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 Network News
DB Summit
This year's DB Summit in Washington, D.C. was an energetic gathering of the national network. There is a fine recap of the day’s events captured in this blog post. Session notes and information about follow up plans will soon be posted to the NCDB website. Make sure to check out the DB Summit 2014 Group on the site in the weeks to come. Stay tuned and thanks to all who helped to make this meeting a success.
Child Count Ready for Review
A DRAFT of the 2013 National Child Count of Children and Youth who are Deaf-Blind is now ready for review by state projects. Please review the results for your state for accuracy. If you are interested in a snapshot summary of this year’s data, NCDB’s Mark Schalock offers this information in the comments section of this forum post.
TWG Update
Beginning in March, NCDB initiated our work with four Technical Work Groups (TWG’s). Two of the groups are associated with initiative work, Intervener Services and Family Engagement, and two are charged with broadening conversation and national perspective around issues for the network, General Curriculum - College and Career Readiness and Network Engagement.
The purpose and membership of each of the work groups is detailed in this graphic. We are working on strategies by which each TWG can update and share their respective work and recommendations. We appreciate the support and guidance they are providing.
Open Hands, Open Access - Intervener Learning Modules
Last Spring, the module development team conducted a field test of OHOA modules 5-8: Availability for Learning, Understanding Communication Principles, Emergent Communication, and Progressing to Symbolic Communication. The feedback from adult learners and expert reviewers was instrumental in refining this set of modules and they are now ready to be released on September 30, 2014.
A small field test will begin October 3, 2014 to test three newly created modules: Routines as a Framework for Assessment and Teaching; Concept Development and Active Learning; and Calendars. If you are a state deaf-blind project staff member or university partner, we invite you to be an expert field reviewer of one of these modules. If you are interested, please contact Amy Parker at parkera@wou.edu. If you would like to share this information with adult learners who would like to "take" the modules as a part of the field test, please share this letter of invitation.
New from NCDB
Interveners In the Home and Community: An Under-Recognized Imperative
This newly published white paper summarizes current knowledge about the use of interveners in the home and the community and proposes actions to provide greater access to interveners for people of all ages who are deaf-blind.
Updated Research List
A selection of research items from peer reviewed journals, book chapters, and dissertations that have been added to the database over the last 24 months. Great reading!
 Upcoming Events
Opportunities to Connect
At DB Summit much was said about staying connected and continuing opportunities to build on conversations. Beginning in October, NCDB will launch a series of drop in web based adobe meetings. To guide these discussions, we are revisiting the summit session topics and notes. The first of these opportunities will launch on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014. Save the date.
Basic Rights in Special Education: A National Webinar for Spanish Speaking Parents
NCDB, NFADB, the New York Deaf-Blind Collaborative and California Deaf-Blind Services are partnering to conduct a series of webinars to support learning opportunities for Spanish speaking parents who have a child who is deaf-blind. Find Dates and More Info.
Collaboration in Support of Families Webinar
NCDB will co-host, along the NE-PACT/Region 1 Parent TA Center and the Northeast Regional Resource Center, a webinar for Parent Center Directors and staff, SEA Directors and staff, Part C Coordinators and staff, and State Deaf-Blind Projects in the Northeast. Find Dates and More Info.
Trainings and Webinars
A list of opportunities for professional development is available from the Events section of the NCDB website.
 Personnel Development
California State University and California Deaf-Blind Services will team up to produce new teachers with experience and knowledge in deaf-blindness. New Program begins Fall 2014.
Passing the Baton
Many projects and programs are looking to fill positions with candidates who have experience in deaf-blindness. The jobs include Interpreter, Support Service Provider, Paraeducators, Teacher, Regional Representative and Project Specialist. The Community Job Postings on the NCDB website is a valuable resource for those looking for candidates to fill positions and for those looking for jobs. Please circulate information about this space to others in your own personal networks.
NCDB Hosts Intern
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In August, NCDB was host to intern, Mr. Eduardo Madera, from Gallaudet University. Eduardo assisted in creating video reflections in American Sign Language (ASL) for the OHOA modules. |
| Amy Parker from NCDB and Eduardo Madera |
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