On March 16-20, 2026, a training course on “EDUCATION OF LEARNERS WITH MULTI-SENSORY IMPAIRMENTS” was held by the “Perkins International” organization at the Republican Pedagogical-Psychological Center. The participants of the course were 19 specialists who had successfully completed the first level of the Perkins International Academy Course, had experience working with children with complex and multiple disabilities, and who work at Yerevan N 1, Vagharshapat, Kotayk, Artashat, and Shirak Territorial Pedagogical-Psychological Support Centers, “Children’s Home of Gyumri” and “For You” organizations.
The Course aimed at presenting the impact of sensory impairments on a person’s activities and participation in life, the recognition of which will help to better understand the learner’s strengths and areas of needed support, as well as identifying the learner’s communication skills and supporting their ability to connect with different people through sensory perception.
The trainers were Martina Celizić and Basem Abdel Ghaffar, experts from the “Perkins International” organization.
The Courses covered the following main topics:
- ✦ Empowering Families;
- ✦ Defining Learners with MDVI/DB;
- ✦ The Impact of Combined Vision and Hearing Impairment;
- ✦ Learners’ Visual Comprehension and How to Help Them Use Their Vision Effectively;
- ✦ Learners’ Auditory Comprehension and Ways to Optimize Residual Hearing;
- ✦ Strategies to Ensure Maximum Access to Learning for Students with Cerebral Palsy;
- ✦ Orientation and Mobility.
During the Training Course, various communication strategies, assessment principles and tools for students with vision and hearing impairment, approaches to developing their Individual Educational Plans (IEPs), and teaching literacy skills were presented. Mechanisms for aligning them with educational programs, as well as integrating specialized curricula for all age groups, were also considered. The speakers attached importance to empowering families as a key factor in a child’s holistic learning process. The possibility of communicating with children with various sensory impairments through sensory perception and organizing appropriate support while taking into account their strengths and preferences was emphasized.
The advanced three-level course on “Education of Learners with Multi-Sensory Impairments” has been implemented in both online and offline meetings since February 2026. The Course is implemented in 4 modules, and at the end of each module, participants take an individual test and complete a practical assignment.
26.03.2026
