Family Resource Group- December '24

We hope you get time to relax and enjoy your family and the festivities of this season. This edition of the newsletter features new resources, tips and upcoming events for the end of this year as well as looking into the New Year.

As always, if you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact me at any time. We also invite the teachers, therapists and school staff who work with your child to register to receive a copy of the newsletter as well. There is a question on the registration page for professionals so that we can contact them. Please pass this on to everyone that supports your child.

Erin Campion

Family Resource Group (FRG) Editor

ecampion@pattan.net

We are excited to announce that Communicating With Children Who Are Deafblind is now available. Like the other modules in the Teaching Children Who Are Deafblind: Professional Development for Educators series, it was specifically designed for professional development providers to use in training programs and courses.

This module explores the many ways children who are deafblind communicate and provides essential information, strategies, and detailed examples for how to

• Develop and expand their communication skills at all levels
• Provide effective access to the general education curriculum
• Create stronger connections with others

Watch the module trailer to learn more about it!

Hear directly from children who are deafblind, their parents, educators, and leading experts in the field about how deafblindness impacts communication and learn effective strategies for expanding communication skills.

• Lesson 1: Communication Essentials
• Lesson 2: Emerging Communication
• Lesson 3: Symbolic Communication
• Lesson 4: Complex Language

Available for free on the NCDB website, the module provides more than two hours of engaging, informative professional development, divided into short, user-friendly video sections. To learn how you can easily incorporate any module in the series into a professional development system, visit Use of Teaching Children Who Are Deafblind Modules: Info for Professional Development Providers.

Communicating With Children Who Are Deafblind promises to be an essential addition to any professional development program or training on deafblindness.

We encourage you to share this exciting new resource with educators, colleagues, and families.

Start Tracking Minutes on Monday!

Encourage more Braille. Improve reading skills. Win prizes. Register now!

The National Federation of the Blind is proud to partner with the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults for the 2024-2025 Braille Readers Are Leaders contest. This Braille literacy contest is for K-12 students, adult Braille readers of all levels, and teachers of blind students across the U.S. who will compete to read the most Braille minutes, going against other participants in similar contest categories for seven weeks. Participants will:

• Register and log minutes read each day online using Beanstack.
• Log the number of minutes read. Youth participants earn prizes and fun badges as they read.
• Read the most minutes in your category and receive a cash prize in addition to all other prizes earned.
• Earn entries into a drawing for a fabulous grand prize!

The contest will begin on December 2, 2024, and run through January 17, 2025. Registration is open. We are excited to get started reading with you!

Teachers and families can help children with hearing loss to develop their language and literacy skills.

Reading Rockets: Tips for Reading Instruction for Children with Hearing Loss

Create a holiday season where every child feels seen, supported, and included. Small steps make a big difference in fostering joy and connection.

The holidays are a time of joy and connection, but for Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing (D/HH) children, they can also bring challenges like feeling left out in group settings. With a few simple strategies, you can create an inclusive and supportive holiday season where your child feels valued and connected.

1. Prepare Together: Plan the holiday schedule in advance with your child. Use visuals or a calendar to make them feel involved and excited.

2. Combat “Dinner Table Syndrome”: Prevent your child from feeling left out at gatherings by seating them near someone who can relay conversations, using visual cues to slow discussions, and encouraging breaks to check-in.

3. Create an Accessible Space: Set up a well-lit, quiet area where your child can participate comfortably in family activities or unwind as needed.

4. Communicate Inclusively: Brief family members on tips for better communication, like making eye contact, speaking at a natural pace, or signing if they’re able.

5. Balance Events and Downtime: Give your child time to recharge between holiday activities to help them enjoy gatherings fully when they’re ready.

The holidays don’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. Small adjustments go a long way toward creating a season of joy and belonging for your child.

We are excited to share with you information about the 2025 Summer Academy for students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH SA) will be back for the summer of 2025. We are looking forward to proving students with an amazing experience this summer.

Location: Penn State University Park Campus

Time: Monday, June 23, 2025, to Monday, June 30, 2025 (7 Days).

Application Deadline: Wednesday, February 5th, 2025

Link to Apply: 2025 DHH Student Application

Brief Description of the Program: The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Deaf and Hard of Hearing Summer Academy is designed to offer high school age students who are deaf or hard of hearing an opportunity to develop their knowledge, experiences, and awareness as it relates to their future academic and employment goals. Students will participate in a 7-day program on a college campus, where they will receive assessments, information, and educational experiences in various curriculum areas.

For assistance or further information, please contact me at:

Email: rgoddard@pa.gov

Phone: (724) 936-5076

Videophone: (717) 831-0336

Text: (724) 614-6154

The RIT/NTID Outreach Consortium is committed to empowering deaf and hard-of-hearing middle and high school students through comprehensive workshops and programs. Our mission is to create an inclusive, interactive, and engaging learning environment that allows every student to grow academically, discover new interests, participate in unique extracurricular activities, and meet other deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

*The submissions for the Digital Arts, Film and Animation Competition and the SpiRIT Writing Competition are due March 14, 2025.

*The registration for our RIT/NTID Summer Programs is officially open! This summer, deaf and hard-of-hearing middle and high school students have an opportunity to discover their passions, gain valuable skills, and connect with peers from across the country in our unique, hands-on programs.

High School Programs:

• Explore Your Future: Students discover career possibilities and experience college life at RIT/NTID.
• Health Care Careers Exploration Program: Participants dive into the world of healthcare with interactive learning experiences.
• Advanced Tech Careers: Teens explore cutting-edge technology and cyber careers through hands-on activities.
• Financial Wizards: Attendees learn essential stock market skills and how to build a strong financial foundation.

Middle School Program:

• TechTigers: A fun and exciting program where students explore STEM concepts and technology through interactive activities and build a computer to take home.
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These programs are perfect for students looking to discover new fields, challenge themselves, and build lasting friendships. Register Today!

Middle school students who are deaf or hard of hearing are invited to join the next LEAP session on January 25, 2024. This engaging program is designed to foster leadership skills, build confidence, and connect with peers in a supportive environment. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, grow, and have fun! Information and Application

AG Bell’s LOFT 2025 program is now accepting applications! This unique program is designed specifically for high school students who are deaf or hard of hearing and use listening and spoken language. Join us in Washington, D.C., from July 29 to August 2, 2025, for an unforgettable adventure that builds confidence, leadership, and lifelong friendships. Scholarships are available to help cover program fees and even travel expenses, based on financial need. Scholarship and Application Deadline: March 3, 2025

Does your childhave a passion for the arts or sciences? The Arts & Sciences Award provides financial aid to students in grades 1-12, enabling them to participate in after-school, weekend, or summer programs that enrich language and develop skills in these areas. Deadline to apply is February 14, 2025.

Are you feeling bummed out that Fall festivities are coming to a close? Is the snow making you crave the joys that come with summer? Have no fear! Camp HERO’s Spooky Summer will be here before you know it! Get ready for a week filled with adventure, tricks, treats, and memories to last a lifetime.

Camp HERO's Spooky Summer will be held Monday, July 28 - Friday, August 1, 2025 - more information with be available soon on Camp HERO's website!

Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf will be holding a Summer Adventure Camp from July 20-25, 2025 at its Pittsburgh campus - more information with be coming soon!

Presented by staff of TechOWL, a program of the Institute on Disabilities, a series of webinars about how assistive technology can change lives by increasing access to employment, social interaction, and everyday life. Topics include:

• What assistive technology is available
• How assistive technology can help with daily living
• Where to find assistive technology

Past Recorded Webinars

Webinar recordings with captions, ASL, and transcript are available below.

• Assistive Technology Essentials recorded July 2024
• Built-in Accessibility of Everyday Tools recorded August 2024
• A Day in the Life – Work, Home, and Community recorded September 2024
• Funding and How to Get It recorded October 2024
• AAC Apps: Deep Dive and Demo recorded November 2024

Dates/Times:
VP Winter Series 2025:
January 13, 2025 – 4-6 pm
January 14, 2025 – 4-6:30 pm
January 15, 2025- 4-6 pm
January 16, 2025- 4-6:30 pm

See the Sound: Visual Phonics is a multi-sensory strategy consisting of hand gestures and written symbols aligned with the phonemes in our spoken language. It is used in conjunction with research validated literacy programs. It aids the teaching of reading, language, and writing skills for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as students with learning disabilities, speech, and language difficulties.

You may register online by clicking on the name of the event listed on January 13, 2025 on the Training Events Calendar

Join Pennsylvania’s educators for the Bureau of Special Education’s signature event.

This annual statewide conference offers an opportunity to learn and engage with nationally recognized presenters, as well as colleagues from across the state, highlighting effective instructional strategies and interventions designed to make an educational difference for all students.

Introducing a new, exciting professional development and networking opportunity for schools, families, youth, and community partners. This comprehensive event highlights best practices, research, and practical application of strategies for autism, sensory and other low incidence disabilities, and secondary transition.

• This conference will bring together Pennsylvania’s educators, community partners, families, and youth to explore the latest insights, strategies, and tools that bridge the gap between knowledge and practical application.
• Sessions will have a specific focus on autism, sensory disabilities, secondary transition, and students with complex instructional needs.
• Participants will gain tangible strategies to enhance teaching practices, drive student success, and adapt to the evolving demands of today’s classrooms.

Location: The Penn Stater Conference Center State College, PA

Save the dates, July 28 -31, 2025 and look for more information to come on the Bridging Knowledge to Know-How: Empowering Pennsylvania Educators and Partners.