Combined Vision and Hearing Loss
About the Website
Development of the “All Children Can Read” website began in 2006 as part of the work of the NCDB’s (National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness) Literacy Practice Partnership. This group envisioned the creation of a central location to provide information and resources to individual state deaf-blind projects, teachers, family members and related service providers interested in beginning or enhancing literacy instruction for children who have combined vision and hearing loss and children with other complex learning challenges. Following literature reviews of literacy learning for all children, children who are blind or visually impaired, children who are deaf or hearing impaired, children with multiple disabilities and children with deaf-blindness, a set of literacy indicators and corresponding strategies was developed to help guide instructional planning.
The “All Children Can Read” website is built on a framework that incorporates stages of literacy development and key components of reading into instructional strategies for children with dual sensory challenges. Content is organized around evidence-based strategies identified as being effective in building emergent literacy skills and moving children along a continuum toward independent reading. The website has been designed to present these strategies in a user-friendly, interactive manner that utilizes existing resources and provides practical examples.
Creating a technical assistance tool such as this requires huge commitment and effort. The individuals listed below have believed in its worth, given generously of their time and shared their knowledge, ideas, examples, technical expertise and thoughtful feedback. Through the inevitable twists and turns of bringing vision into reality they have continued their strong support of this project in order to make a difference in the lives of learners with combined vision and hearing loss.
With sincere appreciation,
Barbara Purvis and Nancy Steele
Acknowledgements
Project Facilitators
Barbara Purvis and Nancy Steele, National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB2.0)
NCDB Literacy Practice Partnership
Lisa Jacobs, Perkins School for the Blind
Sherri Nelson, Coordinator, North Dakota Dual Sensory Project
Nancy O’Donnell, Director of Information, Research and Professional Development, Helen Keller National Center
John Reiman, Teaching Research Institute, Western Oregon University
Joyce Russo, Educational Consultant, NCLB & IDEA Services, Louisiana Department of Education
Kathee Scoggin, Co-Director, Deaf-Blind Project, Washington Sensory Disabilities Services
Ella Taylor, Director, Teaching Research Institute, Western Oregon University
Website Developer
Jeff Denton, Teaching Research Institute, Western Oregon University
Reviewers
|
Edgenie Bellah |
Lisa Jacobs Ruth Ann King Peggy Malloy Maria McCarrick Jessie Moreau Sherri Nelson |
Debra Nielsen Nancy O’Donnell Nanette Olivier Amy Parker Patricia Pierce Sarah Razor |
Gloria Rodriguez-Gil Chris Russell Joyce Russo Sharon Stelzer Dinell Stuckey Carol Trivette |
Thank you to former and current NCDB Project Directors Kathleen Stremel-Thomas and D. Jay Gense as well as Gail Leslie, NCDB Information & Dissemination Coordinator. We are also grateful to Tracy Evans-Luiselli, Diane Haynes, Amy McKenzie, Martha Veto and the many children, families and teachers who have, and will continue to show us every day that “All children can read.”
