Intervener Training

An intervener is a professional who works consistently with a student who is deafblind and has specialized training and skills in deafblindness. An intervener provides their students with access to auditory and visual information that may be missed because of their sensory loss. Paraprofessionals or classroom instructional assistants may provide one to one support to a student who is deafblind and are eligible to receive training on intervener strategies. 

The role of the intervener is to:

• Facilitate access to the environmental information that is usually gained through vision and hearing, but which is unavailable or incomplete to the child who is deafblind.
• Facilitate the development and/or use of receptive and expressive communication skills. 
• Develop and maintain a trusting, interactive relationship that can promote social and emotional well‐being for the child who is deafblind.

The Virginia Deafblind Project can support individuals who are working one on one with a student who is deafblind complete the necessary training to have the intervener skill sets. 

Resources: 

• IEP Discussion Guide - Are Intervener Services Appropriate for Your Child?
• Paraeducator versus Intervener versus Interpreter
• Speciality Set: Special Education Paraeducator Intervener for Individuals with Deafblindness (Council for Exceptional Children)