“A valuable course for me, as a parent and educator”
Published 8 April 2026 | By surdocecitate.ro
Between March 27th–April 3rd, 2026, we organized the sixth edition of the online training course Introduction in Deafblindness.
On the occasion of our 25th anniversary, we offered the course free of charge to everyone interested this complex disability.
Together with 62 participants from across the country, we explored the causes of deafblindness, revisited the stories of remarkable personalities such as Helen Keller and Vasile Adamescu, and discussed assessment and intervention, the importance of collaborating with families, communication systems, as well as elements of orientation and mobility.
The participants, teachers in special education schools, students, and other specialists, approached the course topics with great curiosity, seeking solutions and ideas to better support children with deafblindness or sensory disabilities.
As with every edition, we were joined by a dedicated team of trainers, who shared valuable information and practical examples from their work: psychopedagogue professor Mara Apostol, psychologist Gabriela Jianu, psychopedagogue professor Eva Oprea, assis univ. dr. Ioana Tufar.
A moment of reflection and empathy
At the end of the course, we challenged participants with a reflection exercise: “If you were to face the simultaneous loss of hearing and sight, what do you think you would miss the most?”
Their answers captured the profound impact that deafblindness can have:
“If I were to face the simultaneous loss of hearing and sight, I would miss most the direct connection with people and the world around me. Communication would become much more difficult, and the lack of quick access to information, facial expressions, tone of voice, or environmental sounds would create a strong sense of isolation. I would also miss independence in daily activities, spatial orientation, and the safety of moving around. Beyond the practical aspects, I believe the hardest thing to bear would be the loss of spontaneous interactions and sensory experiences that give meaning and color to everyday life.”
“I would miss music, because it is part of my life. I would feel saddened not to be able to see the faces of my loved ones or hear the voices of those close to me. Sounds can sometimes express what words cannot, so I would miss the joy of attending a concert or listening to my favorite song.”
“If I were to face the simultaneous loss of hearing and sight, I would miss eye contact the most, as it represents the fastest and most genuine way of connecting with others. Without the ability to see someone’s facial expression or the sparkle in a loved one’s eyes, I would feel isolated in a space where emotions become difficult to interpret. Eye contact provides reassurance and immediate confirmation, and its absence would turn communication from a natural exchange of energy into a technical and tactile process, much slower, depriving me of that invisible yet essential connection that is born from a simple glance.”
Impressions about the course
“I appreciate the trainers’ professionalism, the clarity of the information, their warmth, and their love for the children they work with. It was an engaging course, full of practical, clear, and useful information.” – S.B.
“Thank you, it was a wonderful experience! I am glad I met kind, empathetic, and courageous people dealing with complex cases and life situations faced by some children and individuals.” – I.M.
“The information and advice provided are extremely valuable to me, both as a parent and as an educator. The course gave me a clearer perspective on the field and helped me better understand certain important aspects.” – N.C.
The fourth edition of the Initiation Course in Deafblindness
Published 29 April 2024 | By surdocecitate.ro
Between March 18th and April 19th, 2024, we organized, online, the fourth edition of the Initiation Course in Deafblindness.
The training course had both a synchronous component, with weekly meetings on the Zoom platform, and an asynchronous one, on our e-learning platform, http://www.cursuri.surdocecitate.ro.
For five weeks, the 25 participants - teachers, students, therapists, social workers - learned about the historical context of deafblindness, its main causes, how DB people communicate, important principles regarding orientation and mobility, personal and social development, intervention methods, and the specifics of deafblindness in children and adults.
Every Monday evening, for two hours, the team of trainers addressed these topics with great dedication, offering participants concrete examples from their practical experience, working tools, answers to questions, and encouragement regarding possible obstacles they might encounter in their activity.
Three young people with deafblindness received "Vasile Adamescu" scholarships
For this edition of the Initiation Course in Deafblindness, we offered the opportunity to access the course for free, with the "Vasile Adamescu" scholarship, to six participants, including three young people with deafblindness.
"I had many realizations during the course. I liked the case studies very much, as well as the gentle and warm way the trainers presented. It was as if I lived through the experiences and stories along with them. Listening to them, I realized how many children's souls they have helped and how many parents' souls they have soothen." - O.E.
"I would recommend the course to both teachers and parents"
We concluded this new edition with great confidence that together we can be a real support for people with deafblindness and their families. In total, in the four editions of the initiation course organized online since 2021, we had 110 curious and dedicated participants, joining the over 300 specialists in deafblindness we have trained in our 23 years of activity.
We would like to give special thanks to the three trainers, dedicated professionals and dear friends of our foundation: special education teacher Eva Oprea, psychologist Gabriela Jianu, assistant professor Ioana Tufar, Ph.D.
In the coming period, we are preparing a more complex course, approved by the Ministry of Education and addressed to all those who wish to specialize and deepen their knowledge in this niche field.
"Thank you for sharing a small part of your experience with us. Thank you for your time and availability in providing us with useful materials and resources. For me, at the beginning of my work with children with deafblindness/multiple disabilities, it meant a lot to meet authentic and dedicated professionals. I would recommend this training course to those who work with children and are just starting out, as well as to parents who have children with deafblindness, to understand their needs and especially how they can help them." - C.C.
"I was glad to attend the Initiation Course in Deafblindness with a scholarship. I found myself in many of the case studies presented. The practical examples brought into discussion made the course sessions easy to follow, very interesting, and concrete." - B.S.
