Dedicated to enhancing educational services provided to students under 21 with vision and hearing impairments, this organization provides on-site assistance, support resources to parents and educators. Also in Spanish.
Multiple Disabilities Resources
In addition to blindness or visual impairment, a child may have additional disabilities, such as cognitive, developmental, hearing, or mobility impairments. Every student with multiple disabilities presents a unique educational challenge. Teachers need specialized training and skills to understand how these students experience and understand the world. In this section, families and educators will find introductions to the educational needs of these students, as well as best practice and policy overviews.
Clover Patch Camp
Glenville, New York
(518) 384-3042
Email: cloverpatchcamp@cfdsny.org
Double 'H' Hole in the Woods Ranch
Lake Luzerne, New York
(518) 696-5676
The Double H Ranch, co-founded by Charles R. Wood and Paul Newman, provides specialized programs and year-round support for children and their families dealing with life-threatening illnesses. All programs are FREE of charge and capture the magic of the Adirondacks.
Diagnostic activities for determining whether a student needs a formal evaluation by a certified O&M Instructor.
Source: Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI)James Scott Crawford provides detailed suggestions for teaching O&M techniques to individuals who use wheelchairs. It includes sections on sighted guides, trailing, cane techniques, monitoring safety, street crossings, and a skills checklist.
Source: Affiliated Blind of LouisianaThis article by Jill Brody discusses the role of occupational therapists, definitions, and intervention strategies for working with young children with visual impairments and additional disabilities.
Source: Project SALUTEInformation on Optic Nerve Atrophy disorder, symptoms, behaviors, research and links to related sites.
Source: U.S.National Library of Health- Pubmed HealthAdvice from James Scott Crawford, outlining sighted guide techniques for working with wheelchair users, including those who use canes and/or powered chairs.
Source: Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI)Dr. Stephanie MacFarland, who specializes in training teachers of students with multiple disabilities, outlines van Dijk's learning theory for children who are deafblind.
Source: National Consortium on Deaf-BlindnessCamp in Oakland, Maine
This is Chapter 7 from Peggy Freeman's book, The Deafblind Disabled Baby: A Program of Care for Parents of the Deafblind Baby with Multiple Disabilities. She discusses the importance of play and outlines six stages of play, with many simple activities to try at home. Downloads as a Microsoft Word Document.
Source: National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB)Information on the most prevalent eye diseases globally, and WHO's work to eradicate them.
Source: World Health Organization (WHO)Project SALUTE describes the hierarchy of communication symbols, from most abstract to most concrete. Color photographs of each of the eleven symbols are included; available in English and Spanish.
"Tips for Home or School" are suggestions for encouraging children with significant disabilities to write. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Source: Nevada Dual Sensory Impairment ProjectAddresses early detection, assessment, mobility, self-help, and communication; includes a short section on children with CP and visual impairments.
PDF version (illustrated; not accessible to screen readers).
Source: World Health Organization (WHO)This site offers links to numerous articles, including "Preemies and Sensory Integration", "Adoption and Sensory Integration", and more.
Source: Come UnityIn this 5-page article, neurologist Dr. Fernette Eide explains the biology of sensory integration dysfunction and the role of occupational therapy in its treatment.
Source: Research GateThe main challenges of providing services for children with visual impairments and additional disabilities in Nepal.
Source: International Council for the Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI)Eileen Hammar and Anne Malatchi list seven ways to make the IEP team an effective one; available in Spanish.
Source: Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI)