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State Superintendent’s Advisory Council – Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Thursday, October 6th & Friday, October 7th, 2011
Wisconsin School for the Deaf
Delavan, WI
Notes
Thursday, October 6th
Call to order at 6:10 P.M.
Members present: Robin Barnes, Beth Larimer, Andrew Konkel, Paula Minix, Brian Anderson, Pam
Conine, Polly Williams Slappey, Michelle Pandian, Koryn Koneazny, Marcy Dicker, Carol Schweitzer,
Alex Slappey
Interpreters: Maria Rivera, Jana Mauldin
Note taker: Rita Dietzel
Approval of agenda: Motion made by Michele Pandian to approve the agenda, seconded by Brian
Anderson. All approved.
Review and Approval of minutes from the May council meeting: Motion made by Polly William
Slappey to approve the minutes, seconded by Beth Larimer. All approved.
Goal 6: Professional Development
Review of what the groups have accomplished and what the next steps are.
Develop a format & plan of action
Teambuilding Exercise
8:00 P.M. – Adjourn
Friday, October 7th
9:30 a.m. – Call to order
Members present: Robin Barnes, Beth Larimer, Andrew Konkel, Paula Minix, Brian Anderson, David
Collins, Pam Conine, Joanna Cookie Roang, Theresa Kamenick, Polly Williams Slappey, Michelle
Pandian, Koryn Koneazny, Marcy Dicker, Carol Schweitzer, Alex Slappey
Interpreters: Maria Rivera and Maria Kielma
Note taker: Rita Dietzel
Welcome/Review of agenda
DPI Reports:
Marcy Dicker – WESP-DHH Outreach Report
Events in Review
Summer Institute – “Literacy Strategies for Visual Learners” Presenter: Kristin DiPerri.
August 2011. A four-day workshop with theory and application (practice) to use
strategies developed by the presenters. 31 participants.
WDBTAP Tips and Tools – Cortical Visual Impairments – July, 2011. 36 participants
State Superintendent’s Advisory Council – Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Thursday, October 6th & Friday, October 7th, 2011
Wisconsin School for the Deaf
Delavan, WI
WDBTAP Deafblind Family Weekend, August 2011. At the Wisconsin Lions Camp – 50
participants. Last annual family weekend for families with children with combined
vision/hearing loss. Will restructure programming for future years to host several
regional meetings throughout the year.
Status of Current Programs/Staff
Holly Dumproff, Speech-language Consultant, is no longer working with WESP-DHH
Outreach. A first round of recruitment was just completed; no qualified applicants. Will
begin a second round of recruiting – position will be posted until late October. HELP
program is put on hold due to lack of staff to run the program.
Western Region Birth to Six Redesign: The Western Region B-6 Redesign Pilot will come
to a close on September 30, 2011. Final activities focused on organizing and
documenting what has been learned into a final report that will be sent to the
Department of Health Services, Wisconsin Birth to 3 Program. Plans to sustain and
spread this information across the state are also being explored. The core
accomplishments of the pilot have been:
o The creation of a B-6 team who has been trained to meet the unique needs of
young child who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf-blind
o The development of an "Implementation Guide" that can be utilized to replicate
the pilot activities throughout the state.
o Increased awareness throughout the region of the specialized needs of children
with hearing loss
o Increased collaborations and connections amongst professionals who serve
children with hearing loss.
Birth to 3 Collaboration – There has been a shift in focus and priorities for the DHS state
Birth to 3 program. Currently, direct services to Birth to 3 programs (technical
assistance, consultation and training) have been put on hold, until clarifying discussions
regarding goals, roles and responsibilities occur. Referrals from B-3 programs are being
put on hold; Guide-By-Your-Side Program and Deaf Mentor Program will continue
services to families. HELP program is on hold due to staff changeover.
New / Pilot Initiatives
Coaching Program (pilot) See materials attached
Educational Interpreter Mentoring Program (pilot) will continue for a 3rd year.
PST/ECE Project We have secured funding from the Department of Public Instruction to
expand the work of the pilot, focusing on children who are deaf/hard of hearing/deaf-
State Superintendent’s Advisory Council – Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Thursday, October 6th & Friday, October 7th, 2011
Wisconsin School for the Deaf
Delavan, WI
blind ages 3 to 6 years of age. This funding will be used in collaboration with the Early
Childhood Program Support Teachers for each CESA to:
o Increase awareness of the unique needs of deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind
children;
o Develop teams/increase networking in the CESA regions of with specialized
knowledge/skills;
o Build a structure that helps to ensure that "quality" services are provided;
o Ensure a smooth transition from Birth to 3 (Part C) to Early Childhood Services
(Part B).
Training of CESA Early Childhood Program Support Teachers has already occurred. Each
CESA PST is now setting up training in their CESA, as well as promoting a collaborative
meeting with teachers of the deaf and early childhood PST.
Updates For Fall
Database and updated referral process, which includes an online “Student Information
Sheet” to be filled out for any child, when services are initiated. Will populate the new
database. SIS form is not on website , along with updated referral materials
Website
o Reorganized an updated
o New slideshows
o Opportunities to get input on “Helpful Links and Resources” from professionals
o Will be incorporating podcasts – planned to kick off Deaf Awareness Week with
video clips of “successful” deaf/hard of hearing adults discussing their success,
however, issues with computers and compatibility, in addition to server issues
Listservs for Teachers of the Deaf; Educational Interpreters are active.
Upcoming Events and Activities
Guide By Your Side/Deaf Mentor Program Training – Wisconsin Dells, October 21-23,
2011. Outreach and WDBTAP staff members will attend so all Parent Guides and Deaf
Mentors can meet and interface with WDBTAP and WESP-DHH Outreach staff members.
College Fair 2011, October 18-21, 2011 This year, the College Fair will be offered in
four different locations: LaCrosse, Wausau, Milwaukee, Janesville
WDBTAP Fall Training, October 27-28, 2011, Wausau "Calendar Systems and Effective
Communication" with Robbie Blaha from Texas . 24 registrants to date.
Teen Getaway Weekend, November 4-6, 2011, Central Wisconsin Environmental
Station, Amherst Junction. At this time, 26 students are registered. Deadline for
registration is next Friday, October 14. Limit: 40 participants.
State Superintendent’s Advisory Council – Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Thursday, October 6th & Friday, October 7th, 2011
Wisconsin School for the Deaf
Delavan, WI
C/APD Conference, November 10-11, 2011, Madison. 46 registrants to date.
Professional & Family Conferences, March 8-9, 2012 (Professionals) & March 9-11,
2012 (Families), Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, Appleton. Confirmed highlights:
o This year's theme will be "Mary Poppins" and families and professionals will be
invited to attend a special interpreted and captioned Broadway performance
during the conferences. Outreach will be sending out a study guide and
suggested activities for teachers to promote learning via this story/play and to
reinforce concepts that will be seen if families attend the play.
o Keynote Janice Fialka “The Dance of Partnership: Why Do My Feet Hurt?” This
presentation will focus on strengthening parent/professional partnerships to
help children achieve their greatest potential.
o Keynote Harold Johnson “Awareness & Advocacy to Protect & Prepare Our
Children for Social, Emotional & Academic Success” Bullying, abuse and neglect
have a negative impact on all children, and children who are deaf/hard of
hearing/deaf-blind can be especially susceptible. This presentation will focus on
how our children are impacted, and will provide parents and professionals with
the initial awareness, understanding, and resources that they will need to
prevent, or at least recognize and report instances of bullying, abuse, and
neglect experienced by children.
o Kevin Williams, from New York and co-author of the Educational Interpreters
Performance Assessment (EIPA), will present an Educational Interpreter strand
on Friday and Saturday on signs for content areas, including math, science, social
studies and literature.
o Breakout Workshops Over 35 proposals were received in response to our “Call
for Proposals” for breakout workshops. Decisions are currently being made and
schedule will be confirmed by 11/15, at which time registration will open.
Alex Slappey - WSD Tour & Report
WSD has a vacant Speech Language therapist position. The new state law states that if there is a position
vacant for a year, you lose that position. In the past, it could be argued that the agency had been actively
recruiting but had no qualified candidates. That is no longer acceptable.
The new school building is on schedule to move into the fall of 2013 and the rest of the water/sewer
project will be completed with the construction of the school building.
The west end of campus water/sewer project is complete.
Connie shared that WSD is now on Facebook, the DPI sponsored one. There is another site that is not
DPI sponsored. WSD is also on Twitter.
WSD has an Ipad lab and offers staff development.
State Superintendent’s Advisory Council – Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Thursday, October 6th & Friday, October 7th, 2011
Wisconsin School for the Deaf
Delavan, WI
There is a staff resource library/professional library and it is on the WSD website.
WSD is continually upgrading the website – Alex has a blog as well as Connie and the dean of students.
WSD and a local observatory are working together on a higher science area. This past summer a couple
students from that program went to West Virginia. The story of their experience will be in the next issue
of the WI Times.
Due to staff retirements, we have recently hired 2 teachers and are in the recruitment process for an ASL
specialist.
The Between Us & WI Times are both on WSD website.
*Questions
Are the kids using Ipads? Yes, classes can borrow for the day.
How many do you have? Currently we have 15 Ipads.
Do you sse Solo suite for Ipad? We have co-writer which is part of the suite.
LUNCH
Carol Schwietzer – DPI Report
From the State Superintendent’s Office:
High Cost Kids:
School districts in Wisconsin that provided services last school year to students whose
educational costs exceed $30,000 are sharing $5.5 million in state and federal aid to
offset a portion of the expenses for educating students with severe or multiple
disabilities. Students who are deaf or hard of hearing are a part of the student group
receiving these funds due to the high costs of their education.
Assessment & Common Core State Standards (CCSS):
DPI received federal funding to support a new computer-based assessment system for
students. This is a multi-state project that is working with the Common Core State
Standards to create a rigorous academic assessment tool for students in grades 3
through 8 and 10. The new version is to begin by 2014.
Framework for education's future centers on four powerful questions Education in
Wisconsin's public schools opened two weeks ago, facing historic cuts in state aid, a
"stumbling block rather than a stepping stone on the pathway to prosperity" that
education holds for rebuilding our economy and the American Dream. To reinvigorate
education, Evers said his department and educators throughout the state have been
focusing on four simple, but powerful questions that set the framework for modernizing
education in Wisconsin.
o What and how should kids learn?
o How do we know if they learned it?
o What do we do when they don't?
o How do we pay for it?
State Superintendent’s Advisory Council – Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Thursday, October 6th & Friday, October 7th, 2011
Wisconsin School for the Deaf
Delavan, WI
Blue Ribbon Schools
Eight schools were named as Blue Ribbon schools. Blue Ribbons are awarded to
schools that are making great strides against poverty to educate children so they are
ready for the workforce or further education.
Special Education Team:
Over the last calendar year, 15 people on the Special Education team have either
retired or found other employment. Positions have not been lost, although some
have been combined with multiple focus. At this time, 5 positions are open.
ARRA budgets are now at a close. The federal dollars awarded to districts throughout
the state for use these last 2 years to support schools, are to be spent by September 30,
2011.
DHH Program Activity:
Licensure of Interpreters through the Department of Safety and Professional Services
(DSPS) formerly the Dept of Regulation and Licensing (DRL):
During the spring of 2010, the legislature passed a Bill requiring licensing for sign language
interpreters through the Department of Regulations and Licensing (nor DSPS). Within the
statute is a provision that exempts those with a DPI license working in “school sponsored
events”. The definition of “school sponsored events” has been reviewed by both DPI and
DSPS. The DSPS has a draft of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) related to school-
sponsored events. It is anticipated that a FAQ will be on the DSPS website this fall.
Send questions on the DSPS license to: DRLBoards@wisconsin.gov
Mental Health
The Dept of Health Services; Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing continues its work
supporting the development of a statewide Strategic Plan for Mental Health Services for
people of all ages who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing or Deafblind. A Summit of statewide
stakeholders will come together in March 2012 to review the Strategic Plan and provide
supports for improved services.
The DPI supported Mental Health Workgroup for DHH Students with representation
from several agencies, continues to meet to complete an Action Plan supporting the
mental health of youth who are deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind. The identified goal is:
State Superintendent’s Advisory Council – Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Thursday, October 6th & Friday, October 7th, 2011
Wisconsin School for the Deaf
Delavan, WI
To have a statewide system in place where a child or youth who is deaf, hard of hearing, or
deafblind with social-emotional needs, get the support they need.
Seven Objectives have been written with supporting Activities and resources to support
these activities. (See handout – attached at the end of the notes) The next Mental
Health meeting will be October 14th.
Effective Itinerant Services
A group of 5 DHH teachers who were part of the Effective Itinerant Workgroup have
been meeting to create a set of resources to guide itinerant services. They are in the
process of creating a web-based set of resources and guidelines including a set of Tool
Kits for administrators, general education teachers, special education teachers and
parents. As a web-based resource updating can more easily occur as needed. The
Outreach website will become the location of this web-based information.
Marathon County Special Education Services under the direction of Eric Hartwig
(Wausau area), has been supporting exploration of re-designing how itinerant services
are delivered. Ann Wicklund has been working as a coach with the Itinerant teacher
who serves students in 6 districts within Marathon County. The first year of review and
revision was last year. They are now implementing new practices to better meet the
needs of the students. Staff in Marathon County are looking to expand the model to
include the itinerant services of OT and PT.
Focus Groups were held addressing Service for Students who are Blind or Visually
Impaired on March 24th in Madison and March 25th in Wausau. The follow up to the
Focus Groups was a BVI Workgroup that met September 26 and 27, 2011. The
participants of this workgroup began the process to identify factors supporting effective
services and potential resources for enhanced, collaborative support.
Updated information was shared at the RSN (representatives from each of the 12
CESA’s) meeting on September 14th.
2011 DHH Leadership Summit
The 2011 DHH Leadership Summit has been conducted via four webcast presentations
this year. The four sessions were divided among two dates; April and October, 2011.
At the April session, Effective Itinerant Services; the Wisconsin Process was presented.
This was followed up by the state of Washington presentation on Developing a
Statewide Program in a Time of Chaos: Partnerships Make the World go ’Round.
State Superintendent’s Advisory Council – Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Thursday, October 6th & Friday, October 7th, 2011
Wisconsin School for the Deaf
Delavan, WI
The topics for October 5th are:
1) Creating a Competitive Edge: How to Prepare a Deaf/HOH Student’s Knowledge,
Skills and Talents for the World of Work and
2) Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher Preparation Program Changes in Response to
Evolving Student Needs and State and National Trends.
AUG 12 Updates
Mental Health Services for Youth who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Deafblind
ACTION PLAN
GOAL:
To have a statewide system in place where a child or youth who is deaf, or hard of hearing, or
deafblind with mental health needs, gets the services and support they need for optimal health
and well-being.
OBJECTIVES Stakeholders and ACTIVITIES TIMELINES
resources
1. Establish a Leadership County Services; e.g. Invite those we know to
Network that will be Child Protective be Leaders to attend the
sustainable and Services (CPS), Birth Summit
accountable. to 3, etc. Work with the leaders
families, who attend the Summit to
schools, identify other possible
community Leaders for this work.
counseling services, Develop a listserv,
health systems, directory, database etc,
Domestic Violence, with lists of vital resources
Sexual Abuse, statewide (by county)
Independent Living Establish regular
Centers (ILC) meetings / Advisory Board
Research funding sources
Create a “place” where
notes from both the
Summit and this Youth
focused group can be
posted so that we can all
be fully informed.
2. Families will have Birth to 3 document Create a document with
knowledge and support of developmental “typical” behaviors of the
regarding wellness, stages for dhh/db d/hh/db child with
and healthy child infants and toddlers, consideration for the
development that Resources of typical child’s communication
State Superintendent’s Advisory Council – Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Thursday, October 6th & Friday, October 7th, 2011
Wisconsin School for the Deaf
Delavan, WI
includes expectations development for need.
for a child who is deaf, children and possible Families will be aware of
hard of hearing, or consequences for wellness needs that
deafblind. This delays in language. support the whole family.
includes recognition of Deaf Mentors Build a strand for the
behaviors that might Hands-N-Voices Family Conference with a
indicate a need to Infant Mental Health Focus on Mental
address mental (Weisman Center) Wellness.
wellness. Schools Develop a Tool Kit for
WESP-DHH families to outline
Outreach resources in setting up
Autism and ADHD support groups regarding
Support groups (??) mental wellness
ILC Develop a Tool Kit on
parenting skills regarding
mental wellness
Create a set of guidelines
for healthy child
development for a child
who is deaf or hard of
hearing / DB - written as
‘family friendly’
Train professionals who
interface with families on
sorting out ‘typical’
development for children
with multiple disabilities
3. Support effective Birth to 3 Packaging workshops for
communication and Deaf Mentor parents on topics for
language for safe, WESP-DHH intimate family sharing;
personal conversations Outreach sex, values, dating,
typical between Deaf Unity religion, politics,
parents and child and WESP-DHH – WSD life/death, illness, etc
all family members and Hands-N-Voices “FAMILY FRIENDLY”
the family’s extended Libraries Research and collect
community. resources that teach the
signs and language of
‘intimate’ conversations
that would be of use for
parent interaction with
their child.
WSD Deaf staff / parents
model conversations with
their children about
various personal ‘family’
topics on DVD to be used
as examples for parents.
Create Webcasts
modeling intimate family
conversations.
Create a DVD library of
Family Conf workshops
that present
State Superintendent’s Advisory Council – Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Thursday, October 6th & Friday, October 7th, 2011
Wisconsin School for the Deaf
Delavan, WI
4. Support effective Expanded Core Support / enable parents
interactions common Curriculum (ECC) in guiding their child to be
for the child within the DHH independent in the
community. Hands-N-Voices community; i.e. apply for
Deaf Community library card, order own
Teen Weekends food, purchase items in a
WSD store – return items,
Family Conference getting directions,
Professional emergency situations
Conference (911, etc).
ILC Create guidelines for IEP
Deaf Unity writing that reinforces
ECC / Self-Advocacy
WAD
Create sample Lesson
Plans /Goals: for
teachers / counselors, etc:
related to Self-Advocacy,
effective interactions
within the school
community and the
Build a list of resource the
child might connect with
for support.
Teaching youth healthy
dating
Create a ‘Tool Kit’ of DHH
adults that reflect their
impressions as a dhh
child in the public school.
Story Telling (in sign)
5. Support effective Deaf Unity Guidelines for conflict
communication and Teen Get Away resolution, self-advocacy,
language for use with Weekend etc
the child and youth in Distant Pals Bullying – how to
order to socially Outreach Team recognize it and what to
interact with their DHH teachers do about it.
peers, be able to have Role models: “Big Brother
deep conversations / Big Sister” type
about world events, etc program?? (seek out HS
and academic and college age DHH
language needed to youth for support)
learn, and develop Create a Buddy System
critical thinking skills. … matching HS with MS
students
Tool Kit” for students,
teachers, parents on the
social etiquette (and
possible consequences)
of using FaceBook,
internet chat, SKYPE, etc
State Superintendent’s Advisory Council – Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Thursday, October 6th & Friday, October 7th, 2011
Wisconsin School for the Deaf
Delavan, WI
6. School personnel will School principals Develop a Tool Kit for
be aware of typical Social workers and school staff when working
development and counselors with a student who shows
behaviors for children Teachers mental health challenges.
and youth who are ILC List resources that
deaf, hard of hearing or effectively evaluate the
deafblind. They will be mental health needs of a
able to discern child who is d/hh/db
between behaviors Package (DVDs, guides
important for with talking points,
communication and resource list, etc)
learning, from those workshops for parents on
that are not topics for intimate family
appropriate. sharing; sexual
development, family
culture, values, dating,
religion, politics, life &
death, illness, etc.
“FAMILY FRIENDLY”
7. School personnel will School principals
be aware of and Social workers and
supportive of the full counselors
range of service needs Teachers
in order to assure that
students have
appropriate
communication and
language access in all
school situations.
NOTE:
Tool Kits, Guidelines and other written materials can be provided electronically on a website that
can be easily accessed and readily updated as needed.
Licensure for educational interpreters is not a DPI licensing issue. It is a DSPS issue. DSPS are working
on a Q & A and will let DPI know when it is ready.
Carol announced that she will be retiring from DPI on Dec. 15, 2011. She is unsure at this time
if her position will be filled.
Brian thinks that council can write a letter to support filling Carols position. Andrew will write
the letter with a small group to assist in developing it. Email him if interested in helping with the
letter.
For the next meeting, send the reports ahead of time for review and then we will have a
Q & A to try to keep in the time frame allotted in the agenda.
State Superintendent’s Advisory Council – Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Thursday, October 6th & Friday, October 7th, 2011
Wisconsin School for the Deaf
Delavan, WI
Andrew expressed his concern that sometimes feels like not always forward progress, so shared
that the council may need to look at working on some of the issues outside of the meetings.
Everyone agrees.
Review and prioritize which of the target groups to focus resources on
The groups are:
a- Administration
b- Instructional
c- Parents
d- Support 1
e- Support 2
All but one of the groups has started to work on their processes.
Administration
Best practices needs to be elaborated on
Resources need to be explored and include WSD
Will work on that at next meeting
Instructional
Include audiologist in the list included on the instructional team.
Best practices scriptures for each on the instructional team. Find for each field and bring it to the
meeting. We would like to see it all in one place so we can find it.
Look at separating the types of teachers, dhh, dhh-intinerate, regular educ. Each would have
different needs.
Home work – check on the resources listed to prioritize. If list is too long will not be utilized. If
you are not an administrator – go to your administrator and ask what they need.
Decided to concentrate on Administrators (will prioritize others after complete this)
Now focus on:
What needs to be done?
Who coordinates?
Resources?
Evalutation
2:50 p.m. - New Business:
Agenda items for next meeting
State Superintendent’s Advisory Council – Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Thursday, October 6th & Friday, October 7th, 2011
Wisconsin School for the Deaf
Delavan, WI
Goal 6: Professional Development (continue process)
DPI Reports (2) – sent ahead of time & give highlights and Q&A at meeting.
Blueprint for itinerate teachers
Discussed the issues of the budget cuts to the B-3 program and the concerns this raises. What are the
councils thoughts? If the council were to pursue B-3 would like to invite others to come to the meeting.
Marcy recommends keeping Andrew informed as to the progress to resolve the issue with B-3. May
already be taken care of by the next meeting.
Next meetings are January 6, March 20 in Madison, May 24 in Appleton
3:00 p.m. – Adjourn
Next meeting is Friday, January 6th from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at CESA 1
