Overview
Students with deafblindness have limited access to their surroundings and need to be explicitly taught strategies that typically sensed students learn incidentally. We will discuss a spectrum of individualized equipment and accommodations that allow them to gain independence and reduce their reliance on others. Through the use of Total Communication, Active Learning, and Assistive Technology our students are given access to their environments to develop foundations of communication that drive social engagement and reciprocity.
Learning Objectives
- Identify at least three examples of foundational communicative functions.
- Describe at least three ways to implement Active Learning principles.
- Identify at least three Assistive Technology accommodations/strategies for optimal communicative access.
Primary & Secondary Strands
Vision & Hearing Technologies; Education & Learning: Early Intervention - 12/Higher Education
Target Audience
- Accessibility Professional
- AT Specialists
- Alternative Media Specialist
- Caregivers
- Communication Specialist
- Consumers/Individuals with Disabilities
- Consultants/Trainers
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Disability Services
- Educators
- Family Members
- Government/Non-Profit Agencies
- Media Specialist
- Occupational Therapists
- Paraprofessionals
- Physical Therapists
- Rehab Therapists
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Special Education Educators
- Teachers of the Visually Impaired
- Teachers of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing
- Visual Impairment Specialists
Experience Level
Intermediate
Primary Life Cycle Addressed
Elementary - Secondary (K-12)
Session Delivery Format
In-person presentation with live-stream
Course Schedule
This course was given at the ATIA 2023 Conference on Friday, February 3 from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (EST)
Continuing Education Credits
For Satisfactory Completion and Continuing Education information, please visit: ATIA Learning Center CEUs
This course is offered for the following CE Provider Credits:
ACVREP; AOTA; CRC; IACET
For: 0.10 CEU Units or 1.0 CEU Hours.
ASHA CE Information: Recorded Session
Start date of ASHA CEUs offering: September 15, 2023
End date of ASHA CEUs offering: June 30, 2024
End date of current CRC CEUs offering: March 19, 2025
Please refer to the CRC Transition & Workplace Accessibility Series (2024-2025) page for further information on how to submit your CRC CEUs for this course to CRCC.
Speaker/s:
Amber Skerry, MS CCC-SLP
Perkins School for the Blind, Speech-Language Pathologist
Biography
Amber Skerry is a Speech-Language Pathologist working at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, MA in the Deafblind Program. She is passionate about working with students with dual-sensory impairments and multiple disabilities. She is dedicated to her work, using Total Communication to find ways to provide access to communication for all students. She has experience working with students with CVI, students who are multi-modal communicators, and implementing varying AAC systems based on individual needs.
Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Salary from employment.
Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No
Emily Macklin, MS CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist, Perkins School for the Blind
Biography
Emily Macklin is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist working in the Deafblind Program at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, MA. She is passionate about providing individuals with complex communication needs access to robust communication. Emily enjoys working creatively to develop Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) strategies for students facing a variety of challenges, including dual sensory impairment. She is proficient in American Sign Language and believes everyone's voice should be heard, regardless of the modality they use.
Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Salary from employment
Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No
Neha Sharma, MS CCC-SLP
Perkins School for the Blind, Speech-Language Pathologist
Biography
Neha Sharma is a Speech-Language Pathologist in the Deafblind Program at the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, MA. She has specialized in addressing the complex communication needs for students with CHARGE Syndrome, dual sensory loss (deafblindness, CVI), Autism Spectrum, and those with significant global challenges due to severe comorbid diagnoses. Neha believes in a team approach and is passionate about giving a voice to her students by providing them and their families behavioral and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) strategies.
Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Salary from employment.
Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No