These materials are from the archive of the SSC Website and may be outdated.

 

University of Edinburgh
 

Communication – Children with Multiple Disabilities

Books

Aherne, Pam & Thornber, Ann
Communication for all : a cross curricular skill : involving interactions between "speaker and listener"
David Fulton, 1990
ISBN 1853461687

Aitken, Stuart ... [et al]
Teaching children who are deafblind: contact, communication and learning
David Fulton, 2000
ISBN 1853466743

Aitken, Stuart & Buultjens, Marianna
Vision for doing: assessing functional vision of learners who are multiply disabled (Sensory Series No 2)
Moray House Publications, 1992
ISBN 0901580392
Result of 4-year study based on research & in-service work from schools, adult training centres etc. For all who work with young VI & multiply disabled people.  Sensory Series No 2.

Aitken, Stuart & Millar, Sally
Listening to children with communication support needs
Sense Scotland & CALL Centre, 2002
ISBN 1898042203
Comprises 2 books bound together in a ring binder.  Book 1: Are we listening, ISBN 1898042187.  Book 2: A rough guide to listening, ISBN 1898042195. A profile scheme for recording children's communication styles to enable maximum consultation on the education of all children.

Bloom, Ylana
Object symbols: a communication option
North Rocks Press1990

Bozic, Nick & Murdoch, Heather (Eds)
Learning through interaction: technology and children with multiple disabilities
David Fulton, 1996
ISBN 1853463779

Buultjens, Marianna & McLean, Heather
Cerebral palsy and visual impairment (CPVI) in children: experience of collaborative practice in Scotland
Scottish Sensory Centre, 2003
ISBN 0954603605
Explores the collaborative working between professionals involved in the lives of children with cerebral palsy and visual impairments (CPVI).  Provides detailed information on CPVI.

Clunies-Ross, Louise ... [et al]
Look and touch: play activities and toys for children with visual impairment
RNIB, 1987
Focuses on different play activities, describing how children of different ages & with various eye conditions can be encouraged to develop through play.  Includes info on specialist & non-specialist toys useful for VI children.

CNEFEI
Communication and congenital deafblindness : the development of communication: what is new? = Communication et surdi-cécité congénitale: le développement de la communication: quoi de neuf? Actes
Editions du Centre national de Suresnes, 1997
ISBN 2912489008
Proceedings from the International course held in CNEFEI in Suresnes on 23-26 June 1996

Corke, Margaret
Approaches to communication through music
David Fulton, 2002
ISBN 1853468436
One of the ways forward when working with those who have little or no speech, or limited comprehension of language, is to use music.  This is a practical guide that contains lots of ideas and original activities for the specialist and non-specialist alike.

Dale, F J
Stimulation guide: a sourcebook of suggestions and activities for multi-sensory impaired children and others with developmental difficulties
Woodhead Faulkner, 1990
ISBN 0859416305
A useful sourcebook of suggestions and activities aimed at increasing the physical and psychological development of multi-sensory impaired children.

de Jong, Coen G A & Neugebauer, Hans
Timely intervention: special help for special needs
Edition Bentheim, 1996
ISBN 3925265600
International Conference in Bad Berleburg, Nov 26 - Dec 2 1995.

Erin, Jane N
When you have a visually impaired student with multiple disabilities in your classroom: a guide for teachers
AFB, 2004
ISBN 0891288732
A guide for teachers to work effectively with students who have visual impairments and additional disabilities.

Fraiberg, Selma
Insights from the blind
Souvenir Press, 1977
ISBN 0285648497
A psychotherapist's case studies of blind children including those with autistic traits. Series: Human horizons.

Fullwood, Deborah; Harvey, Laine; White, Glen
Living and learning: a guide for parents and educators of young visually impaired children who have additional disabilities
RVIB, 1991
ISBN 0949390907

Geniale, Tricia
Management of the child with cerebral palsy and low vision: a neurodevelopmental therapy perspective
North Rocks Press, 1991

Goold, Louise; Borbilas, Phyllis; Clarke, Annette; Kane, Carol
Addressing the communication needs of the individual with significant impairments : an ideas kit
North Rocks Press, 1993
ISBN 0949050032

Goold, Louise & Hummell, Jill
Supporting the receptive communication of individuals with significant multiple disabilities: selective use of touch to enhance comprehension
North Rocks Press, 1993
ISBN 0949050040

Lee, Mary & MacWilliam, Lindi
Learning together: a creative approach to learning for children with multiple disabilities and a visual impairment
RNIB, 2002
ISBN 1858785316
How to create an active learning environment for children with MDVI.  This book explains and illustrates methods that have been developed over many years, with children of all ages, at the Royal Blind School, Edinburgh.

Lee, Mary & MacWilliam, Lindi
Movement, gesture and sign: an interactive approach to sign communication for children who are visually impaired with additional disabilities
RNIB, 1995
ISBN 1858780683
Describes an approach to communication developed by staff at Royal Blind School, Edinburgh.  Illustrates how a child can develop skills in movement sessions & gradually acquire a sign system specially adapted for VI children.

McDonald, Mary
Which way? A guide for parents of children with multiple disabilities
RNIB, 2003
ISBN 1858785278
Part of the RNIB's Early years series of publications focusing on the more complex issues that can arise for children with sight problems who have other special needs.

McLinden, Mike & McCall, Stephen
Learning through touch: supporting children with visual impairment and additional difficulties
David Fulton, 2002
ISBN 185346841X
Written to assist teachers and other professionals who support children with visual impairment and additional disabilities, this text examines the role of touch in teaching and learning.

Miles, Barbara & Riggio, Marianne
Remarkable conversations: a guide to developing meaningful communication with children and young adults who are deafblind
Perkins School for the Blind, 1999
ISBN 0965717011
This book addresses the needs of children of all abilities, ranging from non-linguistic (objects and body movements) to linguistic (sign or written) forms of communication.  Gives practical approaches for creating communication-rich environments.

Millar, Sally
Personal communication passports: guidelines for good practice
CALL Centre, 2003
ISBN 1898042217
Personal passports are a device for aiding communication with people who have communication difficulties. This book outlines key principles of making and using passports and provides some examples taken from real passports.

Nielsen, Lilli
Are you blind?
SIKON, 1990
ISBN 8750382705
Promotion of the development of children who are especially developmentally threatened.

Nielsen, Lilli
Early learning, step by step in children with vision impairment and multiple disabilities (3rd ed)
SIKON, 2001
ISBN 8775460513
Outlines the "Active Learning" method where environmental intervention can help children with MDVI achieve motor skills etc.

Nielsen, Lilli
Educational approaches for visually impaired children
SIKON, 1992
ISBN 8750395688
Designed for teachers, psychologists, parents, pre-school teachers and others who are involved in caring for visually impaired children.

Nielsen, Lilli
Functional scheme: Levels: 0-48 months
SIKON, 2000
ISBN 8760188933
A tool for assessing the developmental levels of a learner who irrespective of age and/or handicap(s) has developed to a level between birth and 48 months.

Nielsen, Lilli
Space and self: active learning by means of the Little Room (2nd ed)
SIKON, 2003
ISBN 8775462060
Designed for teachers, parents, psychologists and others who in some way are involved in caring for multiply disabled children.

Nielsen, Lilli (tr Arthur Robinson)
Comprehending hand
National Board of Social Welfare (SIKON), 1979
ISBN 8750367909
Developing hand functions with children with visual and multiple impairments.

Nind, Melanie & Hewett, Dave
Access to communication: developing the basics of communication with people with severe learning difficulties through intensive interaction
David Fulton, 1994
ISBN 1853462837

Ockelford, Adam
Objects of reference: promoting early symbolic communication (3rd ed)
RNIB, 2002
ISBN 1858785294
Promoting concept development and communication skills with visually impaired children who have learning difficulties.

Porter, Jill & Pease, Laura
Developing whole school policies to meet the needs of pupils with multiple disability and visual impairment: Improving provision for children with multiple disabilities and visual impairments
RNIB, 1998
ISBN 1858781426
Improving provision for children with multiple disabilities and visual impairments pack

Porter, Jill & Pease, Laura
Framework for inspecting school provision for pupils with multiple disability and visual impairment : Improving provision for children with multiple disabilities and visual impairments
RNIB, 1998
ISBN 1858781426
Improving provision for children with multiple disabilities and visual impairments pack

Porter, Jill & Wrench, Kay
Supporting learning for pupils with visual impairment and multiple disability: technology and other resources : Improving provision for children with multiple disabilities and visual impairments
RNIB, 1998
ISBN 1858781426
Improving provision for children with multiple disabilities and visual impairments pack

Rogow, Sally M
Helping the visually impaired child with developmental problems: effective practice in home, school and community
Teachers College Press, 1988
ISBN 0807729035

Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB)
Developing communication: using switches and simple voice output communication aids to promote early communication skills in children with a visual impairment and additional disabilities
RNIB / VITAL, 2002
8 page supplement to Eye contact covers use of switches etc.

Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB)
Guidelines for teachers and parents of visually handicapped children with additional handicaps
RNIB, n.d.
Guidance for teachers in special schools who are teaching children with multiple disabilities and visual impairment (MDVI)

Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB)
New directions: towards a better future for multihandicapped visually impaired children and young people
RNIB, 1990
ISBN 0901797586
This report lays down a set of principles concerning services for children with MDVI and their families.

Royal National Institute for the Blind & VITAL
Approaches to working with children with multiple disabilities and a visual impairment
RNIB / VITAL, 1998
ISBN 1858781469

Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind
Babies like me: a guide for parents of babies who have other disabilities as well as a vision impairment
RVIB, 2002
ISBN 0949390593
Adapted from "Getting it all together" by Margaret Bull

Sacks, Sharon Z & Silberman, Rosanne K
Educating students who have visual impairments with other disabilities
Paul H Brookes, 1998
ISBN 1557662800
A hands-on resource, this book provides invaluable information for professionals who serve students who have visual impairments with other disabilities and their families from infancy to adulthood.  Practical suggestions for students with deafblindness, learning, orthopaedic or neurological disabilities and emotional and behaviour problems.

University of Birmingham.  School of Education
Developing effective practice in the use of low vision aids for children with multiple disabilities and a visual impairment : Final report for the Nuffield Auxilliary fund
University of Birmingham, 2001
ISBN 0704423111
Final report for the Nuffield Auxilliary fund

Warwick University
Sensory impairment with multi-handicap : current philosophies and new approaches: a European conference, Warwick University, 6-11 Aug 1989 : Programme
International Assocation for the Education of the Deaf-Blind, 1989

Wilson, Allan (ed)
Communicating with pictures and symbols: collected papers from Augmentative Communication in Practice: Scotland's thirteenth annual study day
CALL Centre, 2003
ISBN 189804225X

Wyman, Rosalind
Making sense together: practical approaches to supporting children who have multisensory impairments
Souvenir Press, 2000
ISBN 0285635107
Update and partial rewrite of "Multiply handicapped children"

Videos

Brown, Ann
Twinkle: a musical stimulation video for young people with severe disabilities
Soundabout, [2001]
Twinkle's slow pace and deliberate silences between episodes give the young viewer a chance to absorb the story in separate chunks.  Images and music start and stop together enhancing listening and looking skills.

CACDP Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People
Understanding deafblindness: training video: level 1 deafblind awareness; level 2 deafblind support work
CACDP, 2003
ISBN 1903159482
Duration 30 mins

CNEFEI
Emergence of communication: contact and interaction patterns: persons with congenital deafblindness
CNEFEI, 1996
Duration 27 min

Lee, Mary & MacWilliam, Lindi
Movement, gesture and sign: an interactive approach to sign communication for children who are visually impaired with additional disabilities
Moray House Institute of Education, 1996
Describes an approach to communication developed by staff at Royal Blind School, Edinburgh.  Illustrates how a child can develop skills in movement sessions & gradually acquire a sign system specially adapted for VI children.

Marchant, Ruth & Gordon, Ro
Two-way street: communicating with disabled children and young people: handbook and video guide
NSPCC/ Joseph Rowntree/ Triangle, 2001
ISBN 1842280244
Training video aimed at professionals who encounter children with communication difficulties.

Nielsen, Lilli
Perceptualizing aids: why, how and when? Options for therapy for children with multiple disabilities, with or without visual impairment
SIKON, 2000
Accompanied by a booklet

Scottish Sensory Centre
Let me see: the importance of positioning for young people with visual impairment and cerebral palsy
Moray House Institute of Education, 1998

Assessment Tests

Nielsen, Lilli
FIELA curriculum: 730 learning environments = The flexible individual enriched level appropriate curriculum
SIKON, 1998
ISBN 8760175338
Comprises a book, a catalogue and a velcro board, made to ensure that the child with one or several disabilities can access an individual learning programme which will match his developmental level, his needs for learning and his interests.

Stillman, Robert
Callier-Azusa Scale
Callier Center for Communication Disorders, 1977
Assessment of deafblind and multisensory impaired

Stillman, Robert & Battle, Christy
Callier-Azusa Scale (H): Scales for the assessment of communicative abilities
Callier Center for Communication Disorders, 1985

Journal Articles

Burbage, Richard
Shakespeare at secondary school
Eye Contact, Spring 2005, Issue 41, p18-20
Teacher has adapted a number of shakespeare's plays for a class of secondary age pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties.

Donaldson, Marion
Changing support needs: a few thoughts
Eye Contact, Summer 2005, Issue 42, p15-17
Looks at the transition issues face by a 14 year old girl with cerebral palsy and a cortical visual impairment.

Fenwick, Maggi
Multisensory sensitive stories
Eye Contact, Summer 2005, Issue 42, p12-14
Multisensory storytelling techniques are used to explain difficult issues such as growing up, sexuality, bereavement and loss.  Sensitive Stories Project is being developed by PAMIS.

Foster, Mary
Sexuality and relationships: supporting young people with multi-sensory impairment
Eye Contact, Summer 2005, Issue 42, p5-8
Supporting young people with multi-sensory impairments in learning about their bodies, emotions, sexuality and relationships with others.

Jones, Angela
Kirsty's story: living with Fraser syndrome
Visability, Spring 2005, No 43, p20-24
About the progress made by a child with a rare condition which means that she has multiple disabilities in addition to a visual impairment.

Longhorn, Flo
Making a mark on the world
Eye Contact, Spring 2005, Issue 41, p8-10
Encouraging meaningful mark making with students who have multiple disabilities.

MacEwan, Katriona
Radio resource for the classroom
Eye Contact, Spring 2005, Issue 41, p13-15
Using radio storytelling to stimulate children's listening skills.

McCall, Steve
Moon: where are we and where are we going?
Eye Contact, Spring 2005, Issue 41, p10-12
Developments in the form of tactile communication, Moon and the arrival of "Dotted" Moon.

Miles, Barbara
Talking the language of the hands
Eye Contact, Spring 2005, Issue 41, p26-27
Looks at how visually impaired children use their hands to communicate and gather information.

Panter, Anna
Let the fun begin: communicating through touch the TACPAC way
Eye Contact, Summer 2004, Issue 39, p31-34
A programme of music and tactile experiences for children with profound and multiple disabilities as a means of promoting body awareness and improving communication.

Stanton, Marion
Differentiating the curriculum for children with complex needs
Eye Contact, Summer 2005, Issue 42, p33-35
Methods for including children with complex needs in the curriculum.

Waite, Laura
"I still can't understand" assisting people with learning disabilities with sight and hearing problems to access information
Focus, January 2006, Issue 43, p9-16
Advice for people working with people who have learning disabilities and who also may be deaf and/or visually impaired to improve their access to diagnosis and information.

Walter, Richard
Using ICT to develop literacy skills with students who have complex learning difficulties
Eye Contact, Spring 2005, Issue 41, p5-7
Using technology to access learning for children who have a variety of disabilities including sensory impairments.

 

Sex Education

Aitken, S and Millar, S
Listening to children with communication support needs
Sense Scotland, and CALL Centre (2002)

Atkinson, D, Gingell, A and Martin, J
I have the right to know - a course on sexuality and personal relationships for people with learning difficulties
BILD Publications (1997)

Brandenburg, S
'Sex Education, who is limited? Knowledge, skills and feelings of both parties' in Sex Education and Young People with visual impairment, proceedings from conference 25 March 1998, Scottish Sensory Centre, University of Edinburgh.

Bunck, D
'Guidelines for sex education for the deafblind' in proceedings from Dbl European Conference, Warwick 1989.

Carson, D
'Legality of responding to the sexuality of a client with profound learning disabilities'
Mental Handicap, Vol 20, June 1992, BIMH Publications.

Colville, M D
Signs of a sexual nature
Cheshire Society for the Deaf (1985)

Craft, A
'Mental Handicap and Sexuality; Issues for individuals with a mental handicap, their parents and professionals'
in Costello (1987) Mental Handicap and Sexuality: Issues and Perspectives

Downs, C and Craft A
'Sexuality and profound and multiple impairment' in Tizard Learning Disability Review, Volume 1, Issue 4.

Downs C and Craft A
Sex in Context
Pavilion Publishing, Brighton

Downs, C and Farrell, S
'A practical response to masturbation: working with people with profound multiple disabilities' in Tizard Learning Disability Review, Volume 1, Issue 4.

Deveney, C
'Out of depths' in Spectrum Magazine, May 19 2003, Scotland on Sunday.

Eales, J and Watson, J
Health education in Scottish schools: Meeting special educational needs
Scottish Office Education Department (1994)

Fricker, M
'A practical look at sex education' in Talking Sense, Winter 1990, Sense, London.

Hamilton, T
'Sexuality in Deaf Blind Persons' in Sexuality and Disability, Vol 2(3), Fall 1979, Human Science Press.

Hart, P and Douglas-Scott, S
Batteries not included - a sexuality resource pack for working with people with complex communication support needs
Common Knowledge, Glasgow (2005)

Hayes, I
'Sex education in the early years' in Health Education No 1, January 1995, MCB University Press.

Hendy, S
'Balancing Act' in Community Care, 23-29 May 2002.

Hinsburger, D
'Teaching children and adults with disabilities about sexuality' from website of Paul H Brookes Publishing Co (2001).

Hinsburger, D and Tough, S
'Health Sexuality: Attitudes, systems and policies' in Researc and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilites, Vol 27, No 1 2002.

Johnson, K, Frawley, P, Hillier, L, and Harrison L
'Living safer sexual lives: research and action' in Tizard Learning Disability Review, Vol 7, Issue 3, Pavilion Publishing (2002).

Lesseliers, J
'A right to sexuality?' in British Journal of Learning Disabilities, Vol 27 1999.

Longhorn, F
Sex education and sexuality for very special people - a sensory approach
Catalyst Education Resources (1997)
www.cerl.net

McCarthy, M and Cambridge, P
Your rights about sex - a booklet for people with learning disabilities
BILD Publications (1996)

McKay, C
'Crimes of Passion' in Care Weekly, 10 May 1991.

Miller, T
'Social / Sex Education for children and youths who are deafblind'

Moss, K and Baha, R
Sexuality education for individuals who are deablind and significantly developmentally delayed
DBLink (2001)
www.tr.wou.edu

Neff, J
'Another perspective on sexuality and those who are deaf and blind' in Sexuality and Disability Vol 2(3), Fall 1979, Human Science Press.

Ostli, E
'Effects of maturation - emphasis on sexual development' in Talking Sense, Spring 1988, Sense, London.

Sexpression
Report on a series of events to look at the sexual health needs of young people, Children in Scotland (2002).

Scott, L and Hovey, A
'Not children any more' in Special Children, May 1991.

Scott, L and Kerr-Edwards, L
Talking together . . . about growing up - a workbook for paents of children with learning disabilities
fpa, London (1999)

Shelton, D
'Client sexual behaviour and staff attitudes - shaping masturbation in an indivitual with a profound mental and secondary sensory handicap' in Mental Handicap, Vol 20, June 1992, BIMH Publications.

Stewart, D and Ray C
'Ensuring entitlement: sex and relationships education for disabled children' Forum factsheet.

Swain, J and Thirlaway, C
'Just when you think you got it all sorted . . . parental dilemmas in relation to the developing sexuality of young profoundly disabled people' in British Journal of Learning Disabilities, Vol 24.

Valios, N
'Desire Denied' in Community Care, Issue 1391, 20-26 September 2001.

Von malachowski, V
'Personal and sexual development in the deafblind adult' in Deafblind Education, January-June 1994.

fpa
Talking with young people about sex and relationships
London (2001)

Sex Education Forum Charter

Scottish Executive
Sex Education in Scottish Schools - summary of national advice
Edinburgh 2001

RNIB
Sexual health resources for young people who are blind or partially sighted
RNIB (2000)