Promoting positive educational outcomes for children and young people with sensory impairments through a dual approach to access

Children and young people with vision impairment (CYPVI) and deaf children and young people (DCYP) share distinctive ‘access’ needs requiring specialist educational intervention to help them overcome particular challenges to development and learning. Being able to access information is a key barrier associated with sensory impairment and efficient access to information an important educational outcome for these learners. In this chapter a ‘dual approach’ to access is outlined to guide educational interventions. This approach promotes ‘access to learning’ complemented with ‘learning to access’ skills that encourage increasing independence. Practical implications and applications of this dual approach are outlined so as to maximise inclusive educational practice and promote positive educational outcomes.