Most of us have heard these kinds of stories. A child with significant visual and hearing impairments always becomes very upset when being taken into the hospital building even though he cannot possibly have seen and recognized the building nor understood, from spoken conversations, that he is being taken to a hospital.

Page fluffers are simple adaptations made to books or other reading material that make pages more accessible to turn. A “fluffer” is glued, taped, or clipped to the corner of each page.

Children with deaf-blindness, like others, frequently resist changes in their routines. They may be frightened, angry, or refuse to participate in the new activity.

For many children grasping is difficult or impossible. As a result, participation in a wide variety of play, daily living, and academic activities can be affected. Various grasping aids are available commercially or can be homemade to facilitate children’s involvement in activities.

This tip sheet provides inexpensive and easy to implement adapta- tions that can make activities easier for your child – at home or in the classroom. Some of the suggestions can be used in a wide variety of activities and other ideas are specific to certain routines or activities.

This fact sheet addresses the issue of how to develop a successful, efficient and refined hand skill in students who are blind or visually impaired.

When working with a child who is deaf-blind, the quality of the interaction between you and the child is as important as the activity the two of you do together.