In this issue:
- South Dakota's First Certified Intervener
- Something for Everyone
- Cortical Visual Impairment (highlights)
- New Courses in Deaf-Blindness & High Intensity Needs
- Functional Sign Language I & II
- Free Paraprofessional Training
- AER Conference
- Deaf-Blind Strategies
- Current Events & Opportunities
- Resources
- Center for Disabilities COVID-19 Resources
- Clear Masks
- SD DDD Resource Planning Guide
- SD Deaf-Blind Project
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This month's newsletter is packed with information and opportunities. We are happy to be able to offer so many wonderful options for those of you working with children with complex and high intensity support needs.
We wish you all the very best school year, full of health, learning, flexibility and creative problem solving!
Rose and Brandy
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Meet South Dakota's First
Certified Intervener!
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Ari DenOtter-Conroy successfully completed the National Intervener Certification E-Portfolio (NICE) process to become South Dakota's first certified Intervener! Rose and I continue to be amazed by her motivation and dedication to the field of deaf-blindness and children with complex needs!
Watch this interview with Ari to hear what she has to say about becoming an intervener.
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South Dakota Deaf-Blind Project
Something for Everyone!
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Highlights
Sensory and Complex Needs
Cortical Visual Impairment
Summer Institute 2020
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We successfully hosted our first Virtual Sensory and Complex Needs Summer Institute with over 20 participants!
Tracy Fitch joined virtually for our 2 1/2 day training including a Question and Answer session for parents and two full days of training on assessment using the CVI Range and strategies and IEP goal writing for CVI.
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Completed CVI Make & Take!
Photo sent in by Sherri Nelson, Early Interventionist/Audiologist
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Interactive polls and surveys
were part of the training!
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If you missed our session, CVI expert Tracy Fitch has additional trainings and she provides individual consultation. Find more information on her website here.
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Professional Development Series for
Educators & Related Service Providers:
Concentration in Deaf-Blindness & High Intensity Support Needs
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Course 1 & Course 2
Beginning on September 3rd
More details on this flyer.
Register here by August 28th!
Space is limited to 15 students per course
*CEU and Graduate credits offered.
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An exciting new professional development opportunity is available through a collaboration of the University of South Dakota's Deaf-Blind Program and the National Center on Deaf-Blindness.
These courses are geared towards educators and related service providers who work with children with high intensity needs.
Each 3-credit course will be 14 weeks long and is available completely online, including 3 synchronous meetings.
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Functional Sign Language (FSL)
Courses I & II
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FSL I: Core and Fringe Vocabulary
FSL II: Enhancing Conversational
Skills and Use of Classifiers
These 10-week online courses are designed to provide sign language vocabulary skills to parents and professionals working with individuals with disabilities who struggle with expressive and receptive communication.
Participants will explore a variety of vocabulary that will promote clearer communication within the home, classroom, work, and community environments.
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FSL I: Tuesdays beginning Sept. 15
FSL II: Thursdays beginning Sept. 17
Courses meet weekly from 6:30-8:00 PM
More details on this flyer.
Register here by September 8th!
*CEU and Graduate credits offered
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Functional Sign Language I
Wayne began his career as an educational sign language interpreter in 2008 after graduating with an AAS degree in American Sign Language Interpreting Studies. He has been with the Aberdeen Public School District since then and has worked in an array of classrooms with different teaching and learning styles.
Wayne is also currently going back to school at the University of Northern Colorado for his degree in American Sign Language and Interpreting Studies with an emphasis in education.
Wayne grew up in the Deaf culture. His father and some other family members are all Deaf. He has used sign language since birth and brings a unique perspective to the learning environment.
Wayne resides in Northeastern South Dakota with his wife, who is also a sign language interpreter, their three busy boys, chickens, dogs, cat, and a love for the outdoors.
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Functional Sign Language II
Jeanie A Schmidt is a recognized national Certified Interpreter (CI) and Certified Transliterater (CT) from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) for over 25 years. She began her career just out of high school befriending and assisting Deaf members in her local church. Eventually she worked her way up to interpreting sermons.
After a time, the local college, Itasca Community College in Minnesota, opened an interpreter training program, which she enrolled in to graduate two years later with her Associates. In 2003 she completed a bachelor’s degree from South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD.
Jeanie Schmidt also has training through SKI-HI Institute at Utah State University in Deaf-Blind Intervening and was in the first cohort to ever earn national credentialing (which is a slightly different path than Intervener Certification) for DeafBlind intervening in the US from the National Resource Center for Paraeducators.
While she has and continues to do freelance interpreting in the community, she primarily interprets in the educational setting.
Jeanie Schmidt enjoys many hobbies including gardening, crafts and reading. She is a mother of two and a grandmother of 5, with a few steps thrown in for good measure. She lives with her husband who is Deaf and their two dogs Izzy, a nine-pound terrier mix and a lab mix named Boomer.
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Opportunities for Paraprofessionals/Interveners |
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Are you a paraprofessional who works directly with a child with deaf-blindness in the state of South Dakota? The South Dakota Deaf-Blind Project is here to help!
We are offering free online trainings in deaf-blindness for qualified paraprofessionals who wish to continue their professional development in deaf-blindness to better meet the needs of their student.
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The National Center on Deaf-Blindness will hold six webinars on instructional strategies for children and youth who are deaf-blind. These should be of interest to families, educators, state deaf-blind project personnel, and any other individuals interested in deaf-blindness in children and youth. |
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All sessions begin at 2 pm CST and last 90 minutes.
All webinars will take place via Adobe Connect. You will use your computer for video and connect by phone to a toll-free number.
Check this page prior to each webinar for specific connection information.
All sessions will be captioned.
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Deaf-Blind Strategies
July 29: Establishing Routines at Home
Sept. 16: Meeting the Needs of Proficient Communicators
Oct. 21: Alternate Academic Standards
Nov. 4: Accessing Grade Level General Education Curriculum
Nov. 18: Early Literacy and Numeracy
Dec. 16: IEP Development
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Click above for access to the recording.
The topic of this training comes at the perfect time as we are all looking to start the school year and so much uncertainty remains. Many children will continue learning from home this fall and this presentation will give you tips and tools to support families.
Tracy Evans Luisellis, Ed.D. and Susan Bruce, Ph.D. provide a framework for working with families to support the development and implementation of home-based routines for children who are deaf-blind.
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...is filled with resources to help you get started implementing routines at home.
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...is a wonderful resource for both families and providers to get started!
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Current Events & Opportunities |
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The National Family Association for Deaf-Blind (NFADB) believes that individuals who are deaf-blind are valued members of their communities and should have the same opportunities and choices as others in the community. Their mission is to empower the voices of families with individuals who are deaf-blind and advocate for their unique needs. There are many benefits to membership including:
- Advocacy-helping families to ensure their voices are head.
- Foster Family-to Family Relationships-letting you know that you are not alone. Consider joining one of these networking opportunities:
- Participation in the Family to Family community Project (flyer)
- Participate in the Helen Keller National Center Community of Practice
- Belong to a Membership Forum
- Belong to a FaceBook Community
- Promote Partnerships at the Local, State and National Level to promote services for individuals with Deafness, Blindness, and Deaf-Blindness.
- Provide Information and Resource’s
- Offer Training Opportunities
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Free Online Course made available through collaboration with Perkins School for the Blind “Transition Planning for Students with Visual Impairments and Multiple Disabilities.” If interested, contact Mary Zatta, mary.zatta@perkins.org Director of Professional Development and she will register you for this Fall online course beginning September 21, 2020.
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CHARGE Syndrome Virtual Conference (Sept 11-13, 2020) More information found here.
- Promote Deaf-Blind Awareness Activities
- Build Family Leaders
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The Center for Disabilities at USD is committed to providing timely, credible COVID-19 Resources for individuals and families who experience developmental disabilities, neurodevelopmental disorders, and related medical and mental health conditions.
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There is a lot of uncertainty as we look towards the school year this fall. If you are asked to wear masks in your work setting, this is a great option.
It is SO important for our students with hearing loss to have continued access to communication. Facial expressions and lip reading can be a huge component of that. These Safe 'N' Clear masks or the Clear Mask can be a great alternative to typical face masks.
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South Dakota Division of Developmental Disabilities
(found under Division Highlights)
This new guide provides information about the following programs: CHOICES, Family Support 360, Respite Care and the Strengthening Families Program (formerly Statewide Family Support). You will also find information on establishing eligibility, who to contact, and frequently asked questions.
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South Dakota Deaf-Blind Project |
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Wondering who can help in South Dakota? Every state in the nation has a Deaf-Blind Project and South Dakota’s is located at the Center for Disabilities. We are funded through the US Dept. of Education-Office of Special Education Programs. We provide technical assistance, training and resources for families and service providers of children (birth to 21) with varying levels of both hearing and vision loss. Even mild losses qualify due to neither primary sensory gathering channel is able to compensate for the loss in the other sense.
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Rose Moehring, M.A. Spec. Ed.
Certified Low Vision Therapist
Deaf-Blind Program Director
Rose.Moehring@usd.edu
(605) 357-1437
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Brandy Sebera, M.S. Spec. Ed.
Deaf-Blind Program Instructor
Brandy.Sebera@usd.edu
(605) 357-1437
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SD Deaf-Blind Program Grant #H326T180053 |
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