Moniqua Gallop We all have things we like and things we don’t like. At the risk of sounding old, I like watching old Columbo reruns. I’ve seen the episodes multiple times and still enjoy them all. I don’t like old cowboy TV shows but my husband loves watching them. They are just an invitation to fall asleep … Read more
Recently, I did a presentation for the NC Beginnings Parent Educators about services available for learners with DeafBlindness and I happened to mention the iCanConnect DeafBlind Equipment Distribution Program. Immediately several of the parent educators asked me to stop and explain what this program was! iCanConnect is a federal program administered locally in all 50 … Read more
Several Early Intervention teachers have told me that they would like to know more about how to use the results they get on the Communication Matrix Assessment to plan for the next communication steps for their students and develop activities to reach those targets. After you have completed the Communication Matrix and received input from … Read more
After working for the DeafBlind Project’s ECU teacher support program as the designated person for Early Intervention, I have come to find out that one of the biggest issues facing DeafBlind Projects all over the country is the under-reporting of children with DeafBlindness 0-3 on the states’ DeafBlind Census. The graph below shows the percentage … Read more
As teachers and support staff, how do you describe your students with DeafBlindness to other professionals? Do you tend to focus on their abilities or their disabilities? We have all likely heard the idea of using ‘people first’ language but do we also think and speak in ‘ability first’ language? It’s important to take into … Read more
The annual DeafBlind Census is just around the corner. In some ways, the DeafBlind Census reminds me of my favorite childhood swimming pool game of Marco Polo. We know that learners with DeafBlindness and their families live throughout the State of North Carolina, but identifying and locating them can be a challenge. Imagine being a … Read more
So you may have heard about person-centered planning but you’re not sure of the details. Well, we’ve provided our own question-and-answer session to help you understand! What is Person-Centered Planning? A valuable tool that can be used in a variety of ways to assist in meaningful educational and life planning using a holistic approach for … Read more
Touch is the primary sense of all sensorimotor learners. ~ Millie Smith, 2015 When we think of communication, we tend to think of auditory and visual options first. But how does this affect learners with DeafBlindness? Are visual and auditory methods their first line of communication? Are they the most effective routes if the learner … Read more
Being closed off from communication opportunities can be tough on any of us. Imagine how tough it can be for individuals with DeafBlindness who, without access to communication methods, may have limited awareness/interactions with their environment. It is our job as educators to ensure that they have the resources needed to receive and initiate communication. … Read more
One of the biggest issues facing DeafBlind Projects all over the country is the under-reporting of children with DeafBlindness birth to three years on the states’ DeafBlind Census. This is a problem because the early years are so important in a child’s overall development. Young children with dual sensory impairment must begin receiving individualized services … Read more