Observation of communication between deaf blindness students, teachers and peers

INTRODUCTION. Deafblindnes affects approximately in 100,000 people and it causes limitations in communication and in the daily routines. In the case of children, the need for learning an alternative way of communication makes difficult their integration into society. METHOD. Based on observation instrument, interaction of two deafblindness children in their school environment is analized. The aim is to search differences in communication and interaction according to the receptor, if he/she is an adult (teacher-mediator) or a peer. RESULTS. It is observed that most of the interactions are initiated by the adult. The type and intentionality of these interactions differ depending on who starts the process (adult, peer or deafblind child). DISCUSSION. The used tool is analyzed as a facilitator for staff working with deafblind children at the time of designing plans for introduction to communication. Data obtained shows a major adult focused communication, based on informal gesture, hindering the expansion of the network communication to people outside the closest environment of the person with deafblindness.