Certificate in Deafblind & Intervenor Studies
George Brown College
Key Information
Campus location
Toronto, Canada
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 year
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
CAD 16,830 / per year **
Application deadline
Request info *
Earliest start date
Request info
* most programs fill quickly, so we strongly recommend that you apply at least six months in advance
** for international students. All fees are subject to change, without notice
Introduction
Leadership Claims
This certificate program is unique in Canada.
Preparing students to be the eyes and ears for people who are Deafblind
Do you have a passion for helping others? Want to work in a dynamic and evolving sector? Are you creative and a good communicator? If you want to make a difference, consider becoming an intervenor and working with people who are Deafblind.
This one-year Ontario college certificate will prepare you to work with individuals who have a combined vision and hearing loss. You will learn various communication methods to support individuals with deafblindness in accessing information and interacting more fully with their environment.
Most courses are delivered online with some in-person content (semester 1 is delivered fully online; the first seven weeks of semester 2 are taught in-person and the second seven weeks are taught online).
What you will learn:
- How to work with Deafblind children and adults – many of whom are often medically fragile.
- American Sign Language (ASL) – a visual language that is adapted to accommodate for the vision loss of those with this dual sensory loss.
- Professionalism, values and ethics, health and aging.
- How to interact with members of the Deafblind community both virtually and in person. For those attending from outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), interactive sessions will be arranged in your community.
- You will get hands-on experience through field practice. This may be completed across Canada in your community through George Brown College partnerships.
Essential skills of an intervenor:
- Strong communicator – You will be the eyes and ears for the person who has deafblindness. Clear and effective communication will be key as you will be responsible for providing them with access to visual, auditory, and environmental information.
- Creative – In some circumstances, relaying this type of situational information and making it accessible will require creativity.
- Flexible – Being flexible is a key attribute as each day "on the job" will be different from the next.
- Trustworthy – You will play an important role in the lives of your clients, so being able to build trust easily is an important asset.
Your Field Education Options
The Deafblind & Intervenor Studies Certificate includes a field placement component that provides the students with practical experience working directly with individuals who are deafblind. There are two separate placements, one in the area of congenital deafblindness and one in the area of acquired deafblindness. The placements are scheduled two days per week in the second half of semester 2, for a total of 84 hours. Students participate in both observation and hands-on practice, applying the theory and technical skills learned to date. Placements are available with children, adults, and/or seniors and within a variety of educational and community settings.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Scholarships for international students at George Brown College are generally in-program awards based on students’ academic performance (and other criteria) at George Brown College after the beginning of the academic program.
Curriculum
Required Courses
Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|
|
Program Outcome
The graduate demonstrates the ability to:
- Integrate theory, principles, strategies and community resources into competent intervenor practice.
- Perform the role of the intervenor in a safe, ethical manner that is consistent with professional practice and public policy.
- Utilize a variety of alternative communication methods to effectively facilitate interactions between individuals who are Deafblind and others.
- Examine the social-emotional impact of deafblindness on the lives of individuals, their families and their communities to appropriately adapt intervention strategies and respect cultural identification.
- Identify current technologies and assistive devices to meet the unique needs of individuals with deafblindness.
- Apply the appropriate strategies to develop or elaborate on concepts to promote understanding by the individual with deafblindness.
- Examine the impact of physical health, mental health and aging on the individual with deafblindness to appropriately adapt and implement intervention strategies.
Career Opportunities
Your Career
Intervenors have the skills to facilitate communication with Deafblind people across all aspects of day-to-day life, such as health care, law, business, education, and social services.
These specialized communication tools are an asset for anyone who interacts with members of the Deafblind community.
To broaden employment prospects, combine this certificate with:
- Social Service Worker (C119)
- Child and Youth Care (C133)
- Early Childhood Education (C100)
- Recreation Management in Gerontology (C152)
- Personal Support Worker (C112)
- other diplomas and degrees
Industry
Intervenors work with Deafblind individuals (children and adults) across Canada. Graduates can find employment with:
- organizations serving Deafblind individuals
- educational institutions and specialized school programs
- contracts with individuals with deafblindness
- community residential settings
Educational Pathways
The Deafblind and Intervenor Studies certificate provides a strong foundation for entering other programs at George Brown College, including:
- American Sign Language and Deaf Studies (C114)
- Child and Youth Care (C133)
- Early Childhood Education (C100)
- Personal Support Worker (C112)