VIDBE-Q Volume 69 Issue 2
under hand instruction. I will then describe why I believe hand under hand is more
than a form of physical assistance and is better classified as a learning
environment, or milieu, closing with how parents and educators can make the most
of hand under hand support with the children in their life.
Active and Willing learners
In the Spring of 2023, I conducted a study as part of my dissertation which
originated from the idea that special education teachers and paraprofessionals
working with students who have visual impairments require additional support
from specialists who understand these students best, Teachers of Students with
Visual Impairments. What developed was a single subject study that trained three
paraprofessionals to replace hand over hand instruction with hand under hand
instruction. The initial purpose was to highlight the effects of the training practices;
student behavior, however, quickly became the highlight of the results obtained.
As an educator I find joy in having active and willing learners. When
students are resistant, or passive in the learning it can be frustrating or
discouraging to everyone involved. In my study I measured student behavioral
responses in direct correlation to when the paraprofessionals used either hand over
hand or hand under hand instruction. I closely examined students' level of
involvement (active or passive) and their level of participation (willing or resistant)
when each form of support was provided. The results were astounding. As you can
