Using the Online Communication Matrix Matrix to Assess Early Communicators who are Deafblind

2011

Charity Rowland
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503-494-2263

To begin promoting early communication skills in a child who is deafblind, one first needs to determine which communication mode or system will best capitalize on the child's strengths, provide an immediate means of communication, and lay a foundation for future growth. The online Communication Matrix (Rowland, 2009) was developed as a free web-based tool to make this assessment task easier for parents and professionals. It provides a comprehensive picture of a child's current communication skills by identifying what a child can do, rather than focusing on what he or she cannot do (Rowland, 2005). Although this article refers primarily to children, the Matrix can be used by parents and professionals to assess someone of any age who is deafblind and operating at the earliest stages of communication.

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