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Low Incidence Disabilities

Low Incidence Disabilities

According to the definition in IDEA, a low incidence disability means a visual or hearing impairment, or simultaneous visual and hearing impairments, a significant cognitive impairment, or any impairment for which a small number of personnel with highly specialized skills and knowledge are needed in order for chidlren with that impairment to receive early intervention services or a free appropriate public education (IDEA).

Assistive Technology

According to IDEA, Assistive Technology is defined as  "Any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of children with disabilities."  The term does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted, or the replacement of such device.
 
As defined in IDEA, an assistive technology service "Any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, and use of an assistive technology device.: The term includes...
  • The evaluation of the needs of a child with a disability, including a functional evaluation of the child in the child's customary environment;
  • Purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices by children with disabilities;
  • Selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, retaining, repairing, or replacing assistive technology devices;
  • Coordinating and use other therapies, interventions, or services with assistive technology devices, such as those associated with existing education and rehabilitation plans and programs;
  • Training or technical assistance for a child with a disability or, if appropriate, that child's family; and
  • Training or technical assistance for professionals (including individuals or rehabilitation services), employers, or other individuals who provide services to employ, or are otherwise substantially involved in the major life functions of children with disabilities.

Ohio’s Alternate Assessment for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (AASCD)

Ohio’s Alternate Assessment for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (AASCD) is aligned to Ohio’s Learning Standards–Extended (OLS-E) and designed to allow students with significant cognitive disabilities to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in an appropriately rigorous assessment. The AASCD will be administered by grade band: 3-5, 6-8 and High School (HS). Students in grades 3, 4, 6 and 7 will be assessed in English language arts and mathematics. Students in grades 5 and 8 will be assessed in English language arts, mathematics and science. Students taking the HS-AASCD will be assessed in English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.
 
Ohio Alternate Assessment Portal
The Ohio Alternate Assessment Portal is your gateway to all systems and resources for the administration of the Alternate Assessment for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (AASCD). It includes FAQs and resources for students and families, teachers/test administrators, test coordinators, and technology coordinators. Although this test portal is available to the public, several systems require users to log in using their account information.

Children's Hearing and Vision Programs


The Ohio Hearing Aid Assistance Program (OHAAP)
Have you heard of the Ohio Hearing Aid Assistance Program (OHAAP)? It can cover the cost of hearing aids, earmolds, hearing aid batteries, assistive listening devices, cochlear implant processor replacement, and bone anchored hearing aids. This program will assist families with incomes of between 200% and 400% of the federal poverty level with the purchase of hearing aids for children from birth to age 26. (Families with income of less than 200% of the FPL should be referred to Medicaid or BCMH for services.). Licensed Audiologists and Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters serving as OHAAP providers have a signed agreement in place with the ODH and can assist with children/youth eligible for the program.  

Want more information contact [email protected] or please follow the link: Ohio Hearing Aid Assistance Program.

For a list of current providers, please follow this link: Ohio Hearing Aid Assistance Providers.  
Ohio Hearing Aid Assistance Program
OHAAP Provider Map

Ohio Amblyope Registry.

The Ohio Amblyope Registry (OAR) is the first and only statewide program in the United States designed to serve the needs of children with amblyopia, commonly known as “lazy eye,” their families, and eye care providers. The Ohio Amblyope Registry provides free eye patches (adhesive or cloth), educational material, compliance material, and literature about amblyopia. All services provided by the registry are free to any amblyope child that resides in Ohio up to 18 years of age. For more information, please visit our website at: https://ohioamblyoperegistry.com/.


The Eye Health Education Program.

Realeyes has been a Save Our Sight community partner in educating Ohio students about the importance of eye health and safety for nearly 25 years. With age-appropriate programs for pre-K through high school, Realeyes receives rave reviews from educators, students, and eye care professionals. Two highlights of the Realeyes program include “What’s Your Eye-Q?” and “Biology & Genetics of the Eye”. “What’s Your Eye-Q?” is a fun and interactive lesson that supports learning standards for grades six through eight. This classroom presentation includes demonstrations, videos, and lab activities to help students build their EYE-Q about the anatomy of sight, vision disorders, vision diseases, and eye safety. Each student receives a take-home worksheet and vision disease simulator card. The presentation is available in multiple formats: an on-demand video to be used at a teacher’s convenience, or as an in-person or Zoom presentation. Biology & Genetics of the Eye is a program that can be used by a high school health or science teacher. Filled with fun, mind-boggling optical illusions and in-class interactive lab activities, this program highlights eye anatomy, eye safety in the lab, disorders and diseases of the eyes, common misconceptions of the eyes, and so much more. Segments of this program can be tailored to classrooms or viewed in its entirety. This program includes a video, accompanying materials, and instructions for lab activities. More information about Realeyes and the other presentations offered can be found at OOA | Realeyes Education Program.
 


The Eye Protection Program.

We have lots of super news to share! This past year brought SuperSpecs some great partnerships, and we had the opportunity to share the importance of eye safety with some super kids all across Ohio. We connected with the Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland, LiFEsports at The Ohio State University, and 4-H, providing them all with eye safety gear for sports and club activities. We continued to support young athletes across the state, supplying teams with the best helmets, face masks, and sports goggles to protect their eyes while playing full out. For the incredible students in career tech, we’ve outfitted them with safety glasses that will help them integrate eye safety practices in the classroom that they can take with them on the job. We’re proud to continue to partner with ophthalmologists and other providers to provide prescription goggles free of charge to qualifying kids who need it most.
We’re so grateful for the Save Our Sight program and all our eye safety advocates for everything they do to help us outfit over 200,000 Ohio youth with protective eyewear. We couldn't do what we do without all of them. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram and find out more at https://superspecs.org/. Until then—stay safe and play super!

New Resources on The Outreach Center for Deafness and Blindness Learning Hub

New resources have been launched on The Outreach Center for Deafness and Blindness at OCALI on the Learning Hub to support instruction and access for learners with low incidence disabilities. The module series Unlocking the Foundations of Reading for Learners who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing is intended to bring reading research to the classroom in a format that is easy for educators to access. Modules 1-3 are available now, with more modules in the series on the way.

Even with high quality instruction, students can’t learn what they can’t access. To support providers in ensuring access for learners who are deaf/hard of hearing, The Outreach Center teamed up with Montgomery County ESC to walk through the Functional Listening Evaluation in an on-demand module with step-by-step instructions, video-based demonstrations, and case studies to apply your learning. If you have any questions on available resources or support for educators, please contact us at [email protected].

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