The Board of Deafblind Ireland held its latest meeting on Saturday 18th June 2011. Detailed discussion took place on the organisation's plans to develop a new trianing course on deafblindness, which will be the first to be offered in The Republic. it is hoped that a new course, to be offered on a modular basis via an Irish institute of higher learning, will commence in January 2012. The course will be designed to cover elements including an overview of deafblindness, communication, orientation and mobility, learning/access to the environment, and functional assessment. The course will be aimed at existing professionals who already work with deafblind children and adults. It will be offered as a certificated course of continuing professional development (CPD). in addition the group made plans for its next conference, to be held in Dublin on 19th November. The venue and conference title will be issued shortly.
Ges Roulstone
Chair of DBIreland