Agency to receive subgrant from National Center on Deafblindness
MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction announced today it has secured new funding to continue critical services for deafblind children and young adults across the state. This comes after the unexpected and sudden termination of federal funding for the Wisconsin Deafblind Technical Assistance Project.
“I am deeply grateful to the families, educators, and advocates who raised their voices and shared their powerful stories,” State Superintendent Dr. Underly said. “Because of their courage and persistence, the importance of the WDBTAP came into focus — and helped protect an essential lifeline for children and families across Wisconsin.”
In September, the U.S. Department of Education notified the DPI that it was ending the federal grant that supported the WDBTAP, a program serving 170 learners from birth to age 21 who are both deaf and blind. The project was in the middle of a five-year grant cycle totaling more than $550,000, originally expected to continue through September 2028.
The USDE cited a shift in federal policy priorities as the reason for terminating the grant, stating the program “reflect(ed) the prior administration’s priorities and policy preferences and conflict(ed) with those of the current administration.” The DPI appealed the decision, but the appeal was denied on Sept. 23, 2025.
To prevent disruption of services, the DPI successfully secured a subgrant from the National Center on Deafblindness, led by the Helen Keller National Center for Deafblind Youths and Adults.
“Families should never be put in a position where they’re left wondering if essential services will simply vanish,” Dr. Underly said. “While this is a win for Wisconsin’s deafblind learners and their families, it does not erase the reality that many were met with uncertainty and chaos just as the school year began.
“We will continue to fight for the needs of all Wisconsin kids and secure the stable and well-resourced schools they deserve.”
This funding will allow the WDBTAP to continue offering essential services across Wisconsin for the next year, including providing assistive technology tools, specialized coaching and training for educators, family support and consultation, professional development for service providers across Wisconsin, and more.
For more information on the WDBTAP, visit the DPI’s website.
