DES Community Partner Spotlight: The Sights and Sounds of the Holiday Season
'Tis the season for colorful lights, festive music and all things that set the mood for a wonderful holiday. It‘s a unique experience for everyone, but have you ever wondered how the holiday hype might affect someone who is visually or hearing impaired?
Barbara Schrag, Director of Early Childhood Programs at the Arizona Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (ASDB) says, “It tends to be a magical time of year for kids in general, but for children with disabilities, the holidays can sometimes be overwhelming.”
She says it’s not a myth that with sensory impairment, such as vision or hearing loss, we compensate with other senses. For example, the lights of a Christmas tree might be magical to children with sensory impairments, but children with a different impairment may react in a completely different way.
“Because it is the season of lights, a child who is deaf or hard of hearing would tend to be even more visual than children without impairment,” Schrag explains. “Children with visual impairments might experience a Christmas tree through the senses of touch and smell.” She adds that it’s normal practice to encourage a child with vision loss to touch or hold an item such as an ornament.
The songs of the season can be an effective language stimulus for children both deaf and hard of hearing or blind and visually impaired.
“We encourage our families to do songs and finger plays with their children, because that sets up a natural and effective way to teach language and the rhythm of language, even for children who are not deaf or hard of hearing or blind and visually impaired,” says Schrag.
While the holiday season can be a wonderful time, there is a risk of sensory overload for children, whether they have a sensory impairment or not.
Taking short breaks, avoidance, and knowing and setting limits can all be effective strategies in dealing with too much of a good thing.
ASDB works year round to bring students clarity and meaning in everyday communication and life events. For more information on the Arizona Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, a community partner of the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES), please visit their website.
By Vielka Atherton