The Annual Survey of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children and Youth, 1975-1994 was administered by the Center for Assessment and Demographic Studies (CADS) at Gallaudet University, Washington, DC. The project, a nationwide, longitudinal survey conducted every year since 1968, tracks the educational and demographic characteristics of deaf and hard-of-hearing students receiving special education services in schools throughout the United States.

The purpose of the study has been to determine the size of the special education deaf and hard-of-hearing population of the United States and to describe its characteristics in ways that are useful to educators, program planners, legislators, and other researchers. The survey has played an important role in providing quality data for the discussion and debates leading to improvements in the field of education for these children. Educators have used Annual Survey data to provide national, state, and local level administrators, legislators, and the public at large with information about national needs and services, about changes taking place in the educational services in which these students are enrolled, and about various trends in their education. The Annual Survey data base includes approximately 65% of all deaf and hard-of-hearing children receiving special educational services in the United States.