This fact sheet was adapted from one originally written by Rebecca M. Wilson and published and distributed within the state of Mississippi by the Mississippi Statewide Project for Individuals who are Deaf and Blind. Describe the special problems of communicating with a child who is deaf-blind. Give tips for sending messages that will produce responses. Present questions to ask before designing an effective communication program.
Receptive communication is the process of receiving and understanding a message.
It is often difficult to determine how a child who is deaf-blind receives a message. Think about living in a world where you cannot see or hear what is going on around you. If we pay close attention to the way we send our messages, we increase their chances of being received. We will use the name Lee to represent an infant, child, or young adult who is deaf-blind. Think of Lee as your child, or as the student in your classroom.