Transcript Slide 1

Applying the Vision
Sensory Disabilities
• Blind / Partially
Sighted
• Deaf / ASL Users
• Hearing Loss
/Oral Deaf
Applying the Vision: Catechesis
• The Definitive aim of catechesis is to put
people not only in touch, but in communion
and intimacy, with Jesus. (GDC 80)
• Every parish should seek out its parishioners
with cognitive, emotional, and physical
disabilities, support them with love and
concern, and ensure that they have ready
access to a catechetical program suited to
their needs and abilities. (NDC 61:B,1, 2nd paragraph)
Our Model of Catechesis - Jesus
Deaf Man
Bartimaeus
Jesus stood still and said,
“Call him here.”
Then Jesus said to him,
“What do you want me to do
for you?”
He took him aside in private,
away from the crowd...
Looking up to heaven,
he sighed, “Be opened”
Blind / Low Vision
Statistical Snap Shot
• Approximately 93,600 visually
impaired or blind students, 10,800
of whom are deaf-blind, are
served in the special education
programs throughout the US.
• .5 % of the school age population
• Individuals with
very different
amounts of vision
and ways of
seeing.
• 90 % have some
functional vision.
• Approximately
5,500 legally
blind children use
braille as their
primary reading
medium.
Teaching Strategies – Blind/Low Vision
• GETTING STARTED
– Meet the Parents/Guardians and
Child
– Discuss the setting and learning
methods used in the child’s daily
classroom
– Determine what materials are
needed
Braille ~ Large Print ~Books on Tape
– Before the first day of class invite
the child to get to know the religious
education classroom
– Prepare to have students or
volunteers as sighted guides if
needed.
Teaching Strategies – Blind/Low Vision
• Classroom Strategies
– Use Auditory and Tactile Cues
• Speak to the class upon entering
and leaving the room
• Call the student with low vision
by name if you want his/her attention
• Describe, in detail, pertinent visual occurrences of the
learning activities
• Be inventive- Use Tactile Graphics when possible
– Print Material
• Consider using large print, audiotape, CD or Braille formats
• Black Sharpie markers instead of a pencil
• Set up reading buddies
– Hands On Activities
Resources– Blind/Low Vision
• Alternative Text Formats – See handout for others
Xavier Society for the Blind
Bibles for the Blind and Visually Handicapped
154 East 23rd Street
www.biblesfortheblind.org
New York, NY 10010
212-473-7800 or 800-637-9193
• Local Resources
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State and local Associated Services for the Blind
Schools for the Blind
School District and Regional Delivery System
Parents/Guardians and Support Professionals
Volunteers willing to assist with Materials or Teaching Strategies
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• Statistical Snap Shot
In the 2006-07 school year
38,070 US students were
receiving services for significant
Hearing Loss
• .49% of school age children have
significant hearing loss.
– 51% Speech / Oral
– 49 % Sign and Speech
or only Sign
– 58.7% Use hearing Aids
– 43.8% Use Assistive
Listening Devices
– 51.4% are identified as
having additional
disabilities
– 12.6% Cochlear Implants
Teaching Strategies – Hearing Loss
Most of us rely heavily on auditory means of learning about the
world and about each other.
• Teach Visually / Use Visual Cues
– Write all homework assignments, class instructions,
and procedural changes on the chalkboard.
– Use captioned films, videos, and laser disks.
• Enhance Your Communication
– Provide a clear and direct view of your mouth and face / Use gestures and
facial expression
– Speak from a well-lighted area of the room.
– Reduce background noise
– Speak clearly and naturally and at your normal pace, unless you are asked
to slow down
– Engage the attention of the student with a hearing loss before
communicating with the class.
– Don’t ask – Did you hear me? Ask –Please tell me what I just said?
• Favorable Seating
Teaching Strategies – Hearing Loss
• Assistive Listening Devices
– FM Systems /Induction Loop
– Soundfield Amplification System
ALD’s can provide clear sound over distances, eliminate echoes, and
reduce surrounding noises.
• Computer Assisted Real Time Captioning CART
• Consult with
Hearing
Support
Professionals
Teaching Strategies: Deaf/ASL
 Mainstream with an
interpreter +/-
+ Provides a level of
communication access
+ Part of the Community
+ Others gain awareness
and understanding
+ Sacramental Access
within the Parish Community
-Communicating with other
children is difficult
-Classroom techniques may
be “hearing dependent”
-Cost, availability, skill and
effectiveness of interpreters
Religious Education within a
Deaf Ministry Context
• Catechists who use ASL
• Visual materials that are geared
to Deaf/HH
• Full Communication Access
• Builds a Faith Community
• Eye, not ear centered
• Impacts on parents and families
• Deaf adults as catechists and
role models
• Connects to the life experience of Deaf children
• Weekly Program, RCIA, Sacramental Prep, Masses in ASL
Deaf Ministry – Religious Ed
HOW
• Ideally a full or part time Pastoral
Worker with the Deaf Community.
• If not a volunteer coordinating
team that includes deaf
individuals and parents of deaf
children.
• A commitment to:
Forming and recruiting
Catechists who use American
Sign Langauge.
Resources: Deaf /Hearing Loss
• NCOD
National Catholic Office
for the Deaf
301-577-4184 (TTY/VP)
301-577-1684 (voice)
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.ncod.org
• Local Resources
• NCPD
415 Michigan Avenue, N.E.
Suite 240
Washington DC 20017202-529-2933 Voice
202-529-2934 TTY
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.ncpd.org
• Captioned DVD /Videos
– Diocesan Deaf Ministry
– State and Local Deaf / Hearing
Service Centers
– Deaf and Hard of Hearing Volunteers
– Parents/Guardians and Professionals