Improving Access and Meeting the Communication Needs
of
Deaf and VI Children with Complex Needs
Presented in February, 2004
The role of the Visiting Teacher, Visual Impairment
You and whose army?
- Parents/carers and family
- Class teacher
- Non-teaching assistants
- Speech and language therapist
- Occupational therapist
- Physiotherapist
- others
Modes of receptive communication
- Objects of reference
- Photographs
- Makaton
- Boardmaker
- On body signs
Visual skills for communication
What do I know about this child's
- Acuity: near distance
- Contrast sensitivity
- 3D perception
- Figure/ground discrimination (complexity)
- Field
- Ability to see movement
Further considerations
- What is the best positioning for this child's visual functioning? Is this practicable for communication?
- What light levels suit the child?
Assess to communicate and communicate to assess
Use of Precision Vision test materials
- Gratings
- Faces
- Hiding Heidi
- Matching symbols
Suggested further activities acuity and complexity
- Chocolate drop on plain background
- Hundreds and thousands on plain background
- Chocolate drop on complex background
- Hundreds and thousands on complex background
- Mask
- Unexpected grimace/ silent smile
Suggested assessment of activities fields and movements
- Pom pom
- Stycar ball
- Lights approaching
- Silent ball
Suggested assessment activities fixing, tracking, 3D
- Midge
- Lights
- Fly
Significance of assessment.
Can the child be expected to:
- Watch a stimulus long enough to gain meaning? Fixation
- See your lips moving? Contrast and acuity
- Follow hand/finger gestures? Perception of movement, Tracking
- Perceive a symbol against a plain background? Acuity/complexity
- See the same symbol at a distance? Acuity/complexity
Significance of assessment.
Can the child be expected to:
- See hand movement beyond 0.5 metres?
- See symbols beyond 30 cms?
- Distinguish colour?
Considerations of cognition
Beware of reading too much understanding into responses, eg: recognition of the symbol for for toilet does not mean perception of the representation of a lavatory.
Alternatives to vision
- On body signing
- Significant sounds
The sequel:
Visiting after communication is established
- Ensure a familiar adult is present
- Learn some early and basic signs for each child