In this issue:
- Concentration in Deaf-Blindness, Spring 2021
- Seeking paraprofessionals working with students with deaf-blindness
- Deaf-Blind Strategies
- Current Events & Opportunities
- Additional Resources
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We know this has been an incredibly unique and difficult semester. We appreciate all of the tireless work and effort you have all given this fall!
Wishing you a restful and
joyous holiday break!
Rose and Brandy
"Kindness is the language
which the deaf can hear
and the blind can see."
-Mark Twain
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Through a collaboration with the National Center on Deaf-Blindness, the University of South Dakota, and our very own South Dakota Deaf-Blind Project, we are pleased to announce our second semester of courses in the
Concentration in Deaf-Blindness & High Intensity Support Needs series!
This is an opportunity for our fantastic South Dakota teachers and related service providers to be part of a national cohort of professionals AND get invaluable professional development and graduate credits to maintain your license!
If you work with a student with combined vision and hearing loss and/or students with high intensity support needs, join us for Course 1: An Introduction to Deaf-Blindness. This course will provide you an incredible foundation of knowledge and strategies for working with this population of students.
If you have already completed deaf-blind modules with us, you may be ready to jump into Course 3 which has new content specifically aligned with CEC competencies for educators. Reach out to Rose Moehring or Brandy Sebera to see if you should register for Course 3!
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Course 1:
An Introduction to Deaf-Blindness
This first course will provide foundational knowledge of deaf-blindness and the impact of hearing and vision loss on learning and communication, as well as key evidence-based instructional strategies for supporting those with deaf-blindness. This course includes content from the following NCDB Open Hands, Open Access Modules: Overview of Deaf-Blindness, The Sensory System, the Brain and Learning, Building Trusted Relationships, Touch for Connection and Learning, Maximizing Vision and Hearing, The Role of the Intervener and Intervener Strategies.
10 spots remaining
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Course 3:
Deaf-Blindness Assessment and Instructional Planning
The course will cover new content including an overview of assessment strategies, assessment instruments, and the development of specifc and measurable IEP goals based on authentic assessment data. In addition, the course includes content from the following NCDB Open Hands, Open Access Modules: Availability for Learning, Routines for Participation and Learning, Behavior and Environmental Supports, and Introduction to Orientation and Mobility.
Only 1 spot left!
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What current students are saying...
"Thank you for everything you did to prepare and support us during the last 14 weeks! I have learned SO MUCH! I wish I had learned these concepts and strategies years ago. After taking these courses, I intend to share what I’ve learned with colleagues and stakeholders throughout Illinois."
Amy Deegan, LCSW
Principal Consultant Low Incidence: DHH/DB/VI
"I have learned so much doing this course! It has really helped me to cement my current knowledge and given me many examples of how to progress the students that I work with as I feel that many of them are 'stuck' on their current systems."
Emily Danvers, Speech Language Pathologist
“Participating has been the most helpful thing I have done since my daughter’s diagnosis. Learning alongside professionals has deepened my understanding of the role each plays in my daughter’s development. I have a much better understanding of my daughter’s IEP team and how to advocate for her education. The classes have opened my eyes to the diversity of supports available to people living with Deaf-Blindness, and on research-based methods that work. Most importantly, they have affirmed and equipped me as her parent, her advocate and her chief Intervener. Now, my Concentration in Deaf-Blindness and High Intensity Support Needs coursework has launched a new goal: To finish my MEd. and become a TVBI.”
Carrie Zeman, Parent
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Intervener: a person (usually a paraprofessional) who has training and specialized skills in deaf-blindness. Training can be provided through your state deaf-blind project or university programs such as those offered at Utah State University and Central Michigan University.
We are now recruiting for our new cohort of interveners in training beginning January 2021! This training will be at NO Cost for qualified paraprofessionals in South Dakota who work directly with a student with deaf-blindness!!
If your school has gone to distance learning, this could be the perfect opportunity to increase your own expertise through our online training modules.
To join our Intervener Cohort, please follow the registration link below!
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As we have shared in previous newsletters, the National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB) has been providing FREE professional development webinars that are relevant for any and all students on the Deaf-Blind Census.
This month will be the last scheduled webinar on December 16th covering IEP Development. Don't miss this and you can also go back to watch the 5 previously recorded webinars from the whole series!
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Current Events & Opportunities |
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2021 Texas Symposium on Deafblind Education
Don't miss this incredible opportunity to attend the TSBVI Virtual Symposium! The 2021 collaborative "promise to make this year's Symposium a truly spectacular event"!
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Perkins School for the Blind eLEARNING is working to develop a library of digital resources for Teachers of the Visually Impaired and Orientation and Mobility Specialists who are working tirelessly to develop "appropriate and accessible digital lessons" for students. If you have created wonderful resources over the past 9 months, this is the perfect opportunity to share with others and have access to this collective resource. |
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What format?
Any Format! Your lesson can be written, have materials or include a video.
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Who are they for?
Lessons can be used by educators, parents and even students.
The lessons can be for students of all ages from preschool through transition age.
Lessons can be for students with multiple disabilities and/or deaf-blind.
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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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TIES Center and NCEO are collaboratively developing a video series for parents. These videos are to support families of children with significant cognitive disabilities with learning at home! The first four videos are available now.
- Helping Your Child with Routines at Home
- Helping Your Child with the Foundations of Communication at Home
- Helping Your Child with Communication at Home
- Helping Your Child with Academics.
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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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