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The National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness |
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NCDB
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NCDB HIGHLIGHTS |
Technical AssistanceNew Jersey The recently formed New Jersey Consortium on Deaf-Blindness (NJCDB) includes representatives from the New Jersey Department of Education, from Vocational Rehabilitation, the Parent and Information and Training Center, consumers and families. NCDB will collaborate and leverage resources with the NJ Deaf-Blind Project to provide technical assistance and training in the areas of parent leadership and transition. Georgia and Florida NCDB, along with Georgia and Florida, collaborated to host the first annual Southeast Regional Teen Retreat. Twenty seven young adults and their families from across six states attended. The retreat focused on empowerment and self determination, topics chosen by the young adults on the planning committee. Presentation highlights included Kim Powers Smith who gave the keynote and Jason Corning who led the group through skill building and social networking activities. Kansas The American Printing House for the Blind’s National Instructional Partnerships, NCDB and the KS deaf-blind project are partnering with other Kansas state education institutions to present Designing Learning Opportunities for Sensory Motor Level Children/Students. The presenter will be Millie Smith, designer of the Sensory Learning Kit. NCDB will provide follow-up support and evaluation to teachers of students with deaf-blindness attending the training. NCDB is also working with the School for the Blind in KS and the KS DB Project to provide technical assistance to teams working with deaf-blind students in rural areas of the state via distance technologies. NCDB hopes to develop a technical assistance protocol using distance technologies. NCDB Area 1 States Area 1 states met in mid-January and continued work begun in 2008 in the area of effective practice. The work focuses on identifying and defining a set of frequently used practices known to be effective in producing positive child outcomes. Hand-under-hand techniques and the use of consistent routines are two examples. This work will help with TA delivery, materials development, and personnel training activities. A final document representing field consensus on a set of effective practices for children and students who are deaf-blind is planned. This will contribute to the evidence-base for these practices and assist in identification of future research needs. FamiliesThe 2009 NCDB-Perkins Family Specialist Workshop will be held April 24-25 in Portland, Oregon and will provide training and networking opportunities for deaf-blind project family specialists. One family specialist from each project will be supported to attend. Watch for registration information in mid-February. Personnel TrainingIn January the NCDB Personnel Training Consortium participated in a conference call with the National Center to Improve Recruitment and Retention of Qualified Personnel for Children with Disabilities –Personnel Improvement Center (PIC). The NCDB group shared the progress that has taken place in their collaborative efforts to improve the opportunities to train qualified personnel in the area of deaf-blindness. The consortium will hold their next meeting on May 13, 2009 in Cincinnati, following the annual NCDB Topical Conference. |
NEWS & EVENTS |
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Dr. Robert J. Smithdas has retired as Director of Community Education at Helen Keller National Center and was honored at a reception January 16th, 2009. Read about his accomplishments and see photos of the event at http://www.hknc.org/InvolvementSmithdas.htm Perkins School for the Blind on demand Webcast: Adaptive Physical Education. Presenter Matt LaCortiglia provides an overview of his FAIER model to create and adapt physical activities for individuals with disabilities. http://www.perkins.org/whatsnew/webcast.html NCDB Webinar scheduled for February 18, 2009 at 1 pm EST. Update on Personnel Development will share information about the work being done by the NCDB Personnel Training Consortium. NCDB's annual topical conference will be held in Cincinnati, OH May 12-13, 2009. Watch for upcoming information and details on the State DB Listserv and the NCDB website. |
PRODUCTS & PUBLICATIONS |
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New Practice Perspectives Available Transition, NCDB’s newest publication, describes the importance of in-depth transition planning to meet the unique needs of children and youth who are deaf-blind and the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as measured by Indicator 13. Print and Braille copies are available from NCDB. Standard and large print versions are available on the NCDB website Educational Guidelines Deafblindness: Educational Service Guidelines is now available. This best practice guide is designed to help states, districts, schools and practitioners in supporting students who are deafblind and their families. Copies may be purchased at www.perkins.org/publications for $25.00 a copy. Braille Display Adaptive Technology, a division of Perkins Products, has introduced the new Seika Braille Display, a 40-cell refreshable braille display. More info. Online Opportunities Graduate Certificate in Deafblindness and Deafblind Intervener Program from East Carolina University. Course info
Photo courtesy of Harvey Finkle Photography http://www.harveyfinkle.com/
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Funded through award #H326T060002 by the U.S. Department of Education, OSERS, OSEP. The opinions and policies expressed by this publication do not necessarily reflect those of The Teaching Research Institute, or the U.S. Department of Education. |