Each year, the Provincial Outreach Program for Students with Deafblindness holds a District Partners' Conference. Guest presenters are leaders in research and practice in the field of Deafblindness. Due to Covid-19 preventing us from gathering to learn together, the POPDB conference went online. This year, we hosted three 90-minute sessions with renowned speakers in the field of the deafblindness. Details of the events are below. Enjoy the presentations. 

2020/2021 Online Learning Series

Recorded Presentations

April 13, 2021 

Julie Maier and Maurice Belote, Educational Consultants from California Deaf-Blind Services, presented on why autism and deafblindness seem similar and how they are different. This presentation explains why some students with deafblindness may share some of the same features with autism. Julie and Maurice wrote an article on this topic that you may want to bookmark or download. If the link doesn’t work for you, check out the California Deaf-Blind Services website and look for the 2014 Fall Newsletter.

Julie and Maurice provided us with their PowerPoint (in PDF) to share with you. You may also find this comparison reference (DSM-5 to DSM-IV-TR) on the Diagnostic Criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder handy when watching the presentation as well.  

March 9, 2021

Jude Nicholas, a clinical neuropsychologist from the Statped Vest Center for Deafblindness in Norway, presented on tactile working memory. The presentation was based on one of his recent publications, a book on Tactile Working Memory Scale, which can be downloaded for free from the Nordic Welfare Centre. Dr. Nicholas has made his presentation available as a PDF download. 

February 9, 2021

Robbie Blaha, an educational consultant from the Texas Deafblind Project at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaire, presented on issues of sexuality in individuals with deafblindness. The presentation was based on a book written by Robbie and Kate Moss and is available for download at the National Center on Deaf-Blindness. Robbie has made her presentation available as a PDF download.