This paper represents one of the products of the ongoing collaboration between the directors
of three service centers for persons who are labeled as "low functioning" Deaf or Hard of Hearing
persons, Community Outreach Program for the Deaf/Valley Center of the Deaf, Lexington Center and
the Southwest Center for the Hearing Impaired. This is intended expand the ongoing discussion
between service programs, educational programs, schools, advocates, research centers and federal
program representatives regarding the challenges that persons who are labeled as "low functioning"
present to the education and rehabilitation system.