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Faculty of Child, Family and Community Studies
Continuing Education
Deafblind Intervention Certificate Program
Deafblindness is essentially an "Information Gathering" disability. An individual with deafblindness has great difficulty in accessing clear, undistorted information through their distance senses of vision and hearing. As a result, people with deafblindness face extreme challenges in developing effective communication systems, in establishing social relationships, and in genera l learning. Deafblindness creates significant challenges for individuals in every aspect of their lives. Intervention is essential for every person who is deafblind.
The idea of Intervention is a simple one, yet can be quite complex in its application. To understand Intervention in its simplest form we must first look at the role our eyes and ears perform. They provide us with the information to understand our environment and make informed choices about the way we live our lives. Intervention by definition means to come or go between, to mediate. For most people the eyes and ears intervene in taking information from the environment to the brain. Having a loss of these senses, the person with deafblindness requires another person to intervene or assist in passing on information - hence the name Intervention. The person providing this information is the Intervenor. The Intervenor provides information about the world, enabling the individual to better understand their environment and
make informed decisions and choices.
Deafblind Intervention Certificate Program Description:
This program is designed for people providing support services to anyone who is deafblind, in the school setting, the community, and/or the home. It will be of particular interest to those who are working with children, youth and adults whose deafblindness is congenital or early adventitious in nature. It is offered in part time studies over a 3 year period, in Partnership with Douglas College, Faculty of Child, Family and Community Studies, Continuing Education.
Admission Criteria:
Community and school support (CASS) certificate or equivalent training and/or direct employment
Courses: Introduction to Deafblindness and Introduction to Intervention are prerequisities for all other courses. One or two courses can be taken for professional development.
All 10 courses are required for a Certificate.
1) Introduction to Deafblindness
- 2) Introduction to Intervention
- 3) Intervention - Beyond the Basics
- 4) Issues & Perspectives in Deafblindness
- 5) Functional Aspects of Vision & Hearing
- 6) Orientation & Mobility
- 7) Communication Approaches Strategies & Techniques
- 8) Intervention for Individuals with Deafblindness & Additional Issues
- 9) Activities of Daily Living: Adaptations & Technology
- 10) Extended Practicum
College Credential:
Douglas College Certificate in Deafblind Intervention
Each registration is eligible for a permanent student record at Douglas College. Official transcripts are available.
Learn More:
Contact Joyce Olson at the BC Provincial Outreach Program for Students with Deafblindness
Tel: 604 668 7810
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