Strategies for Exploring, Assessing, and Personalizing Education for Students with Deafblindness
Dates: March 5, 12, 26 and April 1, 2025, 4:00-5:15 pm (EST)
Presenter: Melinda Wolford PhD, NCSP
Location: Virtual
No Cost
Click here to access the event flyer and registration link.
Questions?
Contact Jodi Dowell, TVI, Research Associate, OCDBE, at dowelljr@ucmail.uc.edu
Series description: This four-part series, Strategies for Exploring, Assessing, and Personalizing Education for Students with Deafblindness, will focus on the expanded core curriculum, tactile or touch sensory mode, social-emotional development, and tools for assessments. See the learning objectives for each of the four sessions and register today!
Guest speaker: Melinda Wolford, PhD, NCSP is an experienced school psychologist and neuropsychologist. She previously served as an assistant professor in school psychology and has expertise in assessment, intervention, parent training, staff development, and consultation.
March 5
Session 1: Individualizing the Expanded Core Curriculum for Students with Deafblindness
Learning Objectives:
- Identify and understand the nine areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum ( for children who are blind or visually impaired
- Identify and understand the areas of the ECC for children who are deaf or hearing impaired
- Recognize the importance of the ECC in promoting independence and improving quality of life, using examples such as the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired model and Perkins Schoo l for the Blind
- Explore methods to design goals and objectives that address the ECC for students with deafblindness
- Be aware of the issues specific to families with deafblind members and learn how to engage families and caretakers in providing the additi onal access the child may need
March 12
Session 2: Exploring Touch for Communication and Learning for Students with Deafblindness
Learning Objectives:
- Consider the significance of touch as an alternative sensory input for children with deafblindness
- Explore key considerations for interacting through touch
- Contemplate methods to teach emotions through touch; utilizing touch for behaviors such as calming techniques
- Consider proprioception and proximity and the implications for learning
- Investigate the importance of a team-based approach. Effective support requires coordinated efforts, with each member contributing their expertise and experience with the child, including parents and caregivers
March 26
Session 3: Expanding Social-Emotional Development in Students with Deafblindness
Learning Objectives:
- Review the stages of socio-emotional development
- Understand the challenges encountered by deafblind learners
- Explore methods and strategies to support social-emotional growth
- Consider ways to create an environment that fosters positive social-emotional well-being
April 1
Session 4: Interviews, Observations, Guides, and Tools for Assessment of Students with Deafblindness
Learning Objectives:
- Consider best practices in the assessment of deafblindness, including both standardized and non-standardized methods
- Review the available guides and tools for evaluating and collecting data for students with deafblindness
- Explore interviews and interviewing techniques tailored to the unique needs of these students
- Recognize the importance of observations and examine various observational styles that cater to the specific requirements of the students
