Summary: Testimony was given concerning deaf/blind children and the centers and services available for them. Estimates of the deaf/blind children population for 1982 range from 2,600 to 5,400. GAO found that most rubella epidemic deaf/blind children appear to have been located by the centers. Some rubella epidemic children will be ineligible for services in 1985, and all will be ineligible by the end of 1988. GAO stated that center activities seem to be fulfilling their objectives of providing counseling and consulting services and training teachers. However, the quality of these services has not been evaluated. The centers have failed to develop and demonstrate new improved ways to serve these children. Centers seem to allocate most of their funds to subcontracts, but the distribution of purchases of direct and indirect services and technical assistance is unclear. Although the actual cost per child served by the centers is not known, average center expenditures range from about $1,600 to about $5,600 per child per award.
