Statewide DeafBlind Community of Practice Meeting

Minnesota DeafBlind Community of Practice

Date:   Friday, September 23, 2022
Location:  Zoom. Link for participation will be emailed to registrants closer to the event date.
Time:  9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m 
For:  MN DeafBlind Community of Practice Representatives

9:00-9:15 a.m.     Welcome

9:15-10:15 a.m.    Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) partners with State Services for the Blind: Impacts on MN DeafBlind Students for Services - John Filek

Presentation Description:  HKNC provides comprehensive vocational and independent living skills training to individuals who have a combined hearing and vision loss across the country.  Recently, HKNC has become a vendor with State Services for the Blind (SSB) providing pre-employment transition services to students ages 14 through 21.  Learn about HKNC services and how they can impact a student who is DeafBlind, including those with additional disabilities.

10:15-10:30 a.m.  Break

10:30-11:30 a.m.  The Power of Story: Families of DeafBlind Children (NCDB) - "The Value of Family Engagement: Identifying Unique Needs and Priorities for Families with Children Who Are Deaf-Blind"

Presentation Description:  NCDB has released a recording of a parent panel which includes a variety of family experiences and their journeys with their children who have combined hearing and vision loss (deafblindness).  Learn more about this resource to share with team members as well as to develop a deeper understanding of the unique challenges these families face.

11:30-11:50 a.m.  Tour of Resources for Representatives for Teachers:  Google Forms, YouTube channel, website updates, MN supports for intervener candidates for national certification, NDBEN, Google Site for Districts  -  Ann Mayes

11:50-12:45 p.m. Lunch Break

12:45-2:45 p.m.  Orientation and Mobility for Students Who Are DeafBlind Using Wheelchairs: What All Team Members Need to Know  - Carolina Gonzalez

Presentation Description:  This session will discuss the importance of teaching orientation and mobility skills for students who are deafblind.  The presentation will also include various techniques that all team members can use to assist in orientation and promote independence for students who use wheelchairs when traveling both indoors and outdoors.  Special emphasis will be given to how team members can carry over and implement best practices for students, who have a wide variety of combined hearing and vision loss and use wheelchairs.

2:45-3:00 p.m.    Evaluation and Wrap-Up

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This initiative is funded with a grant from MDE using federal funding, CFDA 84.027A, Special Education - Grants to States. This initiative does not necessarily represent the policy of the federal Department of Education or the state Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the federal or state government.

Cancellation: You can cancel your own registration for an event before the cancellation deadline. (Please check the event information for specific cancellation details.) If the event has a fee, refunds are possible only if cancellation is prior to the deadline. If you do not attend and do not cancel prior to an event, you are still responsible for payment and will be billed.

Special Accommodations: Please alert BrightWorks 2-3 weeks prior to the workshop/event if you need special accommodations, including sign language interpreters. (BrightWorks requires a notice of 2 business days to cancel a sign language interpreter. If you fail to cancel, we reserve the right to bill your school/district for this expense.) Update your profile as needed. Special accommodations are not included with each registration, but are stored in your profile until you make changes.