Texas Deafblind Child Count

Overview

The Texas Education Agency (TEA), Division of Special Education, is required to report annually on individuals, 0–21 years of age, who are deafblind in Texas. Through the Deafblind Child Count, TEA must annually report:

• the number of children who meet the criteria for being reported on the Deafblind Child Count served by age, severity, sex, and nature of deafblindness; and
• the types of services provided and the setting in which the services are provided.

The Deafblind Child Count provides information that is used for regional and statewide planning to develop funding and appropriate services for infants, children, and youth who are deafblind. This child count report is more inclusive and extensive than the Child Count report done at the end of October required under the IDEA.

The data needed should reflect the number of students with a visual impairment who were in the school district as of January 2, 2026, or the first day the district resumed following the winter holiday. The deadline to complete registration is January 31, 2026. Superintendent signatures will be tentatively due electronically by February 16, 2026.

NOTE: Every student who is considered deafblind (or has IDEA eligibility for both VI and D/HH) on the VI Registration must be included on the Deafblind Child Count. Also, every student who is included on the Deafblind Child Count must be included on the Registration of Students in Texas with Visual Impairments.

Questions About Eligibility

For information regarding eligibility, and other frequently asked questions regarding this count, please reference our Texas Deafblind Project webpage “Let’s Talk Deafblind Eligibility.”

It is important to point out that the federal definition of deafblindness is a functional definition that goes beyond the medical and clinical determination of the severity of two major sensory deficits and focuses on evidence of the need for modification of special education practice.

Deafblind Eligibility FAQ

Consent for Release of Confidential Information

Each student who is registered as a student in Texas with a visual impairment, a student who is deafblind, or a student with a visual impairment under Section 504 must have consent for sharing that information with other agencies. The consent form allows us to share their information for funding and resources available from the American Printing House for the Blind, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), Blind Children’s Program; HHSC Early Intervention program; Texas Workforce Commission; regional Education Service Centers; and other agencies.

Collecting Consent: You must collect this consent annually. However, you do not need to use a specific form. We have attached a consent form for your convenience, but you may accept and file any of the following:

• Email, text message, or handwritten note.
• Documented verbal consent.
• Your own district’s release form.

Important Note: Consent is for funding, not registration. If a parent/guardian refuses consent (or does not reply), you must still register the student in the system. Simply indicate “No Consent” where appropriate. Do not omit the student from the count.

Consent Form

Resources

• Login Instruction Guide
• Letter of Support from the Office of Special Education Programs

Need Assistance?

• Please direct initial inquiries to your Education Service Center listed in your email notification regarding the counts. They can assist with most questions regarding the count process.
• If further assistance is required, please contact Brian Sobeck at TSBVI Outreach.