Developing and Implementing Story Boxes and Experience Books for Learners who are Deafblind

This session from the Ohio Center for Deafblind Education will address two critical literacy lessons for learners who are deafblind: (1) story boxes and (2) experience books. Both can be examples of personalized literacy, a culturally affirming practice. Participants will learn about materials and instructional strategies to support developing and implementing story boxes and experience books.

The presenter is Susan Bruce, PhD, Professor Emerita at Boston College and a special education consultant. She conducts research studies on communication and language in children who are deafblind or visually impaired with multiple disabilities. Internationally, she is supporting others to conduct action research studies in their respective schools and communities. She has published over 100 articles and chapters, with 67 specifically focused on children who are deafblind. She continues
to serve as one of the Associate Editors of the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness and is an active member of the National Joint Committee for the Communication Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities. Dr. Bruce also had the experience of raising a daughter with multiple disabilities, along with her three sons.

Learning Objectives 

• Learn to develop story boxes and experience books.
• Understand how concepts such as personalized literacy, saliency, and shared reading relate to these classic literacy lessons.
• Learn instructional strategies to effectively implement story boxes and experience books.

Questions?
Contact Jodi Dowell, TVI & Research Associate, University of Cincinnati Systems Development & Improvement Center, at dowelljr@ucmail.uc.edu.