Wе bеlіеvе рrореr соmmunісаtіоn іѕ thе kеу tо а bеttеr trеаtmеnt. Аnоthеr еduсаtіоnаl еvеnt еntіtlеd Аltеrnаtіvе mеthоdѕ оf соmmunісаtіоn wіth dеаfblіnd реорlе іѕ сurrеntlу bеіng hеld frоm 8th оf Мау untіl 17th оf Мау 2018. Іt іnvоlvеѕ соmmunісаtіng wіth сhіldrеn. Тhе Nаtіоnаl Аѕѕосіаtіоn оf thе Dеаfblіnd іn Вulgаrіа іѕ hоѕtіng thе еvеnt іn соореrаtіоn wіth thе Мunісіраlіtу оf Вurgаѕ. Gаllеrу ‘Gеоrgі Ваеv’аnd Ехро-Сеntеr Flоrа-Вurgаѕ аrе thе рlасеѕ tо bе іn саѕе уоu wаnt tо аttеnd thе dіѕсuѕѕіоnѕ аnd wоrkѕhорѕ. Тhе еvеnt іѕ bеіng hоѕtеd bу Аnnа Rоуdеvа, рѕусhоlоgіѕt іn thе NАDbВg, аnd Dеуаn Ѕlаvоv, ѕресіаl еduсаtіоn tеасhеr іn thе NАDbВg.
The first day of the event (8th of May) features a brief historic overview of the education of deafblind people with the oral and manual methods explained, an introduction to the different types of sensory deficits and the similarities and differences between them. The efficiency of the One-on-one method of communication (one specialist working with a single deafblind person) in modern times will be discussed.
The schedule on 9th of May will feature an introduction to the jobs of the assistant, the guide, the interpreter and the intervener. The rules of guided mobility will be introduced along with the corresponding verbal instructions and haptic signals. The attendees will also learn about the usage of the red and white striped cane.
The third day (10th of May) will offer a detailed view on language and its specifications, conventional and natural language, fingerspelling alphabet (both one-handed and two-handed), visual and tactile perception of language. The nature of sign language (including its tactile version) will be explained and its classification presented.
Haptic communication will be the topic of the day on 11th of May. This kind of communication requires the usage of the specific methods demonstrated by the Norwegian specialists who took part in last year’s International Conference entitled ‘See the Silence, hear the darkness’.
Practical workshops will be held during the weekend (12th – 13th of May). The days to follow will feature a number of topics such as sensory alphabet, Tadoma method (based on vibrational and tactile sensitivity and visual perception of speech), LORM and Protactile system (both methods in use created by deafblind people). The final day of the educational event will deal with Braille alphabet, total communication and the psychological aspects of working with deafblind people. The basics of communication with deafblind people will have been covered by the end of the event.
Team We Hear You will take part in the practical workshops on the specifications of communication. Hopefully, we’ll be able to take a look at the world beyond the line of vision on 12th and 13th of May. We’re looking forward to meeting Georgi Skordev (the incredibly brave guy from the seaside town) and his unresting mother again. See you soon!
Text and photo by Christina Tchoparova
EN Translation by: Maria Mihailova
Alliance NCAC “We Hear You” is the holder of full publishing rights on this article and photo