Coaching Practitioners of Children Who Are Deaf-Blind

A number of factors make it more likely that coaching will be successful. They include:

• Well-defined practices. Because the purpose of coaching is to promote the use of specific evidence-based practices, it is essential to clearly define the core components of these practices and how they should be implemented.
• Indicators of practitioner performance. The process of defining an intervention should include the development of indicators to measure the practitioner’s fidelity of implementation.
• Well-prepared coaches. Coaches should have expertise in both the practices being coached and effective coaching techniques.
• Coaching follows training about the intervention. Training usually takes place in a group setting but in some cases may be provided individually by the coach.
• Flexibility. The coaching schedule and content are adapted along the way according to the practitioner’s mastery of the skills being taught.
• Clear distinctions between coaches and supervisors. Supervisors should not serve as coaches (this can lead to role confusion). However, the coach should work with the practitioner’s supervisor to make sure he or she understands and is supportive of the practices being coached.