Module 1: The Impact of Deafblindness on Learning and Development
Module 1 provides need-to-know, practical information that teachers and early intervention providers can put to use right away in their classrooms and other settings, with children birth through 21. Participants will get a solid foundational understanding of deaf-blindness that will be built upon in subsequent modules. It includes four 30-minute lessons that cover an introduction to deafblindness, preparing for learning, foundational teaching strategies, and building relationships.
Use of this Module
As with all NCDB products, this module is available for free on our website. Although we invite anyone to use these materials for independent self-study, the module was specifically designed for professional development providers to use in their training programs and courses. Please note that NCDB does not provide CEUs, certificates, or confirmation of completion.
To learn how this module can be incorporated into your training platform, visit Use of Teaching Children Who Are Deafblind Modules: Info for Professional Development Providers.
Module 1 Content Experts
Maurice Belote, M.A., is a graduate of the federally-funded teacher training program in deafblindness at San Francisco State University and has worked exclusively in the field of deafblindness for 39 years. He served as project coordinator of California Deafblind Services from 1992 to 2021. Prior to joining the state deafblind project, he served for two years as a one-on-one teacher for a deafblind adolescent and another nine years as a teacher of deafblind young adults at the California School for the Blind. Maurice is a frequent presenter at state, national, and international conferences and has written extensively on educational issues specific to children and youth who are deafblind. He represents students who are deafblind on numerous state and national groups and organizations, including as the specialist in deafblindness for the California Transcribers and Educators of the Blind and Visually Impaired. He also serves as Co-Chair of the National Coalition on Deafblindness, which advocates for federal recognition of interveners and teachers of the deafblind in federal law.
Michelle Clyne, M.S. Ed., is the coordinator of Project Reach: Illinois DeafBlind Services (the state’s deaf-blind project) and previously worked on the project as a deafblind specialist. Prior to that, she was a music therapist in a residential school for children and youth with deafblindness and additional disabilities. Michelle has volunteered for work related to deafblindness with Hilton-Perkins International and the Helen Keller National Center. She also helped develop the Illinois standards and test for the LBS II/Teacher of the Deaf-Blind, the revalidation of the CEC Deaf-Blind Intervener Standards, and several NCDB Open Hands, Open Access: Deaf-Blind Intervener Learning Modules. She received certification as a deafblind specialist by the Illinois Certification Testing System 159 LBS II, and holds an Illinois PEL: Teacher of Students Who are Blind or Visually Impaired credential and an Illinois Early Intervention credential as a Developmental Therapist–Vision Specialist with evaluation credentials. While a part-time instructor at Illinois State University, Michelle taught for the El Vista (Early Learning Visual Impairment Services Training and Advancement) program.
Published June 2022 by National Center on Deaf-Blindness.