This, That & There:

Describing Clearly
By Laurel J. Hudson, Ph.D.
Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments
Orientation & Mobility Specialist
Adapted from “Classroom Collaboration,” page 59
Published by Perkins School for the Blind
 What Sighted People Do
 Sighted people typically communicate
key information by printing, drawing,
demonstrating, moving, and writing in
print.
 They often talk only to bring attention to
this visual information.
“It’s this student’s turn,” (gazing.)

“Do that,” (gesturing.)

“It’s over there,” (pointing.)

 What Listeners with Visual
Impairments/Blindness Need
 Listeners with visual
impairments/blindness may not see this
key visual information, or even know if
the speaker is talking to them.
 So when we are speaking to listeners
with visual impairments/blindness, it’s
important that we describe in ways that
don’t rely solely on visual information.
 In the following 15 examples, “This,
That, & There” statements, typical of
what regular educators might say, are
on the left side of each slide.

Examples of Stand-alone, Non-visual

Statements are to the right.
 “This, That, & There”
 1. “The number is in  1. “The number is in
 that corner of the the near, right corner
page,” (pointing.) of the page.”
 “This, That, & There”
 2. “This is today’s  2. “I’ll read today’s
homework,” (writing homework as I write it
on board.)
on the board.”
 “This, That, & There”
 3. “It’s about this  3. It’s about as big as
big,” (spreading I can spread my arms
arms.)
apart.”
 “This, That, & There”
 4. “New Zealand is  4. “New Zealand is in
there,” (pointing on a the South Pacific
map.)
Ocean, East of
Australia.”
 “This, That, & There”
 5. “I want everyone to  5. “I want everyone to
go over there,” go to the back of the
(pointing.)
room.”
 “This, That, & There”
 6. “It’s this student’s  6. “It’s Joshua’s
turn,” (gazing.) turn.”
 “This, That, & There”
 7. “The hurricane  7. “The hurricane
started there,” started in Jamaica,
(pointing on a map.)
one of the Caribbean
Islands.”
 “This, That, & There”
 8. “Your reading  8. “Your reading
folders are in that folders are in the
corner of the room,”
(pointing.) corner where the
window wall meets
the board wall.”
 “This, That, & There”
 9. “That was  9. “J’Nai, looking at
unacceptable,” your neighbor’s
 (glaring at student,)
“you’re going to need paper was
to stay for silent unacceptable.
lunch.” You’re going to need
to stay for silent
lunch.”
 “This, That, & There”
 10. “Start on this side  10.”Start on the left
of the paper,” side of the paper.”
(marking with a
pencil.)
 “This, That, & There”
 11. “He held his  11. “He held his
hands something like hands with his palms
this,”
(demonstrating.) up and his fingers
spread apart.”
 “This, That,& There”
 12. “I want you to  12. “I want you to
stop what you’re stop what you’re
doing whenever I do
this,” (raising one doing whenever I
hand.) raise my hand. I’ll
say outloud, ‘I’m
raising my hand
now.”
 “This, That, & There”
 13. “Please line up at  13. “Please line up at
that door,” (looking the back door.”
toward the back
door.)
 “This, That, & There”
 14. “Draw a line like  14. “Draw a straight,
this,” (marking on vertical line from the
board.)
top to the bottom of
your page.”
 “This, That, & There”
 15. “This row may be  15. “The row with
dismissed,” (looking Zara in front may be
toward the row and
nodding.) dismissed.”
 Thank you!
This, That & There:
Describing Clearly
Adapted from Classroom Collaboration, page 59
By Laurie Hudson
Teacher of the Visually Impaired, OMS
DeKalb County School District
Laurel_J_Hudson@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us