Course Description

Deafblindness is a low incidence disability. Many individuals who are deafblind also present with additional disabilities. Many of these conditions include the severest forms of disabling conditions. There need for Intervention for individuals with deafblindness and additional disabilities continues. Intervenors need skills to assist those people with additional needs and knowledge to be able to adapt to different and sometimes changing situations.

Individuals who are medically fragile are often surrounded by professionals from many different areas, including medical, education, and health care services. Intervenors need to learn how to participate as a member of the team around the individual.

Participants will receive a transcript from Richmond Continuing Education upon completion of the course.

Prerequisites

• Participants must be currently supporting a student with deafblindness under an education authority in the province of British Columbia
• Participants must have completed both Introduction to Deafblindness and Introduction to Intervention

Topics Covered

• Intervention strategies for individuals who are deafblind with additional disabilities, including medically fragile
• Quality of life
• The role of the Intervenor as a member of the team
• Programming ideas
• Sensory stimulation / sensory integration
• Medical issues such as extended hospitalization
• Family / Relationship issues and dealing with the disability
• The use of pollitically correct language

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Describe Intervention strategies that can be utilized when working with individuals who are deafblind with additional disabilities and/or medically fragile
• Express issues about quality of life as they relate to those who are deafblind with additional disabilities and/or medically fragile
• Develop strategies for communicating with medical, health care, and educational professionals in a team approach

Instructional Methods

This course will utilize a variety of teaching methods to facilitate learning including lecture, small and large group discussions, role-play, demonstrations, and multimedia. Time for questions and the sharing of participants' experiences with indviduals who are deafblind with additional issues will be built in throughout the course.

Course Hours: 30