The Accessible Pathways Project aims to better understand and support multilingual learners (MLs) who are blind or have low vision (BLV) and those who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH).

This project is a collaborative effort led by the Minnesota Department of Education and WIDA (housed in the Wisconsin Center for Education Research) that launched in 2025 with a grant through the U.S. Department of Education’s Competitive Grants for State Assessments competition. Kansas is a supporting state in this grant. 

Project activities include gathering information about multilingual learners who are deaf or hard of hearing and blind or low vision to inform the development of accessible and appropriate practices and measures. The project also focuses on establishing communities of practice made up of educators and professionals who work with these students, with the goal of sharing resources and building educator capacity around evidence-based practices.  

WIDA is recruiting for Communities of Practice (CoPs) 

• WIDA is looking for participants with a range of relevant experience and expertise in working with multilingual learners who are blind or have low vision and those who are deaf or hard of hearing to participate in two Communities of Practice as part of the Accessible Pathways grant.​ 
• Apply to be considered for participation by filling out the Accessible Pathways Communities of Practice survey by Nov. 7, at 11:59 p.m. WIDA will begin to reach out to selected individuals in November and December.​ 
• More information available here. ​ 

Contact Cary Rogers, cary.rogers@ksde.gov, with questions.