Aims and Objectives

1. i. Parents/caregivers have a better understanding about the needs of a child/ adults with deafblindness
2. ii. Active participation from parents/families in rehabilitation programmes
3. iii. Ability to support their children with deafblindness/ MSI where services are not within their reach
4. iv. Acquire knowledge and skills without moving away from their family
5. v. Sharing of skills and guiding other family members having similar conditions

Eligibility Criteria

1. # “Parents/caregivers” refers to any person who gives care to persons with deafblindness/MSI. The Parents and caregivers may be the Mother/ Father / Grandparents / Siblings / Paid professionals / Relatives / Guardian who takes the responsibility of teaching/raising the person with deafblindness/MSI.
2. # There is no specific educational qualification required to undergo this training. However, the parents/caregivers should be able to understand and follow the instructions given regarding the training.
3. # Language preference should be shared in advance so that an appropriated learning materials could be shared with them
4. # Each batch will have a maximum of 30 parents/caregivers.

Program Structure

Monthly 8 online classes will be conducted i.e., on Wednesday and Friday, of every month with one hour of duration of each session.

Course Content

Unit-1: Understanding Your Child

1.1 Areas crucial to Learning

1. a) All the senses: vision, hearing, touch, smell and taste, proprioception and vestibular Communication
2. b) Social relationships
3. c) Cognition
4. d) Motor skills

1.2 Myths about Deafblindness

1.3 Parental Attitude

1. a) Accepting the child
2. b) Learning to deal with own emotions
3. c) Preventing labelling
4. d) Preventing isolation
5. e) Encouraging healthy bonding and attachment behaviour
6. f) Encouraging a positive self concept/self esteem
7. g) Creating a learning environment (Motivating the Child)
8. h) Keeping learned helplessness away
1. i) Parental Motivation
2. ii) Parents’ Perception of safety
3. iii) Learned helplessness

1.4 Role of Family Members

1. a. Maintaining schedules
2. b. Understanding goals based on child's needs and IEP
3. c. Keeping in touch with professionals
4. d. Ensuring consistent interaction between the child and the family
5. e. Ensuring the child's participation in the family’s routine events

Unit 2: Basics about Deafblindness / MSI

2.1 What is Deafblindness and Multi-Sensory Impairment

1. a) Concept ( Introduction and prevalence )
2. b) Causes
3. c) Additional disabilities (Basic overview)
4. d) Simulation with blindfold and ear plug- Practical
5. e) Medical Concerns

2.2 Impact of Deafblindness

1. a) On areas crucial to learning
1. i) Communication
2. ii) Senses
3. iii) Social relationships
4. iv) Cognition
5. v) Motor skills
2. b) On Incidental Learning
3. c) On Mobility
4. d) On Mental Imagery

2.3 Assistive Devices

Unit 3: Living and Working with Children with Deafblindness

3.1 How to develop communication in deafblind children (Theory and Practical)

1. a) Understanding how to develop communication
2. b) Receptive and expressive communication
3. c) Modes of communication
4. d) Helping your child to communicate
5. e) Including communication in all activities of day to day life

3.2 Developing Literacy through functional activities

3.3 Orientation and Mobility Concepts

1. a) Developing Pre-mobility
2. b) Improvement in body awareness through identification of body parts in different activities of daily living
3. c) Development of indoor and outdoor mobility
4. d) Importance of community experience
5. e) Mobility techniques
1. i) Sighted guide
2. ii) Use of protective techniques
3. iii) Trailing
4. iv) Cane technique

3.4 Common Teaching Strategies

1. a. Guidelines for working successfully with deafblind children
1. i) Teach functional skills
2. ii) Teach in natural settings
3. iii) Provide assistance as needed
1. • Small steps
2. • Maintain the right pace
3. • Repetition and prompt
4. • Hand over hand (HOH) and hand under hand assistance
5. • Modelling
4. iv) Give time to respond
5. v) Use age appropriate activities
6. vi) Use activities that are meaningful and interesting for the child
7. vii) Use real objects
8. viii) Use interesting and locally available materials
9. ix) Create environment that promotes optimal functioning
2. b. Understanding behaviour
1. i) behaviours communicate
2. ii) Encourage age appropriate behaviour
3. iii) Reward desired behaviour
4. iv) Be clear and consistent

Unit 4: Importance of Play in Overall Development

4.1 Developing play in deafblind children (Including the use of music and Dance in activities) Importance of play

4.2 How, what and where to play

4.3 Play materials

4.4 Yoga and Massage

Practical Management of Sleep Patterns, and Daily Living Skills

5.1 Issues related to feeding

5.2 Independence in Daily living (ADL)

5.3 Personal hygiene

5.4 Importance of balanced nutrition

5.5 Disturbed sleep patterns

5.6 Positioning

5.7 Social Skills

Unit 6: Needs and Concerns of Adolescents and Young Adults with Deafblindness

6.1 Understanding transition

6.2 Sex Education

6.3 Economic Independence and self esteem

6.4 Independent living skills

6.5 Small savings

Unit 7: Acts and Schemes (Central and State)

7.1 National Trust Act , National Awards

7.2 Disability Certificate

7.3 Schemes ( Inclusive education, Girl child education, LIC, Government and Private sectors , Government rules(GR), Pensions)

7.4 Entitlement and facilities

7.5 Advocacy

7.6 Networking and developing support system among parents

Guidelines of the Module:

1. 1. Minimizing the reading requirements for Parents/caregivers
2. 2. Providing a means for Parents/caregivers to practice skills being taught
3. 3. Providing a means for Parents/caregivers to evaluate their own learning
4. 4. Keeping training procedures as brief as possible.
5. 5. Use of videos for training and success stories

Practical:

1. 1. Prepare a weekly time table for a child with deafblindness/MSI
2. 2. Develop an IEP for one child.
3. 3. Prepare a record on recreation and leisure time activities for persons with deafblindness

How to Apply

Applicants can apply by downloading app from Google Play store or online through the Sense International India website at www.senseintindia.org Applicants has to apply for 1st Batch before 15th of January, 2nd Batch before 15th of April, 3rd batch before 15th of July and 4th batch before 15th of October each year. Admission will only be accepted on submission of the entire course fee through online payment provided on Sense India app. Incomplete forms shall be liable to be rejected.