A child is considered to be deafblind if they have a substantial loss of both sight and hearing such that neither is a reliable access to information. The combination of these two sensory losses results in significant difficulties in acquiring educational, vocational, avocational and social skills.
This child lives in a small, dark and silent world. There is no input without touch, smell, or taste. A deafblind child cannot learn by accident or incident. Nothing can be observed. Healthy children learn almost every skill from watching and listening to others. A deafblind child will never know anything unless someone explains it to them. But how can you explain something to someone who cannot hear you? How do you show something to a child who cannot see you? Deafblindness is a unique disability. There is nothing else like it. It is not deafness, because sight exists. The child can be shown. It is not blindness, because with hearing, the child can be told. Take them both away, it is devastating and seemingly hopeless. But it is not a hopeless situation. There is a solution:
Intervenors are the special forces of education. They are highly skilled teachers who use every mode of understanding to find a way through the locked door of a deafblind child's mind. They use every teaching tool known to get through. They are willing and able to repeat a task a thousand times if necessary until the deafblind child understands. They use touch to speak, by talking sign language into the child's hand. They use smell to understand color. They use taste to understand texture. Are you beginning to realize the importance of the right teacher?
Here is an example: A deafblind child holds a vase. Would it have any meaning at all? The child has never seen one to know it can hold water or flowers. She doesn't know what it is made of or what will happen if she drops it. She has never heard the sound of breaking glass. She has never seen something break before. She does not understand the pieces can cut her and hurt her. She does not see it has been painted or what color it might be. What a heartbreaking experience.
Now the same experience with an intervenor teaching this child: The deafblind child holds the vase. The intervenor slowly turns it in the child's hands, moving the small fingers over it's textured sides. The larger hands guiding the smaller ones. Together, they move to the sink and fill the vase with water. They turn it over and spill it over the child's hands. Together, they laugh at the surprising feeling of the cold water. They fill it again, only this time, the intervenor has brought flowers. The child can smell the fragrance. She remembers what a flower is, from previous lessons just like this one.
Now, the intervenor presents a piece of soft clay and together, they feel its coolness. The child is encouraged to shape it. Shape the clay, feel the vase. Back and forth, until it is understood. Over and over until it is clear. And then it clicks. This little deafblind child gets it. She understands the whole thing and in her excitement, she accidentally knocks the vase to the floor. Without an intervenor, what happens next? With an intervenor, what happens? Do you understand now?
This is how everything must be taught. How to eat. How to bathe. How to put on clothes. How to climb stairs. The list is as long as our lives. And this is what we all need. An understanding of the world around us. If you couldn't do it alone, how would you ever survive?
A child who is deafblind needs to develop a personal relationship with someone who will consistently be available to interpret the world for her. The child must develop a sense of trust and security with this person or she will be too fearful to learn. This cannot be taught in a classroom full of kids that aren't like them. It can't be taught by the parents who are struggling just to make it through the day. It takes a special kind of teacher. An intervenor. Deafblind children are able to conquer the world if somebody can teach it to them. It is an incredibly overwhelming task. Even with one deafblind child, the job would be difficult at best. But your membership dollars will provide the means to bring intervenors into the lives of children who desperately need them.
Intervenors are not cheap, but they aren't extravagant either. A $50,000 salary per year is worth every penny considering the life-giving education they provide. Donate today and help make this happen.
This child lives in a small, dark and silent world. There is no input without touch, smell, or taste. A deafblind child cannot learn by accident or incident. Nothing can be observed. Healthy children learn almost every skill from watching and listening to others. A deafblind child will never know anything unless someone explains it to them. But how can you explain something to someone who cannot hear you? How do you show something to a child who cannot see you? Deafblindness is a unique disability. There is nothing else like it. It is not deafness, because sight exists. The child can be shown. It is not blindness, because with hearing, the child can be told. Take them both away, it is devastating and seemingly hopeless. But it is not a hopeless situation. There is a solution:
Intervenors are the special forces of education. They are highly skilled teachers who use every mode of understanding to find a way through the locked door of a deafblind child's mind. They use every teaching tool known to get through. They are willing and able to repeat a task a thousand times if necessary until the deafblind child understands. They use touch to speak, by talking sign language into the child's hand. They use smell to understand color. They use taste to understand texture. Are you beginning to realize the importance of the right teacher?
Here is an example: A deafblind child holds a vase. Would it have any meaning at all? The child has never seen one to know it can hold water or flowers. She doesn't know what it is made of or what will happen if she drops it. She has never heard the sound of breaking glass. She has never seen something break before. She does not understand the pieces can cut her and hurt her. She does not see it has been painted or what color it might be. What a heartbreaking experience.
Now the same experience with an intervenor teaching this child: The deafblind child holds the vase. The intervenor slowly turns it in the child's hands, moving the small fingers over it's textured sides. The larger hands guiding the smaller ones. Together, they move to the sink and fill the vase with water. They turn it over and spill it over the child's hands. Together, they laugh at the surprising feeling of the cold water. They fill it again, only this time, the intervenor has brought flowers. The child can smell the fragrance. She remembers what a flower is, from previous lessons just like this one.
Now, the intervenor presents a piece of soft clay and together, they feel its coolness. The child is encouraged to shape it. Shape the clay, feel the vase. Back and forth, until it is understood. Over and over until it is clear. And then it clicks. This little deafblind child gets it. She understands the whole thing and in her excitement, she accidentally knocks the vase to the floor. Without an intervenor, what happens next? With an intervenor, what happens? Do you understand now?
This is how everything must be taught. How to eat. How to bathe. How to put on clothes. How to climb stairs. The list is as long as our lives. And this is what we all need. An understanding of the world around us. If you couldn't do it alone, how would you ever survive?
A child who is deafblind needs to develop a personal relationship with someone who will consistently be available to interpret the world for her. The child must develop a sense of trust and security with this person or she will be too fearful to learn. This cannot be taught in a classroom full of kids that aren't like them. It can't be taught by the parents who are struggling just to make it through the day. It takes a special kind of teacher. An intervenor. Deafblind children are able to conquer the world if somebody can teach it to them. It is an incredibly overwhelming task. Even with one deafblind child, the job would be difficult at best. But your membership dollars will provide the means to bring intervenors into the lives of children who desperately need them.
Intervenors are not cheap, but they aren't extravagant either. A $50,000 salary per year is worth every penny considering the life-giving education they provide. Donate today and help make this happen.
Web Site Design & Development by ars Graphica, Hosting by lunarpages