2.
A child who is deaf or hard of hearing
learns through vision.
A child who is blind or visually impaired
learns through hearing.
A child who is DeafBlind
learns through touch
Think about this:
3.
A child who is DeafBlind
learns through touch supplementing whatever vision
and hearing is left. He/she may not have enough vision
or hearing to learn the way children learn in programs
for the deaf/hard of hearing or for the blind/visually
impaired. This is also true for other special and general
education placements.
4.
Federal Definition of Deafblindness
“Deafblindness means concomitant hearing and vision
impairments, the combination of which causes such severe
communication and other developmental and educational
needs that they cannot be accommodated in special
education programs solely for children with deafness or
children with blindness”. (IDEA, 2004)
5.
An educational program that takes into consideration
the unique learning needs of each child will have to be
specifically designed for him/her, with particular
attention to the input of information, communication
skills, and consistent access to communication.
6.
Major Causes of Deaf-Blindness
Syndromes
Down
Trisomy 13
Usher
Multiple Congenital Anomalies
CHARGE Association
Fetal alcohol syndrome
Hydrocephaly
Maternal drug abuse
Microcephaly
Prematurity
Congenital Prenatal Dysfunction
AIDS
Herpes
Rubella
Syphilis
Toxoplasmosis
Post-natal Causes
Asphyxia
Encephalitis
Head injury/trauma
Meningitis
Stroke
7.
limited information available to him or her
Behavioral and emotional difficulties
depend upon the good will and sensitivity of those
around them to make their world safe and
understandable.
challenge of learning to communicate
challenge of learning to move about in the world as
freely and independently as possible.
Communication…Communication…Communication
…
Challenges Facing a Person
who is Deaf-Blind
9.
touch cues
gestures
object symbols
picture symbols
sign language
fingerspelling
Signed English
Pidgin Signed English
braille writing and reading
Tadoma method of speech reading
American Sign Language
large print writing and reading
lip-reading speech
Principal communication systems for persons who are
deaf-blind are these:
10.
Educational Intervention is Critical to Children who are
DeafBlind
Children who are DeafBlind need early intervention,
which includes:
Individual 1:1 attention to stimulate their interest and
understanding of the world around them.
Direct teaching of information and experiences that
other children pick up naturally from "overhearing" or
"overseeing" what others say or do. Firsthand
experiences are much more effective ways for them to
learn than incidental observation or group experiences.
11.
Sensory experiences make us aware of our environment.
They are the basis upon which we build our knowledge
of the world, others, and ourselves. When people see or
hear, they are stimulated to interact with the
environment. Individuals with combined vision and
hearing losses have limited access to information, and
may miss out on the incidental learning that other
people automatically have access to through sight,
hearing and communication. These children will need to
be taught many things that hearing and sighted children
learn effortlessly.
13.
Does DEAFBLIND mean that there is no useable
hearing or vision?
Absolutely not. Only about 6% of children who are
DeafBlind are totally deaf and totally blind. Most have
useable residual hearing and vision, but even a “mild”
combination of losses will impact their access to
information, communication, and all the information
required for learning to take place.
Questions???
14.
Yes, but not necessarily. Up to 80% of children with
hearing and vision losses also have other disabilities (such
as cerebral palsy, physical or cognitive disabilities).
The hearing and vision loss may also be a part of a
syndrome (such as CHARGE or Usher Syndrome). In all
cases, the impact of the combined sensory loss greatly
affects a child's access to information, concept
development, and communication. A wide range of
cognitive and developmental abilities exist among
children with a combined vision and hearing loss, from
gifted to profound impairment.
What about children with
multiple disabilities - can
they be DeafBlind?
15.
Communication/language development
Movement and motor development
Cognitive development and the ability to learn
Emotional/social development
Body image and self-concept
What are the different
developmental areas
affected?
