This blog is provided by David Pacetti, TVI, Gaston County Schools. Mr. Pacetti serves students at Webb Street School. It’s not one big conversation that makes the difference for two DB students at Webb St School. It’s a lot of little conversations. They usually start with “Have you seen…” and end with “What if we…”. … Read more
Every action has a reaction. Just imagine that you really wanted a drink of water but were not able to communicate your needs to anyone. So frustrating! Imagine if you had a headache and were not able to describe how you were feeling. Or what if you were having a bad day and weren’t able … Read more
It’s hard for us as hearing and sighted people to imagine what it would be like to have a dual sensory impairment. As I get older and my hearing and vision change, I am amazed at how dependent I am on my glasses! Sometimes when I go to the store I might come home with … Read more
Check out great informational video about CVI with Marcy Meachum.
Dr. Michelle Handley The post Positive Touch from October 6, 2022, defines the two major ways we process touch, discriminative and social/emotional, and briefly mentions the importance of using hand-under-hand when working with students. This article will expand on that information by describing how to use touch appropriately to engage in communication with a child … Read more
Anyone working with children with complex medical issues and/or DeafBlindness will have encountered children with the diagnosis of Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI). CVI is a brain based visual impairment which requires different approaches and strategies than other non-brain based visual impairments. Chris Russell has provided us with a handy Fact Sheet on CVI that covers … Read more
Time is not always on our side when it comes to completing classroom responsibilities. So many things to do and so little time to do them! How can we get it all done? Welcome to the idea of embedded scheduling! Infusing content areas into a variety of activities help with addressing time efficiency to manage … 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 … Read more
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