Weekly Blog - Week #2

     Visual Impairment professionals work with families and school staff to ensure high expectations and decrease learned helplessness for students with visual impairments. Of all the many responsibilities of a TVI, this is the most vital. The success of our students depends on our ability to clarify expectations of everyone working with the student with visual impairments, as well as creating a cohesive team of support for both the student and his/her family. It is a team effort and it is important that all members of that team understand that each member has a role in the success of the student. Building a relationship with each member of the team, creating clear lines of communication throughout the team, and engaging each member of the team in understanding the role he/she plays in encouraging the student are three ways to ensure the success of the student and reduce the chance of learned helplessness.

    Building relationships between the professionals and the family of the student is the first step to creating an enriching learning environment for the student both at home and at school. If we are to reduce the chance of learned helplessness, professionals must engage the family in encouraging the student to carry over skills from school to his/her home. The family must be a part of creating goals for the student with visual impairment in order to support the student in obtaining skills that not only empower the student at school but also at home. Encouraging parents to share what they are experiencing with their student in terms of how the student approaches new experiences, how the family allows for the student to attempt to engage in his/her environment, and both the student's and family's response to learning experiences at home is important to consider when creating goals for the student. If the family is reluctant in allowing for learning experiences, it is important for professionals to build a relationship of support and trust with the family where they can feel comfortable in encouraging the student at home. Home visits, emails, and communication folders passed between family and the professionals regarding student progress go a long way in building rapport and a feeling of comfort that everyone is part of the journey. Building relationships between the TVI, the classroom teacher, and any other therapists, (orientation and mobility specialist, speech, occupational, and physical) is also essential in encouraging families. If the family sees a cohesive unit of professionals working to help their student, it brings another level of comfort and validation.

   Creating clear lines of communication throughout the team becomes easier once relationship building has begun.  It is important for each member of the team to communicate expectations, experiences, and encouragement regarding the student's goals and his/her progress. Professionals need to communicate clearly how the family can encourage the student in the home. Every member of the team needs to be clear in understanding the skill the student needs to accomplish in order to avoid creating a learned helplessness situation. When a student puts forth a half-hearted effort, he/she shouldn't be overly praised. Encouragement is not praising and knowing the difference is essential in helping the student to gain more independence.  Well-meaning individuals can fall into that habit without realizing it. TVI's can encourage other therapists such as occupational, speech, and physical therapy by setting up sessions where they work together with the student. It allows for the professionals, including the TVI, to get fresh perspective and approaches in working towards goals with the student.

   Accordingly, when professionals work together with the family throughout this process of building relationships and communication, it clarifies how important each member of that team is to the success of the student with visual impairment. Understanding how each member of the team, especially family members, engage with the student towards obtaining skills will also make writing future goals an easier and more relevant task. The student will also develop more confidence to enter into new experiences when he/she knows that everyone is part of creating goals to enrich his/her environment and allow for more personal empowerment. No one individual is more important on a team. It must work together as a cohesive unit in order to achieve in empowering the student with goals that enrich his/her life experience.