EDSPX505.SWSSI - Supporting the Well-being of Students with Sensory Impairments

Course Description

Number of Credits: 1

This three-part webinar series aims to equip the practitioners and families with practical resources and strategies to support the social skills and emotional wellbeing of children/young people with sensory impairment.

Important Summer 2026 Dates:

• Enrollment opens April 24, 2026 and closes June 5, 2026.
• The canvas course begins May 4, 2026.
• The course quiz and final assignment are due June 30, 2026.
• Grades will be posted by July 26, 2026.

Instructor Information

Janice Carson

Phone - (208)-885-6104
Email - janicec@uidaho.edu

Jessi Rohrbacher

Phone - (208) 364-4682
Email - jrohrbacher@uidaho.edu

Course Objectives:

Participants will gain knowledge and skills to:

1. Understand the impact of sensory loss on a student’s social and emotional wellbeing in the early years, elementary and at high school.
2. Understand how to use a range of simple informal assessments to identify the social and emotional wellbeing needs of students with sensory loss.
3. Understand how to respond to need by creating a simple plan to support a student’s social and emotional wellbeing, using appropriate resources and activities shared during the webinar.

Session 1: Impact of sensory loss on social inclusion

Consideration of the barriers to social inclusion across the age range: early years, elementary and high school.

Session 2: Practical resources to support assessment of social and emotional wellbeing

A range of resource and assessment suggestions will be shared to equip and support the practitioner in their assessment of children/young people’s social and emotional wellbeing.

• Social Skill assessments and observations
• Resources to involve child in the review of social experiences o Recognizing ‘Strengths (Use Positive Steps Strengths Cards)
  • Listening to the child’s voice: Easy – Easier Learner’s Voice Resource
  • Recognizing Family Strengths Chart
  • Snapshot of child’s social skills

Session 3: Practical resources to support development of social skills/emotional wellbeing / Program Planning for social skills

Examples of a range of resources and approaches to support social skills development.

• Facial expression interaction, your face as resource.
• Structured social skills lesson using teacher and student role play.
• Social skills program – younger children with VI
• Facial Expressions Game
• Guess the message social skills game
• Script writing
• Homemade books: Goodbye Book, Facial Expressions Book.

Required Materials

There are no outside readings or materials required for this course. 

Course Requirements

1. Participation: Participants are required to log into the course and proceed stepwise through the material to complete all course content.
2. Quizzes: All quizzes must be completed. Students must earn an 80% or better on quizzes to pass the course. Quizzes can be retaken until passed. 
3. Survey: Participants are required to complete a satisfaction survey at the end of the course.
4. Final assignment (100 points):
   • Case Study: Planning for the social/emotional wellbeing needs of a student with sensory loss
     Select a student you work with to carry out this case study. (If possible a student with sensory loss.)
   • Introduction: Briefly describe your student’s sensory loss/educational needs
   • Part one: Briefly outline the potential social/emotional wellbeing barriers for your student. (See the folder from webinar one to support you to complete this task.)
   • Part two: Use at least one of the informal assessment/child’s voice resources to establish a brief picture of their current social/emotional wellbeing needs. (See the folder from webinar two to support you to complete this task.)
   • Part three: Write a simple plan to describe your next steps to meet your student’s social/emotional wellbeing needs. (See the folder of resources from webinar three to support you to complete this task.)

Grading

This is a Pass/Fail course. Late work will not be accepted.

• Participants must earn an 80% or better on the final quiz to pass the course. Quizzes can be retaken until passed.
• Participants must earn an 80% or better on the final written assignment to pass the course.
• Participants must complete the online course satisfaction survey.