FLA 241 - Introduction to DeafBlindness

2.25 Continuing Education Units (CEU). This course is not for Credit(s).

This continuing education course is designed to prepare interpreting students and interpreters to work with DeafBlind individuals. Students will learn communication, guiding skills, and different etiologies of deaf-blindness with DeafBlind individuals. The course will review support services roles such as co-navigator (CN) and communication facilitator (CF). Topics to be covered include: cultural sensitivity, historical perspectives of the DeafBlind population, and ethical and role considerations.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

1. discuss the overview of the DeafBlind population and their communication needs;
2. discuss the history of DeafBlind interpreting;
3. describe basic sensory inputs and etiologies of vision loss and deafness;
4. discuss the role of touch for communication and how it is prioritized as an access point for DeafBlind individuals;
5. identify the difference between tactile, haptics, and protactile communication methods; and
6. demonstrate use of sighted guide techniques.