Most children who are congenitally deafblind are severely delayed in their communication development and many will not achieve symbolic understanding and expression. This article discusses developmental markers cited in the research literature as predictive of or facilitative of the development of symbolism. These markers include the growth toward…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of grandparents in the communication development of children who are deafblind. The two-tiered study was conducted through State Projects for Deafblind Children in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee with 143 parents and 80 grandparents. The grandparents identified as "most involved"…

This study analyzed the current recreational practices and the barriers faced by 54 youths who are deaf-blind. The most common recreational activities were swimming, swinging, walking, climbing, and biking, and the greatest perceived barriers were the disability itself, lack of knowledge, lack of programming, lack of staff, and inadequate…

This final report describes the activities and accomplishments of a 3-year project in New York City on the formation and maintenance of social relationships and social networks of children and adolescents with deaf-blindness. Research activities attempted to: (1) identify patterns of social interaction and social networks across educational…

This employment assessment tool for parents of young adults with deaf-blindness was created to assist in examining strengths and weaknesses of various employment programs in relation to their child's employment wants and needs, to guide parents in advocating for what is needed from a specific job to ensure their child's success, and to provide a…

This paper describes the planning of a qualitative research methodology to develop strategies to improve and expand social interaction skills of deaf-blind students in supported employment settings. Characteristics of qualitative research are delineated and include: definition of the domain of the research; an evolving study design; behavior…

This manual is intended to assist in developing augmentative communication systems for deaf-blind children. After a brief introduction, section II provides an overview of general augmentative communication systems and theory. Section III presents a general decision-making process for developing and selecting augmentative communication systems for…

This booklet presents a series of play activities and interventions to facilitate development of social and communicative skills in young children who have visual impairments, hearing impairments, or both. The more than 100 activities attempt to increase the early communication and language competencies of young children. An appendix provides an…

This extensive report describes and provides documentation on Special Communications Services for the Sensory Impaired (SCS), a Virginia-based telecommunications delivery system developed by the Center for Excellence, Inc. (CenTex), to provide information and entertainment broadcasting services to the visually handicapped, the hearing impaired,…

A video tape showing behavior of a deaf blind child was used to demonstrate behavioral change in unstructured, stimulus, task analysis, and interpersonal orientations over a 4-year period. (Author/MC)

Part 1 of the 'Directory of Programs and Services for the Deaf in the United States' includes data on hearing impaired school leavers, a summary of current and future provisions for multiple handicapped deaf students, and information on educational programs for the deaf and for professionals in deafness. (LS)

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…

This volume contains six documents that represent the results of a year-long, statewide study and planning effort for developing a program to serve the deaf-blind population in Kansas. The first document discusses the perceived problems and includes a study of the history of national, regional and state efforts, the initial project goals and…

Fifteen papers from special study institutes and workshops focus on understanding planning, providing residential and community services, and traininq for the deaf-blind. Included are the following titles and authors: "Definition of the Problem" (L. Smith); "Normalcy of the Abnormal--Body and Sense Thinking Development of the Organically Impaired"…