The state department of public instruction is hereby authorized to expend available funds for the purpose of sending children who are deaf-blind, or otherwise severely handicapped to any facility, school, or institution, within or without the state of Kansas, providing a qualified program of education for such children. Such funds may be spent for evaluation and diagnosis, room, board, tuition, transportation, and other items which are necessarily relevant to the education of such children. In interpreting and carrying out the provisions of this act, the words “deaf-blind children” whenever used, will be construed to include any child of educable mind whose combination of handicaps of deafness and blindness prevents him from profiting satisfactorily from educational programs provided for the blind child or the deaf child; and the words “otherwise severely handicapped children,” wherever used, will be construed to include any child of educable mind whose handicap or combination of handicaps prevents him from profiting satisfactorily from educational programs provided through a sponsoring public school district in this state.