Course Content

A person with deafblindness gains access to the information they are unable to gather on their own, through a process known as Intervention. Through Intervention, the individual can successfully interact with the environment and thus be enabled to establish and maintain maximum control over their lives. The person who provides this information is known as the Intervenor. This course is an introduction to Intervention and to the complex role the Intervenor plays in effectively supporting a person with deafblindness. The student will gain a deeper understanding of the impact of deafblindness, and the importance of access to clear, non-distorted information through Intervention, for someone living with deafblindness. The philosophy of Intervention and the specific techniques of effective Intervention will be discussed.

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

Prerequisites

• Participants must have completed Introduction to Deafblindness
• Participants must be currently supporting a student with deafblindness under an education authority in the Province of BC

Topics Addressed

• Philosophy and principles of Intervention
• Roles of the Intervenor
• Key components of Intervention
• Effective Intervention strategies
• Selecting and adapting activities and materials
• Skill development and concept development with a person who is deafblind

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion, the student will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the philosophy and principles of Intervention, as it applies to people whose deafblindness is congenital in nature
• Describe the roles of the Intervenor
• Describe the key components of Intervention (anticipation, motivation, communication, and confirmation) and provide examples of how these are accomplished
• Describe the difference between caregivers, classroom assistances, community support workers, and Intervenors
• Analyze effective Intervention strategies
• Select appropriate and meaningful activities and materials when working with someone who is deafblind
• Demonstrate an ability to successfully adapt materials and activities for someone who is deafblind
• Describe the differences between skill development and concept development with a person who is deafblind, and give examples of each
• Describe the role of the intervenor in social relationships

Instructional Methods

This course has been developed into an 8 week online course utilizing online readings, web searches, and multimedia for course instruction. Students must participate in online discussion forums. Written assignments are to be submitted as Word documents. Participants will need access to a high speed Internet connection to view streamed documentaries in a QuickTime format.

Course Hours: 30