Teaching COVID-Related Concepts to Students with Multiple Disabilities or Deafblindness

and by Julie Lemman

It can be difficult for learners with multiple disabilities or Deafblindness to understand various COVID-related concepts, such as the importance of wearing masks, staying home, and washing hands frequently.  We have put together two different formats to present these concepts.  The first uses Google Slides, and the second is a social story about masks made with Pictello.

Google Slides:  Functional Science Activity about Masks

The following photos are excerpted from an adapted science lesson taught in a self-contained classroom of students with DeafBlindness and multiple disabilities. Please be aware that DeafBlindness is a spectrum of varying levels of dual hearing and vision loss, and the dual sensory loss is unique to each individual. This lesson was designed for students who have varying functional vision levels and have been able to visually access screens with adaptations and assistance from family members or interveners at home. 

One of our goals was for the students to see that EVERYONE wears a mask and for the students to see this specifically with people they know.

For more American Sign Language (ASL) resources check out Lifeprint.com.

Pictello Social Story:  We All Wear Masks

We made this story using Pictello, with staff members greeting each student and talking about different situations during which they wear masks.  The audio component is helpful for students who are blind or who have low vision.