Lane of Inquiry

The mission

To serve the deafblind community through expanding and bringing to practice family educational research specific to deafblindness.

Why I started Lane of Inquiry...

I am a researcher. I am an academic. But, first and foremost, I am a mother. A mother to four wonderful, amazing boys. Two of them, Conner & Dalton, are deafblind. Their conditions shape their lives - our family's life - everyday.

So, with this site, I have two perspectives to share: both as a parent of children who are deafblind and as a professional. As a parent, I’ve been to countless IEP meetings, advocating for Conner and Dalton’s needs. As a professional, I am a special education family researcher. There is a critical need for more research to improve family-professional partnerships that relate to our specific student population; to find ways for families to partner with schools, ensuring the best outcomes for our children.

This site blends my two perspectives. It is a place to ask questions and find answers. To highlight challenges and find solutions. A place to find support, knowledge and hope.

Lanya McKittrick seated on couch smiling at the camera

About Lane of Inquiry

I'm Lane McKittrick, mother & researcher. Please learn more about or mission & why I founded this organization.

Desk with papers and charts. Womans hand holding pen

Research

As a professional researcher, I dive into areas that matter to families with children who are deafblind. Here are my current and past projects.

Young boy smiling with hearing aid seated on moms lap in therapists office Black therapist teaching child sign language

Support

Knowing where to turn when you have questions or challenges can be overwhelming. Here's a list of vetted resources.

The Challenge

Deafblindness isn't a common disability. As such, it is often misunderstood by Individualized Education Program teams. Deafblindness is heterogeneous - which means it impacts each individual differently. If you have a child who is deafblind, you understand the unique challenges involved and how important it is to ensure students who are deafblind receive necessary educational support.