The Nordic material for assessment of functional deafblindness has been created through close collaboration between the Nordic Welfare Centre and the Nordic Leadership Forum for Deafblind Issues. The purpose of this material is to strengthen a shared understanding of the population and functional deafblindness, to support professionals who work with identifying combined vision and hearing impairments. It is intended as a practical tool to support assessors in their professional evaluations.
The material builds on the earlier work by Rødbroe and Andersen and has been updated according to the Nordic definition of deafblindness and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. It provides a framework for understanding deafblindness, guidance on relevant medical and personal information, observation points and interview questions, and a structure for making an overall assessment of sensory function in everyday situations. The material is available in all Nordic languages and in English, ensuring that professionals across the region have equal access to the same tools and knowledge.
We want to express our sincere thanks to the authors and specialists provided by the Nordic Leadership forum. We also thank the working group and the many professionals who contributed with expertise and verification throughout the process consisting of Annika Maria Johannessen, Anne Sofie Fjær Løvbrøtte, Lone Rømer Jensen, Bettina Kastrup Pedersen, Cathrine Olesen, Louise Hassing, Karina Højbjerre Seiler, Odd-Erik Madsen, Kirsten Frandsen, Gøran Andreas Gregor Caspian Forsgren and Rasmus Hougaard Pedersen. Their efforts have been essential for ensuring the quality and relevance of this publication.
The Nordic material for assessment of functional deafblindness has been created through close collaboration between the Nordic Welfare Centre and the Nordic Leadership Forum for Deafblind Issues. The purpose of this material is to strengthen a shared understanding of the population and functional deafblindness, to support professionals who work with identifying combined vision and hearing impairments. It is intended as a practical tool to support assessors in their professional evaluations.
The material builds on the earlier work by Rødbroe and Andersen and has been updated according to the Nordic definition of deafblindness and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. It provides a framework for understanding deafblindness, guidance on relevant medical and personal information, observation points and interview questions, and a structure for making an overall assessment of sensory function in everyday situations. The material is available in all Nordic languages and in English, ensuring that professionals across the region have equal access to the same tools and knowledge.
We want to express our sincere thanks to the authors and specialists provided by the Nordic Leadership forum. We also thank the working group and the many professionals who contributed with expertise and verification throughout the process consisting of Annika Maria Johannessen, Anne Sofie Fjær Løvbrøtte, Lone Rømer Jensen, Bettina Kastrup Pedersen, Cathrine Olesen, Louise Hassing, Karina Højbjerre Seiler, Odd-Erik Madsen, Kirsten Frandsen, Gøran Andreas Gregor Caspian Forsgren and Rasmus Hougaard Pedersen. Their efforts have been essential for ensuring the quality and relevance of this publication.