8/26/24

Dear Special Education Directors,

We want to inform you of an important update regarding our educational interpreter services. Due to a current shortage of educational interpreters, we are facing challenges in providing in-person interpreting services to newly identified itinerant students at this time.

We understand the critical role that educational interpreters play in supporting our itinerant students, and we are actively working to address this shortage. In the interim, please be assured that other services outlined in your contract, including specialized equipment and materials, related services, and non-teaching services, will continue to be available.

We are committed to keeping you informed about any further developments and will update you as soon as we are able to resume full in-person interpreting services.

If this situation affects your district, we will be reaching out to brainstorm possible solutions. Again, this shortage will only affect newly identified students, and should not affect those already receiving interpreting services.

Please contact me if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

Sincerely,

Oran Tkatchov, M.Ed.

Acting Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum/Instruction

The Arizona Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (ASDB) is committed to delivering top-quality services to our member districts. Through our Deaf Programs, we provide skilled Educational Interpreters for D/deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and A.R.S. 36-1946, our Educational Interpreters support students as outlined in their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) throughout the regular school day.

Currently, there is a national shortage of (educational) interpreters, which is impacting our ability to offer in-person interpreting services to newly identified itinerant students. We recognize the essential role that educational interpreters play in supporting these students and are actively working to resolve this issue. Meanwhile, the school or school district, as the Local Education Agency (LEA), will need to directly contract interpreting services to ensure the student’s access to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). You may contact several reputable agencies in the greater Phoenix Metro Area that hold state contracts for interpreting services, including:

• Arizona Freelance Interpreting Services

• Access Professional Interpreting

• Lango

• Accurate Interpreting Services

• Mohave Sign Language

• Swartz Interpreting

• The Sign Language Agency

When contacting an agency, provide the following details for the assignment:

• Start and end time

• School name and address

• Student's name

• Type of assignment

• Onsite contact person

• Parking information

This will help streamline the scheduling process.

9/18/2024

Dear SPED Directors,

ASDB would like to streamline the vouchering process for the ASDB Regional Cooperative students and adhere to the rules of Arizona Department of Education (ADE). This will also reduce duplication of efforts. Starting October 1, 2024 we will be asking that all MET and IEP documents be uploaded directly into AzEDs by the Home School District (HSD) for vouchering as indicated by ESS Data Management AzEDs SPED Reporting ASDB Student Reporting.

This will ensure all documents are in a finalized status from the District of Responsibility (DOR) when being reported to AzEDs. ADE does not accept draft documents and it has become increasingly difficult to get finalized documents in a timely manner so that the vouchering process can be completed in fewer steps.

1. ASDB will initiate the voucher process as indicated on The ADE State Institutions webpage.

2. The District of Responsibility (DOR) will need to upload the current evaluation and IEP data as they are the owners of that data into AzEDs.

3. If ADE rejects the voucher, then ASDB will resubmit the voucher request in AzEDS and the DOR will be responsible for updating the required documentation.

If you have any questions regarding the vouchering process, please feel free to contact your ASDB Regional Director and/or refer to the Institutional Voucher FAQs on ADEs webpage.

Sincerely,

Oran Tkatchov, M.Ed.

Acting Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction

Northern Arizona Region 1/Distance Offices

Greer Martin-Parrish - Director Region 1/Distance

Jodi Steward - Admin Assistant Cottonwood Office

2501 N 4th Street, Suite #22

Flagstaff, AZ 86004

Phone (928) 774-0655

Fax (928) 496-2018

Central Arizona Region 2 Offices

Rosetta Hicks - Director Region 2

Rachel Pulver - Admin Assistant Phoenix Office

2445 W. Dunlap Ave, Suite 200

Phoenix, AZ 85021

Phone (602) 771-5200

Fax (602) 297-6526

Southern Arizona Region 3 Offices

Jason Lilly - Statewide Director and Director Region 3

Gina Lowe - Admin Assistant Tucson Office

Yucca and Saguaro Buildings

1200 W Speedway Blvd.

Tucson, AZ 85745

Phone (520) 770-3200

Fax (520) 437-0138

Vacancy - Admin Assistant Yuma Office

Yuma Office

2450 S. 4th Ave., Suite 600

Yuma, AZ 85364

Phone (928) 331-0429

Fax (520) 770-3782

• Access to medical, audiology, ENT and vision services for uninsured and under-insured school-aged children

• Little out-of-pocket cost for families

• MSP works with a talented network of providers to ensure children receive adequate medical care and prompt attention

Mary McAlevy

Phone (602) 266-4434 (voice)

Fax (602) 250-8263

3443 N. Cental Ave Suite 101

Phoenix, AZ 85012

125 E. Elliot Road

Chandler, AZ 85225

Shelley Herbold

VP (480) 426-9281

Phone (602) 266-4434 (voice)

Fax (602) 250-8331 or (855) 380-4809

11420 N. 19th Avenue

Phoenix, AZ 85029

3262 Bob Drive Suite 12

Prescott Valley, AZ 86314

Catherine Sienko

VP (520) 789-6811

Phone (520) 629-0225 (voice) or (520) 396-0342 (text only)

Fax (602) 250-8261 or (855) 339-4020

4760 South Park Avenue, 1st Floor

Tucson, AZ 85714

Paris Allread

Phone (602) 266-9579 or (602) 849-3670

Fax (602) 264-7819 or (855) 380-4809

3443 N. Central Avenue, Suite 101

Phonenix, AZ 857012

3262 Bob Drive, Suite 12

Prescott Valley, AZ 86314

1701 North 4th Street

Flagstaff, AZ 86005

Rosa Ramos

Phone (520) 629-0225

Fax (602) 250-8331 or (855) 380 4809

125 E. Elliot Road

Chandler, AZ 85225

4760 South Park Avenue, 1st Floor

Tucson, AZ 85714