The present study evaluated a systematic instructional package including the system of least prompts (SLP) to teach differentiation and selection of tangible symbols to continue activities for two children with complex support needs and deafblindness (DB). A multiple probe design across three symbols was used to evaluate the intervention package…

Despite the importance of writing skill development, we know very little about how writing instruction is provided to students with visual impairments (VI) with and without co-occurring disabilities (e.g., multiple disabilities, deaf-blindness). The purpose of this study was to survey a national sample of U.S. teachers of students with visual…

Seven classrooms of students with deaf-blindness or visual and multiple impairments were observed to document the emergent literacy supports that were present, including environmental characteristics, strategies, or activities. The findings revealed that the majority of classrooms used emergent literacy supports that were previously documented for…

Intended for those working with deaf blind children, the document discusses strategies for developing language. Information on objectives, materials, and methods are presented for 10 levels of language development: the nonresponsive child, the child with differentiated crying, the child who demonstrates "stimulus-response" behavior to situational…

The manual describes a procedure to assess to what extent a deaf-blind multiply handicapped student uses his residual hearing in the classroom. Six levels of auditory functioning (awareness/reflexive, attention/alerting, localization, auditory discrimination, recognition, and comprehension) are analyzed, and assessment activities are detailed for…

Keith Park, advisory teacher for Sense (the National Deafblind Rubella Association) in Greenwich and Lewisham, London, has written about his approach to interactive storytelling for BJSE before. This article describes a series of poetry workshops based on chapters 37 to 45 of the Book of Genesis (the story of Joseph and his family) using the text…

The process of instructing a deaf blind student (17 years old) in reading with the Optacon is described. (SBH)

The article presents eight lessons for teaching practical signs to deaf-blind individuals. (CL)

Presented are 30 papers given at a 5-day international conference on serving deaf-blind children. Additionally provided are the conference agenda, a review of the conference, reports of the nominations and resolutions committees, and a list of conference participants. Among the papers are the following titles: "Programs for Non-Verbal Children",…

The document presents five papers from a conference involving educators of deaf, blind, and deaf blind children. In "Challenge--Educating Deaf-Blind Children," F. Roberts discusses common societal concepts regarding the deaf blind, the teacher's role in dealing with these children, and the developmental approach to educational planning…

The paper outlines an educational scheme whereby teachers of severely mentally retarded and multiply-handicapped children (including deaf/blind children) can assess the prelanguage levels of children on a hierarchical language schedule, which culminates in the acquisition of natural gesture. (Author)

The SKI*HI Institute (Utah) has developed a system of coactive signing for children who are deaf and blind. The system includes optimized coactive signs that are functional, easy to feel, easy to relate to the referent, and easy to make. It also includes techniques for effective coactive sign use. Videotapes of lessons are described. (Author/DB)

This article explains a movement-based approach to the development of language in children with deaf-blindness. This approach uses the salient features of individuals or objects to stimulate use of language in the immediate environment, and later to refer to persons or concepts in a more abstract fashion. It stresses the use of structure and a…