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What is an Intervener?

March 2020


Knowing whether your child would benefit from the support of an intervener is a burning question for many families. Let’s start with the basics.

An intervener is a person who works consistently one-to-one with an individual who is deaf-blind to help them gather information, develop and use communication skills, and establish relationships. 

The need for an intervener is typically determined during the development of a child or youth’s individualized education program (IEP). In school settings, they work under the supervision of a classroom teacher or other person responsible for implementing the IEP.

A young boy in a classroom is holding onto a specialized chair to support him while walking. He is assisted by an adult who also has her hand on the back of the chair.

Resources

Intervener Services and Interveners in Educational Settings: Definition
A clear, succinct description of intervener roles, as well as teaming and training needs.

A Family’s Guide to Interveners for Children with Combined Vision and Hearing Loss
A wonderful, comprehensive guide to interveners developed by parents of children with deaf-blindness.

Parent Perspectives on Interveners
Short video clips of four parents describing their children's experiences with interveners.

Are Intervener Services Appropriate for Your Student With Deaf-Blindness?: An IEP Team Discussion Guide
Helps teams review an individual student's access needs and how they are being met in four areas: information, communication, relationships/social interactions, and conceptual learning.

Interpreter or Intervener: Which Will Meet the Educational Support Needs of Your Child? 
Scroll down the page. You'll find this one under archived webinars.