Meet Our ECU TSP Team!

The East Carolina University Teacher Support Program for Learners with DeafBlindness offers services for teachers, administrators, and other professionals who work with students on the North Carolina DeafBlind census. We are here to help as you begin your school year or anytime through the year that you may want/need assistance! Please feel free to contact … Read more

Teaching Skills Versus Teaching Concepts: What’s the Difference?

Imagine sitting peacefully in a really dark room while wearing noise-cancelling headphones feeling relaxed and comfortable. You’re feeling at-ease in the quiet, dark room with your arms resting on the table in front of you when all-of-a-sudden, something grabs your hand and presses it onto a strange-feeling, unrecognizable object. You startle, panic, and scream out … Read more

What is CHARGE?

By Jen Chao What is CHARGE? It is an all-encompassing genetic syndrome that affects the entire body. CHARGE occurs in week 2 of pregnancy, when a chromosome flips to cause five defects, typically before the mother knows she’s pregnant. The diagnosis is identified by the presence of the same 5 defects, each letter standing for … Read more

Creating Experience Books: A Team Approach

Experience books provide very highly motivating and meaningful methods of developing communication and socialization within literacy lessons/events. They provide opportunities for students to use objects, pictures, or words that are familiar to them across different settings and with different people. The topics are endless and can grow with the student. These books are great for … Read more

The Usher Syndrome Coalition – Building the Usher Syndrome Community, One Person at a Time.

By Nancy O’Donnell The Usher Syndrome Coalition – Building the Usher Syndrome Community, One Person at a Time. Usher syndrome (USH) is the most common genetic cause of combined deafness and blindness. It is a rare disease, impacting an estimated 400,000 individuals worldwide and 20-50,000 individuals in the United States. (1,2) While there is currently … Read more