POPDB

Provincial Outreach Program for Students with Deafblindness

Principles of the Canadian Concept of "Intervention"

National Canadian Deafblind and Rubella Association, 2005

  1. Total and unconditional belief in and respect for an individual who is deafblind.
     
  2. Total and unconditional belief in the value of intervention for all individuals who are deafblind.
     
  3. The amount of intervention and the form it will take must be individualized to meet the specific needs and desires of each individual who is deafblind.
     
  4. Individuals who are deafblind have a right to access information in their preferred modes of communication.
     
  5. Intervention is "Doing With,  Not For"
     
  6. No assumptions should be made regarding the abilities of an individual with deafblindness.
     
  7. Never underestimate the importance of the relationship between the intervenor and the individual who is deafblind.
     
  8. The process of intervention must always provide the individual who is deafblind with the information required for anticipation, motivation, communication, and confirmation.
     
  9. Every experience is an opportunity to provide information and encourage interaction.
     
  10. The focus of intervention should always be on the needs of the individual who is deafblind.
     
  11. Intervention is recognized as a process that requires intervenors to have specific skills, knowledge and experiences in order to be effective in providing the best possible opportunity for people who are deafblind to gather information, process it, and develop communication, concepts and skills.