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Woman signing "music"
Posted by Julianne Lemman
and by Sarah Steele As a follow up to our last blog post Family Engagement During Remote Instruction of Students with Deafblindness and Multiple Disabilities, we wanted to share some strategies that we have found help to optimize online learning for...



washing hands under running water
Posted by Stacey Chambers
and by Angela Campbell Each year brings new team members such as new classroom teachers, related services staff, speech pathologists, and paraprofessionals. This year has brought a new, very important member to our collaborative team - our families and...



Red plate, fork, and cup on black background
Posted by Derya Uyar
This week summer vacation ended and schools have started with distance education in Turkey. We continue online classes with our students. I have 3 students this year. All of them are with MDVI (multiple disabilities and visual impairment).  This year I...



Crayon drawing of stick figures in a circle
Posted by Robbin Keating Clark
We have all embraced teaching over digital platforms. Most of us use Zoom or something similar. Here are 5 ways you facilitate meaningful social interaction: Plan ahead and create opportunities for students to have authentic opportunities to talk or...



Colorful stick figured superimposed on each other
Posted by SarahSteele
and Julianne Lemman During the last six months of online instruction, we have found that finding ways to support families of students with multiple disabilities or deafblindness is the key to success. Acknowledge Different Levels of Support at Home...



Child's colorful drawing of two girls dancing
Posted by Liz Eagan
In addition to the many challenges that students with visual impairments face academically online, it can be difficult to find opportunities to socialize with peers.  Here are a few ideas I have shared with families to try with their children during this...



Student at desk with laptop and headphones
Posted by John Rose
The following tips and strategies are based on the 2020 Short-Term Programs Online Summer School Program.  We wanted to share what we've been learning about best practices for remote instruction with students with visual impairments. Focus...



Gwyn with Gondola story
Posted by Gwyn McCormack
As the country went into lock down in March, the courses and work usually undertaken by Positive Eye in the normal face-to-face manner ceased. With time available the only decision was what our contribution could be to help ease the situation for families and...



Side view of child's shoe
Posted by Amy Flores
Some children rely on others to help with activities of daily living, due to motor limitations.  Nonetheless, we can help build understanding and anticipation which will allow the child to mentally prepare for having their personal space entered to...



Goldfish with text "fish" with red bubble
Posted by Colleen Johnson
When the pandemic hit and school closed, I looked how to best serve my students with CVI (cortical visual impairment) through distance education. Many parents didn’t want to do coaching or direct lessons through Zoom meetings for various reasons that...



Student clipboard with photo images, beside a written lesson plan
Posted by Liz Eagan
A common requirement in education is the lesson plan. Frequently I hear colleagues across the nation comment that they don’t do them. This confuses and concerns me. I’ve been teaching nearly 30 years and I still do lesson plans. They have morphed...



Compass
Posted by Beth Borysewicz
Considering the unique needs of our country at this time, we have been brainstorming ideas on how to provide some fun and educational activities to our students in PreK through Grade 3. The theme of the summer is Exploring the Expanded Core Curriculum....



Let's Do a Cane Review
Posted by Jill Kaminski
I have been having a bit of a hard time with O&M younger student activities during distance instruction time. So I made a few little PowerPoint books that I was able to send to my kids and their families. I bought the clip art and a few were from...



Helen Keller reading a braille book as a young woman
Posted by Charlotte Cushman
Established  in 1984, Deafblind Awareness Week is celebrated the last week in June, in honor of Helen Keller's birthday on June 27th. We celebrate all those who promote literacy for children who have a combined vision and hearing loss! ...



Mr. Rogers wearing a red cardigan
Posted by Amber Rundle Kahn
“I don’t think anyone can grow unless he’s loved exactly as he is now, appreciated for what he is rather than what he will be.” – Fred Rogers We had early snow in Denver this past school year. The lesson that inspired this post...



Pantry shelf
Posted by Sara Zachariah
Hello, Friend!  How much do you know about your kitchen? Here are some activities for you to do with your family to help you learn more about this important room in your house. After taking time to explore your kitchen, you will be ready to make some...



Getting Ready to Race
Posted by KY Deafblind Project
Editor's Note:  This event has already taken place, but we are keeping the information here in case you want to try something similar. We hope that you participated in the Kentucky Derby Dash Virtual 5K!  In case you haven't heard...



Anatomy of the human body
Posted by Jasmyn Polite
Developing Awareness of My Body I remember when I was a little girl, my grandma introduced me to the human body. I had to memorize all the bones of the body by putting the name cards of the bones on the correct body part. I also had to name the organs,...



Eid al-Fitr
Posted by Charlotte Cushman
Eid-al-Fitr is the Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.  The holiday is often called by the abbreviated name of "Eid" or "Id" (pronounced "eed") and is celebrated when Ramadan ends....



Yellow and red plastic eggs, and dried beans and rice
Posted by Sarah Flores
During social distancing, Zoom meetings can be a lifeline for students. They can also be very visually and auditorily complex.  Here is a list of basic, broad recommendations I shared with teachers who are holding group Zoom meetings with students with...



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