How do we help students with deafblindness move from basic gestures to meaningful language?
In this new Spanish-language video, educator Lorena Antesana shares practical, rights-grounded approaches for the classroom. Drawing on van Dijk’s principles, she walks through how to build real connection step-by-step—starting with familiar, concrete objects before jumping to abstract symbols like pictograms or Braille.
Lorena covers:
- Moving gradually from real-world objects to visual and tactile symbols.
- Using reference objects and routine cues to lower anxiety during transitions.
- Spotting subtle micro-signals (like shifts in posture or muscle tone) and giving them shared meaning.
- Giving students the wait time they actually need to respond.
Watch the full presentation below to see how small tweaks in waiting and listening transform classroom communication.