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"What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight"
Mark 10:51 |
Hearing Loss and Visual Impairments
Ideas for the Blind and Visually Impaired
*Individuals with Cortical Visual Impairments (CVI) have inconsistent vision making accommodations a challenge. Talk with parents and the individual to figure out the most useful way to help.
*If completely blind, outline art projects with wiki sticks, puff paint, dried glue (see picture), or take a crayon to a raised surfaces- such as a window screen-and trace the outline (see picture). This way they can feel the edges to color the picture and get the sense of what a picture is. (This is also how you can teach the concept of the picture to someone completely blind or deaf-blind). If they have a little vision, use bright and bold contrasting colors of puff paint, crayon or wiki sticks.
*If completely blind, outline art projects with wiki sticks, puff paint, dried glue (see picture), or take a crayon to a raised surfaces- such as a window screen-and trace the outline (see picture). This way they can feel the edges to color the picture and get the sense of what a picture is. (This is also how you can teach the concept of the picture to someone completely blind or deaf-blind). If they have a little vision, use bright and bold contrasting colors of puff paint, crayon or wiki sticks.
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*Bring objects (not toys) to go with lessons and help them feel the objects if they have physical impairments. Putting pressure directly on their hands can distort the feel--sometimes placing their hands on top of yours and letting them feel it with their finger tips works best.
*Use contrast in color for words or pictures against background to help with vision. Use primary colors, black and white.
*Use contrast in color for words or pictures against background to help with vision. Use primary colors, black and white.
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"He maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak."
Mark 7:37 |
Ideas for Deafness and Hearing Loss
*Speak in a normal voice level near their ear. Some you want to check with them or their parent for which ear(s) has hearing.
*If you shout or over move your lips, they can't lip read, so again, speak normally.
*Be understanding of beeping that might come from a hearing aide.
*Talk to the individual and not their interpreter if they have one.
*Maintain eye contact throughout the conversation.
*Great teaching tools are pictures, visual aides, and even videos, particularly since many individuals who are deaf find reading difficult.
Below are some basic signs that the Deaf or even some nonverbal children will use to communicate basic wants or needs:
*If you shout or over move your lips, they can't lip read, so again, speak normally.
*Be understanding of beeping that might come from a hearing aide.
*Talk to the individual and not their interpreter if they have one.
*Maintain eye contact throughout the conversation.
*Great teaching tools are pictures, visual aides, and even videos, particularly since many individuals who are deaf find reading difficult.
Below are some basic signs that the Deaf or even some nonverbal children will use to communicate basic wants or needs:
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The following videos are interviews with a Deaf individual. While many individuals have multiple disabilities, these videos may be useful in understanding more about interacting with people who are deaf or who have hearing loss:
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Ideas for Deaf-blindness
*Refer to information found in both sections above.
*Tap the shoulder and shake hand can be a way to get attention or acknowledging the individual. (You can teach their peers this so that the individual is not ignored.)
*Most can see or hear at some level. It will be important to communicate with parents and caregivers where to present objects, pictures, or enlarged words (if there is some vision) or which ear to speak into.
*If physical disabilities are present which inhibit much movement, it would be very import to do a lot of tactile and kinesthetic activities.
*If the individual has always been deaf and blind this presents different challenges about concepts, than if they have seen or heard before. Even if intelligent, they are cut off from a lot of sensory information. Have them feel real objects (not toys) and a lot of hands on activities to help decrease sensory deprivation.
*You can create schedules with objects that represent each place they go to. Have them hold the object to transition. This can also be done with raised symbols or braille. This can help them understand what is happening and where they are going.
*Many can become depressed (particularly if immobile) and stop trying to use the vision and hearing they have. Therefore pay particular attention to any facial expressions or body language to help them know you are trying.
*Tap the shoulder and shake hand can be a way to get attention or acknowledging the individual. (You can teach their peers this so that the individual is not ignored.)
*Most can see or hear at some level. It will be important to communicate with parents and caregivers where to present objects, pictures, or enlarged words (if there is some vision) or which ear to speak into.
*If physical disabilities are present which inhibit much movement, it would be very import to do a lot of tactile and kinesthetic activities.
*If the individual has always been deaf and blind this presents different challenges about concepts, than if they have seen or heard before. Even if intelligent, they are cut off from a lot of sensory information. Have them feel real objects (not toys) and a lot of hands on activities to help decrease sensory deprivation.
*You can create schedules with objects that represent each place they go to. Have them hold the object to transition. This can also be done with raised symbols or braille. This can help them understand what is happening and where they are going.
*Many can become depressed (particularly if immobile) and stop trying to use the vision and hearing they have. Therefore pay particular attention to any facial expressions or body language to help them know you are trying.
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HI EVERYONE,
WE YEARN FOR BELONGING AND INDEPENDENCE AND YET WE STILL NEED HELP. SO ANYTHING YOU DO WILL BE APPRECIATED BUT HERE ARE A FEW THINGS YOU MIGHT CONSIDER: I'VE NOTICED PEOPLE WILL OPEN DOORS BUT WOULDN'T HOLD IT FOR ME. SOMETIMES THE DOOR WILL HIT ME WHEN I WALK THROUGH. SWEEPING WITH A CANE WHILE HOLDING ARMS WITH SOMEONE MAKES OPENING OR CATCHING A DOOR DIFFICULT. SIGHT VARIES BETWEEN ALL PEOPLE BUT ON A DIFFERENT LEVEL FOR BLIND PEOPLE. SO IT SURPRISES ME, WHEN OTHERS ARE SURPRISED, WHEN I SEE. |
WHEN LOOKING AT WHAT SOMEONE WOULD READ TO ME, I NOTICE THEY OFTEN WILL TRANSLATE WORDS, LIKE I'M UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND. SIGHT DOESN'T MAKE A PERSON SMARTER, BUT I WONDER WHAT MAKES PEOPLE BECOME LOUDER WHEN THEY SPEAK TO ME?
WE ARE ALL GOD'S CHILDREN AND WANT TO SHINE LOVE ON OTHERS AS HE WOULD. SINCERELY, AUSTIN -Austin, Age 18, Texas |
References:
*A special thanks to Jean Unger M. Ed, a special educator with a focus on individuals with severe to profound disabilities, deaf-blindness, and medically fragile, who contributed to the information on this page.