Peer Interaction Tips

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
​Updated May 28, 2024
It is important for students to learn how to interact appropriately with their peers. The following strategies provide guidance for helping students develop positive peer interactions.
 
  • Provide Awareness of Surroundings: Help the student understand their surroundings by describing the activities and interactions of their peers. This can help them feel more included and confident in social settings.
  • Describe Peers and Activities: Describe the appearance and actions of other students, especially in group settings. This helps the students with visual impairments understand who is present and what they are doing.
  • Encourage Observation Before Participation: Encourage the student to take a moment to listen and observe before joining in conversations or activities. This allows them to understand the context and dynamics before contributing.
  • Address Questions About Visual Impairment: Be prepared to answer questions from other students about the student's visual impairment in a simple and natural manner. Foster an environment where curiosity is welcomed and respectful inquiries are encouraged.
  • Promote Verbal Expression of Emotions: Remind sighted peers to express their feelings verbally, as students with visual impairments may not perceive nonverbal cues such as facial expressions. Encourage clear communication through words.
  • Highlight Braille Skills: If the student is learning Braille, consider opportunities for them to demonstrate their reading and writing skills to their peers. This can foster understanding and appreciation for Braille as a valuable communication tool.
  • Use Names in Conversations: Encourage the student with visual impairments to address their peers by name when engaging in conversations. This helps establish personal connections and promotes active participation.
  • Expect Participation: Ensure that students with visual impairments are expected to respond to their peers' questions or comments. This promotes inclusivity and encourages reciprocal communication.
  • Teach Turn-Taking Skills: Discuss the importance of turn-taking in conversations and games. Help the student understand how to listen actively, wait for an appropriate opportunity to speak, and contribute to the interaction respectfully.
  • Develop Conversation Skills: Support the student in developing essential conversation skills, including initiating conversations, maintaining topics, elaborating on ideas, and gracefully concluding discussions.
  • Demonstrate Affection Appropriately: Guide the student in understanding socially appropriate ways to demonstrate affection, considering factors such as the relationship, setting, and cultural norms. Encourage gestures that are respectful and considerate of others' boundaries.
 
By implementing these strategies consistently and providing ongoing support, educators can help students with visual impairments build meaningful connections with their peers and navigate social interactions confidently.

Material Suggestions...

Getting to Know You kit
Getting to Know You: A Social Skills and Ability Awareness Curriculum, available from APH, is a social skills/awareness curriculum for grades K-12 in which students who are blind or visually impaired interact and get to know each other. It provides tools to interact and play effectively, develop and maintain friendships, interpret non-verbal cues, and successfully seek and maintain employment and independent living opportunities as adults.

ECC Instruction

Teaching Strategies
Compensatory Skills
Concept Development
Alternative Communication
Emergent Literacy
​Access Print
​Access Environmental Print
Pre-Braille 
Braille Code
​​Braille Formatting
​Braillewriter​​Slate & Stylus​​Tactile Graphics​Nemeth Code​Access Classes​Abacus ​Organize​​Study Skills​Time Management​​​​Listening Skills
Assistive Technology
Social Skills
Self Determination
Self Determination Skills
Sensory Efficiency
Sensory Input
​​​Sensory Areas & Rooms​​​Auditory ReadinessVisual Efficiency Skills​Optical Device Instruction​Tactual Efficiency​Tactile Readiness ​
Independent Living
Personal Care
Hygiene & GroomingPersonal HealthHousehold Skills
Shopping & Consumerism
  • Shopping
  • Grocery Stores
  • Grocery Shopping
  • Expiration Dates
Eating & Table MannersClothing IdentificationTelephone
  • Telephone Use
Food PreparationMoney & Budget
  • ​Money & Budget
  • Money Management
  • Receipts​
  • Payment Methods
  • Buying or Packing Lunch
  • Personal Belongings
  • Paying with Checks
  • Interpret a Warranty
  • School Fundraisers
  • Housing Decisions
  • Paying Bills
  • Vending Machine Purchase
Service Agencies
  • Service Agencies
​Safety
  • General Home Safety
  • Emergencies
  • Evacuations
  • Seeking Shelter
  • Accidents & First Aid
  • Internet Safety
  • Safety
  • Using Locks
Orientation & Mobility
Recreation & Leisure
Career & Vocational
Job AwarenessMaintain Job
  • Address Employer Concerns
  • Maintain Employment
  • Following School Rules
  • Work Related Skills
  • Assuming Responsibilities