynote,Understanding Early Development: Building the Foundations for Learning in Children with Unique Sensory Needs

Registration will open in mid-November. Watch our website and social media for more information and registration link.

CDBS Staff Star

We’ve finally reached our final CDBS Staff Star! Adam Graves is the coordinator of the Program in Visual Impairment at San Francisco State and joined CDBS as our Project Director in August of 2024. Before arriving in San Francisco he worked at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired starting as a substitute teacher before becoming an instructional aide, classroom teacher, and educational consultant for the Texas DeafBlind Project.

Adam grew up in a family of educators. Both of his maternal grandparents taught in the public school system for over 30 years and his mother was a speech and language pathologist and audiologist. In addition, his sister has worked in the field of special education for many years and his wife Amy has worked in the field of Deaf Education and created the DeafBlind Youth Engagement and Advocacy program in Texas. In his free time Adam enjoys exploring new places, spending time with friends and family, and watching his stepson’s football games.

RESOURCE CORNER CDBS Fact Sheet: Integrating Your Child or Youth Who Is Deafblind into Groups: Strategies for Families and Caregivers

Some of the tips in this fact sheet might be helpful as families gather during the upcoming holiday season. There are good tips for teacher and support staff to use at school too!

ASDC Literacy Resource: ASL Stories for Thanksgiving: Your child and students will love these Thanksgiving-themed stories read in American Sign Language (ASL) from the American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC). These stories are great way to boost literacy and practice ASL.

Paths to Literacy: Thanksgiving Lessons and Ideas

Check out these creative, accessible, and engaging activities for learners who are blind or low vision, of all ability levels. We can always count on Paths to Literacy for inspiration and fun!