Communication Strategies for Children with Visual Impairments and Additional Disabilities

Communication provides all of us with the ability to participate and function in the world. Children with visual impairments and additional disabilities may be unable to communicate in a conventional manner, but there are multiple options that will provide them access to be active participants. There are a variety of communication options that depend on the child’s cognitive, language (receptive and expressive), social/emotional, and motor skills. The presenters in this session will share multiple communication strategies that will include but not limited to, the use of cues, symbols, pictures, objects, signs, and speech. The goal of incorporating the communication strategies shared in this workshop is to empower children with visual impairments and additional disabilities of all ages and abilities to be as independent as possible. Instructor: Sara Edwards Instructor’s Title: Sara is a TVIs, DT/Vision Specialists and Evaluator in the IL Early Intervention Program. Instructor’s Affiliation: Illinois School for the Visually Impaired (ISVI) Instructor: Julia Bowman Instructor’s Title: Julia is a TVIs, DT/Vision Specialists and Evaluator in the IL Early Intervention Program. Instructor’s Affiliation: Illinois School for the Visually Impaired (ISVI) Primary Core or ECC Area:  Compensatory, Social Interaction Skills, Self-Determination Target Audience: Professionals and caregivers Pre-requisite knowledge: None Lesson Plan Goal: The webinar will focus on a variety of communication strategies that can be used with children with visual impairments and additional disabilities of all ages and abilities. Learning Objectives:   The participant will identify three communication strategies that can be used with children with visual impairments and additional disabilities. The participant will identify three skills that may influence the communication strategy used with a child with a visual impairment and additional disabilities. The participant will identify one communication strategy that can be incorporated into the classroom or home of a child with a visual impairment and additional disabilities and explain how that would empower the child to be independent. The participant will review the importance of communication strategies while teaching students with visual impairments and additional disabilities in the home and in the classroom. Materials Needed:  None