By Dr. Michelle Handley The Basic Components of a Communication Program For a child who is deafblind, a coordinated effort by all caregivers across all environments is important to standardize communication (especially if it is non-verbal) and ensure appropriate access to communication. A communication program is a way to collect and organize this information in … Read more
Envision the best life possible for everyone. A world where ALL are valued for their contributions and gifts, a community where people with disabilities can live their best lives? Everyone makes plans. Individuals with disabilities are no different. Person-centered planning (PCP) is grounded in the idea that every person has a purpose and contributes to … Read more
Spending an evening painting on canvas is a favorite of mine. I’m not a naturally skilled artist so before the painting begins, planning must occur. I know my skills and limitations, therefore making a beautiful landscape like Bob Ross with the swish of a brush is not something I can do. It’s more defined as … 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
Check out our great informational video about working as a partnership between school and family. It really does take a village!
“Hey, what’s the big idea?” When reading a story, how do you know what the author is trying to tell you? You figure it out based on your life experiences and what you know about the topic. Learners with combined vision and hearing loss may not have life experiences on which to build when participating … Read more
Annual IEP meetings are an essential component of providing an appropriate education for a child with a disability. They are the vehicle that allows us to develop plans specific to each child, which is the beauty of special education. So why do we dread them? The amount of information that must be covered can be … Read more
by Patricia Dischinger Most of us are familiar with the Communication Matrix and have used it as an assessment tool to determine a level of expressive communication for our learners with complex needs and/or DeafBlindness. The Communication Matrix rates the level of communicative competence the learner is using to express the four basic reasons for … Read more
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
by Patricia Dischinger As a technical assistance consultant who works with teachers of children with DeafBlindness ages birth-five, I am constantly talking with teachers about the importance of independence for children with DeafBlindness including helping them develop the ability to explore their environment independently and to actively participate in their daily activities. Two techniques that … Read more