Exceptional Children's Assistance Center

Open Hands Open Access Intervener Learning Modules

This is a free formal training program developed by the National Consortium on Deaf-blindness.Although it was designed primarily for educators and trainers of children with deaf-blindness, families may find it helpful.The Open Hands Open Access (OHOA) Intervener Learning Modules are a national resource designed to increase awareness, knowledge, and skills related to intervention for students who are deaf-blind and are being served in educational settings.

The module content was created by a diverse group of experts in the field of deaf-blindness including state and national deaf-blind project staff, parents of children who are deaf-blind, higher education faculty, teachers, educational interpreters, and interveners.

The modules will also be useful to parents, teachers, other service providers) who are not seeking to become interveners, but simply wish to:

• increase their awareness and understanding of deaf-blindness and its unique intervention practices and principles,
• increase their awareness of the process of intervention and the role of the intervener, and
• learn about ways to support students who are deaf-blind and their interveners.

Each includes a variety of accessible videos, photographs, slide presentations, and learning activities.
Learners might choose to go through the modules on their own, at their own pace.The primary purpose of the modules is as a resource for agencies or institutions that develop, host, or deliver comprehensive intervener training programs.

Currently, four modules have been field tested and completed. Each is accompanied by a detailed participant guide.

For more information or to register for the program