Children with typical hearing and vision learn to communicate by watching and listening to others. But children who are deafblind have limited access to learning this way. They need knowledgeable educators who understand how deafblindness impacts learning--who know how to assess a child's communication and plan for and engage in meaningful…

The hands often serve as the eyes and ears of children who are deaf-blind. The hand-under-hand technique involves gently placing your hands underneath or alongside the hands of a child with deaf-blindness to help them explore and engage with the world around them. When used effectively, the hand-under-hand technique provides respectful, tactile…

Because of the diversity and complexity of deaf-blindness, the task of assessment is "best approached with the mindset that you are engaged in a process of discovery" (Rowland, 2009). It incorporates a variety of methods including observation, interviews with people who know a child well, evaluations by specialists, and direct…

A learning environment can either enhance or prevent access to information and social interaction for children and youth with deaf-blindness as well as impact their attention and engagement. The process of preparing learning spaces to optimize learning should consider: (1) How a child will navigate within those spaces; (2) How and where the child…

Early childhood instruction is a significant milestone in the development of a child. Educators, psychologists, and other school experts have developed materials and methods to make instructional practices more inclusive. During the process of educational reform, specialists in the field of education were confronted with epistemological concerns.…

Professionals in the authors' setting -- The Children's Center for Communication/Beverly School for the Deaf (CCCBSD) -- embed foundational language comprehension strategies within language-rich environments. This occurs in traditional classrooms as well as in a variety of other settings, such as therapeutic services, programs in related arts…

This NCDB Practice Guide outlines the essential components and associated skills for building trusting relationships with children who are deaf-blind. Relationships grounded in trust and mutual respect increase opportunities for learning and communication. They create a sense of safety, minimize anxiety, and empower individuals to explore and…

This document provides information to contextualize Positive Behavioral Interventions & Support (PBIS) in the classroom for deaf students to better address unique needs and create more effective learning environments. Guided by PBIS core features, "top ten" practices are identified to support and respond to students' social,…

Music is a way of representing the patterns of frequencies and vibrational relationships--and at St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf, it is used it to promote language learning and transform students' educational experiences. Traditionally defined through the medium of sound, music has been seen as an approach that excludes deaf and hard of…

Children and youth are available to learn when they are ready to engage with people, absorb information, and pay attention to what is occurring around them. They are alert, attentive, and interested but not overstimulated. Optimizing availability for learning involves a systematic analysis and understanding of the internal and external factors…

This article describes one family's journey with their child, Teresa, who was diagnosed with a mild-to-moderate hearing loss in her left ear and a condition known as hypotonia shortly after birth. Through the course of several tests and diagnoses over the years, Teresa was diagnosed as deaf-blind. After Teresa's needs outgrew what Maryland School…

The coeditors of an "American Annals of the Deaf" special issue on deafblindness introduce readers to critical issues surrounding children and youth who are deafblind. These issues--early identification, communication, social-emotional needs, family and multicultural issues, universal design and assistive technology, transition planning,…

The term "active learning" is used in a variety of educational contexts. As described in this guide, however, it refers to an instructional approach developed by Lilli Nielsen--a Danish psychologist--for promoting the learning and development of children who have significant support needs. Nielsen's Active Learning involves a range of…

This brief, co-produced by the National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB) and Accessible Teaching, Learning, and Assessment Systems (ATLAS), provides important information about students with dual sensory loss who also have significant cognitive disabilities, as well as recommendations for identification and implications for instruction. The…

Students who are Deaf with Disabilities (DWD) comprise an extremely heterogeneous population. Similar to students who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), students who are DWD vary in terms of degree, type, and age at onset of hearing loss, amplification, and preferred communication method. However, students who are DWD are also diverse in terms…