This, That & There: This, That & There: Describing ClearlyDescribing Clearly

By Laurel J. Hudson, Ph.D.By Laurel J. Hudson, Ph.D.Teacher of Students with Visual ImpairmentsTeacher of Students with Visual ImpairmentsOrientation & Mobility SpecialistOrientation & Mobility Specialist

Adapted from Adapted from ““Classroom Collaboration,Classroom Collaboration,”” page 59 page 59Published by Perkins School for the BlindPublished by Perkins School for the Blind

What Sighted People DoWhat Sighted People Do

Sighted people typically communicate Sighted people typically communicate key information by printing, drawing, key information by printing, drawing, demonstrating, moving, and writing in demonstrating, moving, and writing in print. print.

They often talk only to bring attention to They often talk only to bring attention to this visual information. this visual information.

““ItIt’’s s thisthis student student’’s turn,s turn,”” (gazing.) (gazing.)

““Do Do thatthat,,”” (gesturing.) (gesturing.)

““ItIt’’s over s over therethere,,”” (pointing.) (pointing.)

What Listeners with Visual What Listeners with Visual Impairments/Blindness NeedImpairments/Blindness Need

Listeners with visual Listeners with visual impairments/blindness may not see this impairments/blindness may not see this key visual information, or even know if key visual information, or even know if the speaker is talking to them.the speaker is talking to them.

So when we are speaking to listeners So when we are speaking to listeners with visual impairments/blindness, itwith visual impairments/blindness, it’’s s important that we describe in ways that important that we describe in ways that dondon’’t rely solely on visual information. t rely solely on visual information.

In the following 15 examples, In the following 15 examples, ““This, This, That, & ThereThat, & There”” statements, typical of statements, typical of

what regular educators might say, are what regular educators might say, are on the left side of each slide.on the left side of each slide.

Examples of Stand-alone, Non-visual Examples of Stand-alone, Non-visual Statements are to the right.Statements are to the right.

““This, That, & ThereThis, That, & There”” 1. 1. ““The number is in The number is in thatthat corner corner of the of the

page,page,”” (pointing.) (pointing.)

1. 1. ““The number is in The number is in the near, rightthe near, right corner corner of the page.of the page.””

““This, That, & ThereThis, That, & There”” 2. 2. ““ThisThis is today is today’’s s

homework,homework,”” (writing (writing on board.)on board.)

2. 2. ““II’’ll readll read today today’’s s homework as I write it homework as I write it on the board.on the board.””

““This, That, & ThereThis, That, & There”” 3. 3. ““ItIt’’s about s about thisthis bigbig,,””

(spreading arms.)(spreading arms.) 3. It3. It’’s about s about as big as as big as

I can spread my arms I can spread my arms apartapart..””

““This, That, & ThereThis, That, & There”” 4. 4. ““New Zealand is New Zealand is

therethere,,”” (pointing on a (pointing on a map.)map.)

4. 4. ““New Zealand is New Zealand is in in the South Pacific the South Pacific Ocean, East of Ocean, East of AustraliaAustralia..””

““This, That, & ThereThis, That, & There”” 5. 5. ““I want everyone to I want everyone to

go over go over therethere,,”” (pointing.)(pointing.)

5. 5. ““I want everyone to I want everyone to go go to the back of the to the back of the roomroom..””

““This, That, & ThereThis, That, & There”” 6. 6. ““ItIt’’s s thisthis studentstudent’’ss

turn,turn,”” (gazing.) (gazing.) 6. 6. ““ItIt’’s s JoshuaJoshua’’ss turn. turn.””

““This, That, & ThereThis, That, & There”” 7. 7. ““The hurricane The hurricane

started started therethere,,”” (pointing on a map.)(pointing on a map.)

7. 7. ““The hurricane The hurricane started started in Jamaica, in Jamaica, one of the Caribbean one of the Caribbean IslandsIslands..””

““This, That, & ThereThis, That, & There”” 8. 8. ““Your reading Your reading

folders are in folders are in thatthat corner corner of the room,of the room,”” (pointing.)(pointing.)

8. 8. ““Your reading Your reading folders are in folders are in the the corner where the corner where the window wall meets window wall meets the board wallthe board wall..””

““This, That, & ThereThis, That, & There”” 9. 9. ““ThatThat was was

unacceptable,unacceptable,”” (glaring at student,) (glaring at student,)

““youyou’’re going to need re going to need to stay for silent to stay for silent lunch.lunch.””

9. 9. ““JJ’’Nai, looking at Nai, looking at your neighboryour neighbor’’s papers paper was unacceptable. was unacceptable. YouYou’’re going to need re going to need to stay for silent to stay for silent lunch.lunch.””

““This, That, & ThereThis, That, & There”” 10. 10. ““Start on Start on thisthis side side

of the paper,of the paper,”” (marking with a (marking with a pencil.)pencil.)

10.10.””Start on Start on the left the left sideside of the paper. of the paper.””

““This, That, & ThereThis, That, & There”” 11. 11. ““He held his He held his

hands something like hands something like thisthis,,”” (demonstrating.) (demonstrating.)

11. 11. ““He held his He held his hands hands with his palms with his palms up and his fingers up and his fingers spread apartspread apart..””

““This, That,& ThereThis, That,& There”” 12. 12. ““I want you to stop I want you to stop

what youwhat you’’re doing re doing whenever I do whenever I do thisthis,,”” (raising one hand.)(raising one hand.)

12. 12. ““I want you to stop I want you to stop what youwhat you’’re doing re doing whenever I whenever I raise my raise my handhand. I. I’’ll say outloud, ll say outloud, ‘‘II’’m raising my hand m raising my hand now.now.””

““This, That, & ThereThis, That, & There”” 13. 13. ““Please line up at Please line up at

thatthat doordoor,,”” (looking (looking toward the back toward the back door.)door.)

13. 13. ““Please line up at Please line up at the back doorthe back door..””

““This, That, & ThereThis, That, & There”” 14. 14. ““Draw a Draw a line likeline like

thisthis,,”” (marking on (marking on board.)board.)

14. 14. ““Draw a Draw a straight, straight, vertical line from the vertical line from the top to the bottom of top to the bottom of your pageyour page..””

““This, That, & ThereThis, That, & There”” 15. 15. ““ThisThis row row may be may be

dismissed,dismissed,”” (looking (looking toward the row and toward the row and nodding.)nodding.)

15. 15. ““The row with The row with Zara in frontZara in front may be may be dismissed.dismissed.””

Thank you!Thank you!This, That & There: This, That & There: Describing ClearlyDescribing Clearly

Adapted from Classroom Collaboration, page 59Adapted from Classroom Collaboration, page 59By Laurie HudsonBy Laurie HudsonTeacher of the Visually Impaired, OMSTeacher of the Visually Impaired, OMSDeKalb County School DistrictDeKalb County School DistrictLaurel_J_HudsonLaurel_J_Hudson@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us