Overview
What is NEC?
(NEC) represents a consortium of consultants, state and regional partners who share a commitment to evidenced-based approaches to support children and youth with combined vision and hearing loss (deafblindness). Serving the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, we are committed to supporting families, professionals, and the wider community in the delivery of services that result in improved educational outcomes. Funded by the federal Office of Special Education, and with a regional office at Perkins School for the Blind, NEC personnel provide services to a variety of programs and agencies, with the primary purpose of building state and local capacity to serve children and youth with combined vision and hearing loss.
Our Vision
To improve educational outcomes for children with combined vision and hearing loss, through the integration of effective practices within educational systems.
Our Mission
To lead, promote, and foster the development and implementation of Effective Instruction and Approaches, within home, school, community and work environments. NEC aspires to improve awareness and expertise in combined sensory loss, prioritizing optimal assessment, instruction, and service delivery.
Our Values
- Collaboration with local, state, and regional partners (agencies, families, and professionals) to improve identification, referral, and service delivery for children with combined vision and hearing loss and their families.
- Engagement of families in all aspects of educational planning and assessment.
- Trained personnel with the skills necessary to conduct valid assessment, provide effective instruction, and perform consistent progress monitoring (educators, para/interveners, and related service providers).
- Use of Effective Instruction and Approaches to serve a wide range of children with a variety of sensory abilities and conditions.
- Systems that promote and support professional development for service providers ((infants to age 21).
- Sharing and leveraging of local, state, and regional expertise, and resources.
Core Values
Excellence
NEC values excellence in education, practice, and research. We are committed to upholding the highest clinical and ethical standards, professional accountability, and integrity.
Evidence-Based Services
NEC evaluates and promotes evidence to improve professional practice. We are committed to upholding practice standards in early intervention, school-based instruction, and transition planning, and applying this knowledge and expertise to make the best decisions. We strongly support the use of quality measurement to improve instruction for all children (infants to young adulthood).
Formal Education
NEC promotes the certification of practitioners (teachers, interveners, related service personnel) based on completion of recognized and accredited education programs. We support interprofessional education with other professionals to improve educational services, and develop leaders in the fields of combined vision and hearing loss, sensory loss with additional disabilities, and multiple disabilities.
Family Engagement
NEC values the involvement of families and caregivers in key aspects of educational planning and evaluation. Families are encouraged to advocate effectively for their children, using information from learning opportunities and networking with other families.
Inclusiveness
Through a lens that promotes a culture of inclusion in which diverse identities are respected, sought after, and embraced, NEC shall carry forward its objectives so that constituents may rise to leadership roles, including families and professionals. This encompasses, but is not limited to: race, ethnicity, culture, class, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, physical and intellectual ability, learning style, nationality, citizenship, age, professional background, and degree.
Partnership
Our members build partnerships with families and others by providing support in a shared decision-making process. To further integrate the use of effective intervention into the educational system we collaborate with stakeholders, agencies, and advocates in order to guide identification and referrals, and provide optimal services to as many children as possible.
Advocacy
NEC represents family and professional voices and opinions. We campaign on behalf of children, families, our partners, and educational professionals to eliminate disparities, and increase access to evidence-based, quality services. This includes the promotion of standards for continuing competency; resources for learning and professional development; and increasing awareness of the needs of learners with combined vision and hearing loss (deafblindness).