Feds Launch Competition for DeafBlind Services
The U.S. government has announced a new competition for state technical assistance projects to improve services for children who are DeafBlind. The initiative is part of a broader push to enhance support for students with high-needs and multiple disabilities.
This new competition from the Department of Education will provide an estimated $1,022,860 in grants for up to eight states in fiscal year 2026. The grants are intended to establish and operate State DeafBlind Projects in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. The application deadline for these discretionary grants is April 21, 2026. The projects are authorized under Part D of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which supports national activities to improve education for children with disabilities through technical assistance and dissemination of information. This initiative follows a turbulent period for DeafBlind services in these same states. In September 2025, the Department of Education unexpectedly halted funding for their existing projects, citing concerns that their grant applications referenced diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts. The move affected programs serving approximately 1,365 children and their families. Following a public outcry, the funding was restored in October 2025, but it was rerouted through a different organization and guaranteed for only one year. This new competition appears to re-establish a more direct and long-term funding stream for technical assistance in those states, with projects funded for up to 24 months. State DeafBlind Projects are part of a national network that provides crucial support to educators and families. They offer training and resources to address the unique and complex communication, developmental, and educational needs of children who have combined hearing and vision loss. The National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB) supports these state-level projects. The overall goal is to enhance early identification, improve family engagement, and ensure children who are DeafBlind can access the general education curriculum and successfully transition to adult life.
