Deafblind

A boy stands at a bus stop.
Posted by Joseph Harrison
Parents and Orientation and Mobility Specialists know that safe and efficient travel with the long white cane is “all about technique.” Awful technique equals awful protection and effective technique equals effective protection. How do we motivate...



Helen Keller reading a book
Posted by Charlotte Cushman
  Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880 and we pause this week to salute a woman who devoted her life to the rights of people who are blind or deafblind.  She was a prolific reader and writer, and many of her original letters are housed in the...



Happy Birthday tag in print and braille
Posted by Liamsmom
My son Liam recently turned eight years old!  He is a braille reader and every year for his birthday I have made him a birthday book that included pages from friends that have come to his party.  Here are some of the ideas we've done in the past...



Baby on tactile blanket
Posted by Lisa Jacobs
Tactile baby blankets or quilts are a wonderful way to encourage exploration among our youngest children who are blind or visually impaired, including those with multiple disabilities or deafblindness.  Presenting the child with a variety of tactile...



two magnets labeled in print and braille, one says dirty dishes and the other says clean dishes
Posted by Liamsmom
Learning independent living skills starts at home! My son Liam is in second grade and is deafblind.  I continually think of ways that he can help out around the house and do everyday tasks as independently as possible. Of course I think of ways that I...



Object symbols with braille of grocery items
Posted by Liamsmom
I am the mother of two sweet boys.  My oldest, Liam, is 7 years old and is deafblind.  His first language is American Sign Language.   My youngest, Finn, is 4 years old and has typical vision and hearing.  Going to the grocery store...



Gluing tactile materials onto the page of a book.
Posted by Lacey Long
As an itinerant TVI/COMS for a multi-district special education unit, it can be difficult to provide quality professional development for teachers specifically for students with visual impairments. One area that I felt was necessary to provide training for...



Reading braille labels on can of green beans
Posted by Liamsmom
My son Liam is 7 years old and is deafblind.  He is a braille reader and as of lately (this school year especially) he has really taken an interest in writing in braille as well!  Below are 10 ways that I try to encourage this new skill at...



A child's hand reads braille about fall leaves
Posted by Liamsmom
It's all about the experience!  We have been using experiences to teach concepts or new ideas and vocabulary.    It is so important, especially for our children with vision impairments, to have real-life tangible experiences!...



An intervener and student are identifying a sink using tactile sign
Posted by Liamsmom
Taking purposeful trips to places in the community can be prove to be a motivating and meaningful way to focus on language goals.     My son, Liam, is 7 years old and happens to be deafblind. American Sign Language (ASL) is his first...



Tack-Tiles
Posted by Liamsmom
My son Liam is 7 years old and will be starting 2nd grade this school year.  He is deafblind, uses tactile American Sign Language and is a braille reader.   I love TACK-TILES®.  I have often been asked how we used Tack-Tiles with Liam...



A boy writes a letter on a braillewriter.
Posted by Liamsmom
My son Liam is 7 years old and he is deafblind.  Liam loves reading and writing braille.  I thought a great activity for summer break would be to learn about writing letters to our friends and family.  It was my hope that it would be fun and...



Reading braille labels on playground
Posted by Liamsmom
I am the mother of two young busy boys.  My oldest Liam just turned 7 and is deafblind.  My youngest Finn just turned 4 and has typical vision and hearing.  A few years back I wrote about an accessible playground we made for the boys. I just...



Tactile map of cities
Posted by Liamsmom
I have two boys.  My oldest is 7 years old, deafblind, and an early braille reader.  My youngest is 4 years old and has typical vision and hearing.  We recently went on a road trip to visit family out of state.  Planning for the trip...



Happy Birthday page
Posted by Liamsmom
My son Liam just turned 7 and we celebrated his birthday at our home with family and friends from school. Liam happens to be deafblind and attends first grade in a mainstream setting.  I wanted Liam's birthday party to be accessible and include...



Hands reading braille fork label on silverware drawer
Posted by Liamsmom
My son Liam is 6 years old (almost 7!!) and he is deafblind.  He enjoys helping me around the house.  One of his chores is to unload the dishwasher (see Accessible Job Chart for the Home).  When he first started helping with this, he...



Two children using tactile sign language
Posted by Liamsmom
My son Liam has a good friend from school named Bella. They are in the same first grade class, where Liam is fully included. (Liam is deafblind and Bella has typical vision and hearing.)  We love it when she gets to come over to our house to play!...



Posted by Liamsmom
Last year my son started all-day Kindergarten  in a public mainstream classroom. I was (and still am) a huge advocate for inclusion for my son Liam who is deafblind.   One of my biggest hopes and goals for inclusion was all about the "social...



Tactile graphic organizer of pumpkin
Posted by Liamsmom
My son Liam is a first grader in a mainstream classroom and he happens to be deafblind.  I was inspired recently by a classroom letter that was sent home in his backpack.  The children were expected to write stories that had a beginning, middle,...



Student using tactile symbols with braille
Posted by Megan Mogan
Whether you are raring to go and have your materials all organized, or your vacation flight arrives home the night before your first day back, it’s time. Here are just a few things I like to remind myself this back-to-school time of year. ...



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