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Before You Begin

Welcome to the online web course, "Assessment & Interventions: Case Studies in Deaf-blindness". This course is presented by the Project for NM children and Youth who are Deaf-blind at the UNM Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, Center for Development & Disability.

Here is What You Can Expect from this Online Course:

This is a web-based distance education course designed for families, service providers and educators working with children and youth who are deaf-blind. The course will be taught through case tutorials or case analysis in a Problem based Learning (PBL) approach using the DISCUSS  model. The cases will reflect real life issues that are of concern to families and service providers of children who are deaf-blind. Through these cases, participants will discuss the delivery of appropriate services, alternate assessments, inclusion of students in natural settings, positive supports and transition issues.

In general, participants will be involved in the development of a community of learners that will develop local and statewide capacity of individuals and teams who are involved in intervention and education of children and youth who are deaf-blind.

Participants will actively engage in the discussion of three cases.

• Case One – Michael; all participants will discuss Michael as an introductory/orientation case. This case will provide participants the framework of discussions and will orient all participants to the learning environment.
    

• Case Two – Choice Case; participants will select from one of three cases for discussion based upon their interests.

• Choice A – Esperanza – 3 year old young girl

• Choice B – Juanita – 14 year old

• Choice C – Joey – 6 year old.

Participants will be divided into virtual teams to discuss and complete case two.

• Case Three – Participant Choice Case:

• All participants will be invited to develop a case, case questions and an educational/intervention plan for a child they are working with. Participants will again be placed into virtual teams; those participants who are not currently working with a child/youth who is deaf-blind may participate as a team member and assist with the development of questions/plans.

• Participants may choose to work through one of the presented cases listed above.

Following completion of this eight-week course, the learner will:

In addition to these overall objectives, each case will have individual objectives found within each of the four cases.

• Describe various diagnoses and syndromes that effect or result in vision and hearing loss.

• Describe the effect that vision loss, hearing loss and vision and hearing loss combined has on the development of the child.

• Demonstrate communication skills needed for successful interdisciplinary teamwork.

• Demonstrate the communication skills necessary for the successful collaboration between families and agencies that support their children.

• Utilize assessment reports for program planning.

• Develop and implement intervention strategies for working with children and youth who deaf-blindness.

• Become familiar with the intent of IDEA relative to the following:

• Access to general education curriculum

• Transition

• FAPE/LRE (Free Appropriate Public Education/Least Restrictive Environment)

• Describe advocacy issues that families who have a child that is deaf-blind may experience.

In addition to these overall objectives, each case will have individual objectives found within each of the cases.

Here is what you need (technical requirements) to take the online webcourse:

• Internet access

• Web Browser (Explorer or Netscape)

• PowerPoint

Online Etiquette and Rules

Discussions will be password protected and hosted inside the Virtual Conference Center. It is anticipated that participants will be interdisciplinary and may include parents, teachers, therapists, social workers, paraprofessionals and administrators. This diverse group will engage in interactive discussions and therefore, personal viewpoints and ideas will be shared. It is the basic expectation of the course organizers that the participants will use no vulgar language and will refrain from making any personal attacks. Because of the sensitive nature of some of the shared content, it is expected that all course content and shared information will be kept confidential among the course participants. We will ask that as participants share information about actual children and youth, only initials of the child be used to protect confidentiality.

In the resource room you can find reading materials on how to participate in online discussions, tutorials for Problem Based Learning, and how to moderate and facilitate online discussions.

In addition to these online services, you are invited to fill out an online feedback form or access the Project for NM Children and Youth with Deafblindness with questions, concerns, and requests for additional support.

Email:  nmdb@unm.edu 
Voice/TTY: (505) 272-0321
Toll Free: (877) 614-4051
Fax: (505) 272-5280

The Center for Development and Disability
Main Number : (505) 272-3000