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ERIC Number: ED443242
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1998
Pages: 15
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Learning How To PLAI: Ways To Promote Learning through Active Interaction with Infants Who Are Deafblind.
Chen, Deborah; Haney, Michele; Klein, M. Diane; Alsop, Linda
This paper describes Project PLAI (Promoting Learning through Active Interaction), a 4-year research-to-practice project designed to develop and validate an early communication curriculum for infants who are deafblind and their caregivers. The curriculum provides a step-by-step approach to assist caregivers in recognizing their infants' early and subtle communication behaviors and in responding to these contingently, thus providing opportunity and encouragement for reciprocal interaction. This sequence offers an innovative format to assist caregivers in developing the ability to analyze and respond to early, subtle, and difficult-to-interpret communicative behaviors of their infants. This report discusses the conceptual framework of the Project PLAI model and its unique strategies, including its emphasis on the skills of both the caregivers and the infants, support of the natural efforts of caregivers, and the infusion of interactive strategies within the context of family routines, thus supporting caregiver-interactions in culturally responsive ways. The modules and objectives of the PLAI curriculum are outlined and include: (1) understanding infant cues; (2) identifying high and low preference objects, persons, and events; (3) establishing predictable routines; (4) establishing turn-taking; and (5) encouraging communicative initiations. Findings from Project PLAI are discussed and indicate strong support for the effectiveness of the PLAI curriculum. (CR)
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Special Education Programs (ED/OSERS), Washington, DC.
Authoring Institution: California State Univ., Northridge. Dept. of Special Education.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A
Note: Paper presented at the Canadian Conference on Deafblindness (6th, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, August 12-15, 1998).