News and Announcements

News

New Webcast on Charge Syndrome: Teaching Strategies

Perkins Training & Educational Resources Program is proud to announce a new webcast, the third in a series on CHARGE Syndrome. In this webcast, Sharon Stelzer, a long-term teacher in the Perkins Deafblind Program, discusses the impact of CHARGE Syndrome upon the student and strategies a teacher can implement to create a good learning environment. Establishing schedules and structure as well as offering the student opportunities to make choices are stressed. Sharon also talks about the benefits of helping students with CHARGE Syndrome learn the art of negotiations. Watch it now.

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NCDB Enews

Link to the current issue of NCDB Enews

Events

Call for presentations for the 10th International CHARGE Syndrome Conference

A call for presentations has been released for the 10th International CHARGE Syndrome Conference for Families and Professionals to be held July 29-31, 2011 (Friday through Sunday) at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida.  The deadline for submission is  November 1, 2010.  The primary purpose of the CHARGE Syndrome Conference is to: (1) provide information to individuals with CHARGE and their parents and families and to professionals; and (2) provide an environment in which families can communicate and establish relationships with each other and with professionals.  The presenters at the conferences will be selected using two criteria: (1) the relevance of the information they have to present; and (2) their ability to present the information effectively to parents and to adults with CHARGE.  There are three categories of presentations: (1) 50-minute platform presentations that will be presented at break-out sessions on Friday and Saturday; (2) poster presentations, demonstrations, and exhibits that will be presented  during a 2-hour plus multipurpose session on Friday afternoon; and (3) exhibits and on-site research projects that may run the length of the conference. 

The 2nd Professional Day for professionals involved in CHARGE syndrome (e.g., research, deaf-blind services, medical and surgical treatment, genetic services, educational and vocational services) will be held at the same venue on July 28, 2011. The primary purpose of this meeting is for professionals to present scholarly, scientific, medical, and educational work to their peers.  Professionals are invited to submit presentations and posters that are intended for a professional audience for this meeting, but may also submit presentations for the main conference. 

For more information and a proposal submission form contact Marilyn Ogan, 2011 Program Chair at marilyn@chargesyndrome.org.

NCDB Announces Upcoming Webinars

NCDB will be hosting a series of webinars.  Check here for info.

New Publications

Providing and Receiving Support Services : Comprehensive Training for Deaf-Blind Persons and Their Support Service Providers

This curriculum is designed to be used to train support service providers (SSPs) and to train deaf-blind people to work with SSPs.  It consists of three modules containing lessons for SSPs and two modules containing lessons for deaf-blind persons. The curriculum is available for a free download from the Seattle Deaf-Blind Service Center: http://seattledbsc.org/visualweb/SSPCurriculum.html.

New NCDB Publication - Authentic Assessment

NCDB announces a new addition to the Practice Perspectives series.  Authentic Assessment describes a comprehensive approach to assessment which emphasizes gathering information about children in their everyday environments during normal activities. It is adapted from a manual called Assessing Communication and Learning in Young Children Who Are Deafblind or Who Have Multiple Disabilities.  It is available from the NCDB website.  Print copies are also available and can be requested either by phone (800) 438-9376 or email: info@ncdb.org.  Large print and Spanish versions are currently in production and will be available from the website by Aug 1st.