The Wisdom Among Us

Program & Schedule

[ Download Printable pdf ]

THURSDAY, June 18

12:30 -7 pm Conference Registration

1:00 – 5:00 Concurrent Pre-Sessions

Room: TBA

Arrival, registration & room assignments at the H&V Registration Table/ Hotel Check-In
Please sign the photo release at this time
Please fill out pre-test in registration packet

1-5 pm PRE-SESSION (Pick Either GBYS or Advocacy)

1. Guide By Your Side: Encountering Emotions & Cultural Competency

Providing Family-Centered Support: Key Considerations an Challenges

During this workshop, the challenge of accepting the diagnosis of hearing loss in an infant, toddler or young child by the family will be discussed. One discussion topic will be a comparison of the traditional versus contemporary model relative to the grief process. The importance of differentiating education, guidance and counseling as key, but quite different components of family support will be considered. Finally, a nested model that will influence communication with the family will be analyzed; the three key factors being dominant culture, family systems, and individual typology.

Presenter: Dr. Noel Matkin has had faculty appointments at the University of Connecticut, Northwestern University and most recently at the University of Arizona, where he is now Professor Emeritus in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. During his career he authored over 80 articles and chapters and co-edited two books: “Hearing-Impaired Children and Youth with Developmental Disabilities” and “Infants and Toddlers with Hearing Loss: Family-Centered Assessment and Intervention”. Dr. Matkin has presented lectures and workshops at numerous conventions both in the United States and in 15 foreign countries. Professionally, he focused on the importance of early identification and intervention of young children with mild, unilateral and conductive hearing losses, groups that often did not receive adequate support services. The crucial importance of providing family-centered services as a key to successful habilitation has also been his passion.

GBYS Program and Resources Update

An update of the program requirements, resources and tools that are available and ‘coming soon’ for state GBYS programs to support your efforts. Meet the new “H&V Parent Guidebook” and discuss new products. Feedback from the group will be elicited to ensure that the support that comes out of the national organization is on target!

GBYS Presession Presenters: Noel Matkin, Janet DesGeorges, Candace Lindow Davies

2. Advanced DHH Educational Advocacy

Room: TBA

1 to 2pm

Case Law Involving DHH Students: A review of the legal cases involving educational disputes specific to students who are deaf or hard of hearing and what we can learn from them, plus aha-moments from special ed litigation in general that advocates need to know.

2 to 3:30pm

Delivering Special Ed Services in a General Ed Setting: A cardinal rule of special education is that all students are general education students first! This presentation will explore L.R.E., specially designed instruction, Response to Intervention, supplementary aids and supports to maintain L.R.E, related services, and how parents can play an important role in developing a seamless working model between Special Education and General Education for their children.

BREAK

3:45 to 5pm

Fast Facts: Strap yourselves in for an intense brain-upload of fast-facts educational advocates can’t function without including:

Federal requirements of State Educational Systems—20 Performance Indicators & what you need to know about them
How to write social goals into an IEP
Strategies for insuring effective “Specialized Instruction”
Top Mistakes Parents (& Teachers) Make on IEPs
Is your child’s teacher “highly qualified”?
Guerilla-research: parent data-collectors cannot be ignored
AND MUCH MORE!

Advocacy presession presenters: Leeanne Seaver, M.A., Lisa Kovacs, Cheryl Johnson, EdD, Ruth Mathers, M.A.

5-7 pm Dinner – on your own

7:00 -9 pm Poster Session & Mixer!

Room: TBA

Get to know each other…really get to know one another in this informal sharing mixer that’s fun, profound, and designed to set just the right mood for one of those memorable H&V events. Features “topic tables” plus chapter posters.

Facilitators: Laurie Nelson/WI and Beth Donofrio/IL

9pm Do Tell! (optional documentary viewing)

All are encouraged to view this important video on deaf/hard of hearing child abuse and neglect. A must-see for chapter leaders and GBYS Program Coordinators and Guides. This short video and discussion will be offered again Friday morning, and are strongly recommended as a preparation for the O.U.R. Children’s Safety workshop with Harold Johnson, PhD., during Session 4 on Friday.

FRIDAY, June 19

7am Do Tell! (repeated optional documentary viewing)

All are encouraged to view this important video on deaf/hard of hearing child abuse and neglect. A must-see for chapter leaders and GBYS Program coordinators and Guides. This short video and discussion are strongly recommended as a preparation for the O.U.R. Children’s Safety workshop with Harold Johnson, PhD., during Session 4 on Friday.

7:30-8:30 am Continental Breakfast

Room: TBA

8:30 - 9:45 am SESSION 1

State of the H&V Nation: The 21st Century DHH Student

We will soon celebrate the year 2010 which marks the passing of the first decade of this century. We have been hearing the buzz words “21st Century Skills” and “21st Century Learning” for some time now, but what does it mean? How is 21st century learning different from our educational experience and why? As parents and teachers, how will we know if our children are being prepared for success in future careers and higher education? Will education for deaf and hard of hearing students remain the same? Come and learn about why the world is ‘flat’ and how the future belongs to a different kind of mind. The shift from the information age to the conceptual age will be explored as well as the pedagogical shift that comes with living in exponential times and a global marketplace.

Presenter: Susan Elliott, M.A., NBCT, Certified Teacher of the Deaf, H&V BOD, Colorado Teacher of the Year, and runner-up, National Teacher of the Year 2009

9:45 - 10 am Break

10 - 11 am SESSION 2 (choose one)

We Are Hands & Voices: Supporting Families without Bias (for new chapters &/or participants)

Room: TBA

The vanguard, required training for everyone who's just joining our group, or if you’re preparing to present this session in your own state and need more time with the topic. Extremely helpful for professionals and parents working with families even if you’re not part of Hands & Voices. Also required for GBYS start-ups.

Trainers: Cindy Roller, NV H&V and Elizabeth Seeliger, WI H&V

Grassroots Lobbying & Legislative-Speak

Room: TBA

Can a non-profit organization like H&V actually “lobby” for legislation? Learn what’s allowed and what’s not, plus everything from the 30-second handshake to testifying in front of congressional committees. Includes ideas about Hearing Aid Legislation, funding through legislative action, and more!

Trainers: Karl White, PhD, NCHAM, and Julie Johnson, DE H&V

Strategic Planning for H&V Chapters

Need a simple “template” to use for strategic planning? This session will provide options for strategic planning as well as sample goals and actions. Together we’ll write a sample plan.

Trainer: Cheryl DeConde Johnson, EdD, H&V National Board and Deaf Ed Consultant

11:15 - Noon SESSION 3 Plenary

The Changing Concept of Family

With major societal changes in the last few decades, an ongoing challenge is to define family from an inclusive viewpoint. Certainly the idealized two-parent extended family pictured by Norman Rockwell does not typify many contemporary families today. Developing an alternative view, relevant to changing configurations of families that one encounters when providing family-centered support services, is essential. During this presentation, it will be stressed that each family has its own structure, roles, beliefs and coping style. Consideration will also be given to the barriers faced by different family structures than can negatively impact successful intervention and habilitation once a hearing loss has been identified in a very young child.

Room: TBA

Presenter: Dr. Noel Matkin

Noon – 1:30 pm LUNCH (provided)

1:30 – 3 pm SESSION 4 (choose one)

Intro to GBYS (Guide By Your Side)

Room: TBA

This session will cover the concept of GBYS and its flexibility in application to states whether focused on Parent Guides in early intervention systems, parent-networking, and/or Deaf/Hard of Hearing Guides or mentors. GBYS represents the values we have at H&V for direct parent-to-parent support and DHH role models--all who are trained to be unbiased and appropriate in working with families.

Trainers: Sara Kennedy, CO H&V/GBYS and Laurie Nelson, WI H&V/GBYS

GBYS Program Coordinator Roundtable

Room: TBA

Put a bunch of GBYS Program Coordinators in a room and what do you get? Come to this session and find out. Ideas will be exchanged, problems shared, epiphanies spotlighted, or frustration vented. Whether you’re a new GBYS Program Coordinator or if you’re several years into the program in your state, don’t miss this opportunity to connect with your H&V peers and learn from “the wisdom among us.”

Facilitator: Leeanne Seaver

H&V SOPs: Standard Operating Procedures & Chapter Mgmt

Room: TBA

How do you get started as a chapter? Where does the money come from? How do you become a 501 C (3) non-profit organization? This session introduces the required H&V Standard Operating Procedures Operations and everything you ever wanted to know about getting through the first year or so… Tax Exempt Processing, Funding issues, priority setting and getting started on database and other activities you’ll need to consider during the initial years.

Trainers: Vicki Hunting, CBYS (Chapter By Your Side Mentor/Coordinator) & IA H&V

O.U.R. Children’s Safety: Observe, Respond & React

Room: TBA

Children with disabilities experience child abuse and neglect (CA/N) at a rate that is 3.4 times greater than their nondisabled peers. This is a well substantiated problem, and H&V is teaming with Michigan State University on a solution. Observe, Understand and Respond is a concept based on the knowledge that most children that are experiencing CA/N demonstrate both known and observable patterns of behavior. This session is for parents and professionals who want to be taught how to Observe, Understand and Respond to their children.

Presenter: Harold Johnson, PhD, Michigan State University, and Janet DesGeorges

3:00 – 3:15 pm Break Room: Peak 15/16

3:15 – 4:15 pm SESSION 5 (choose one)

Introduction to Special Education Law

Room: TBA

This session will cover the basics of educational laws relative to special education, and their specific applications for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Learn how to support other parents as a lay advocate, and utilize the strength of parents coming together to create more effective educational services.

Trainers: Lisa Crawford, TX H&V and Lisa Kovacs, IN H&V

Fundraising for your H&V Chapter

Room: TBA

Discover the FUN in FUNdraising! What do you think when you think “Fundraising”? Do you get that sinking feeling in your gut? Is it a dreaded “should” or a “need to” on your very long list of things to do? Well it’s time to put the FUN in FUNdraising! Discover how your passion (you know you have it!) and your creativity (you may not know you have it but you do!) can lead to dollars for your chapter. This is not your boring and typical conversation about money. Discover therush of asking and receiving!

Trainer: Lisa Eberlein, CO H&V

The Sex Talk: Telling DHH Kids About Sex

Room: TBA

If you think “the birds & the bees” is a tough talk to have with kids, consider how much more challenging this subject is to grasp for children who are deaf or hard of hearing who may have been missing the gossip at school! The new vocabulary and concepts are as important to convey as they are hard to express for most parents and professionals. This session dives into the material, and learners will come away with actionable strategies, and even the right signs to use for this specialized topic.

Presenters: Susan Elliott, M.A., NBCT, ToD, and Sara Kennedy, CO H&V

4:30 – 5:30 pm SESSION 6: State Chapter Workgroups

Head outside to the beautiful outdoors or grab a spot with your state team to regroup and share what you learned from the day’s activities.

DINNER/EVENING Connecting with others….dinner on your own

SATURDAY, June 20

7:30-8:30 Continental Breakfast (please check out before the 8:45 session begins – note: you can ask for late checkout)

Room: TBA

8:45 – 9:45 am Session 7 Plenary

Room: TBA

Title: Do Our Kids Need Deaf Education?

This panel discussion will provide an opportunity for experts and audience participants to join in an honest deliberation of whether or not a specialized “deaf education” is beneficial to students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Bring your toughest questions and an open mind for a meaningful exchange of ideas.

Panelists: Mike Jorgensen, Ruth Mathers, Susan Elliott, Cheryl DeConde Johnson, Harold Johnson; Facilitator: Janet DesGeorges

9:45 -10 am Break

Room: Peak 15/16

10:00 – 11:15 am SESSION 8 (pick one)

Encountering Emotions: Facilitating Family Journeys Thru Grief

Room: TBA

For every family who has a child who is deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), the emotional aspects of the experience are unique. Some families feel profound grief, others do not, and no judgments can be made over whose experience is right or wrong. However, there is an acknowledged process of acceptance for families coming to terms with having a child with hearing loss and the challenges this presents through on-going transitions through life. This workshop is designed to provide training to GBYS Parent Guides (and/or H&V chapter leaders) providing support to those families. Foundations in emotional support, effective listening practices, practical tips and talking points will be shared and opportunities to role playing are part of this interactive session.

Trainers: Candace Lindow Davies, MN H&V and Elizabeth Seeliger, WI H&V

A Stronger Argument: Using Case Law & Advanced Advocacy Strategies

Room: TBA

Sometimes the difference between “yes” and “no” in the IEP process tracks back to how effective the advocacy efforts have been. This session explores winning arguments drawn from case law precedents where families have won a victory for their child’s IEP that might just work for you or the families you’re working with, too.

Trainers: Leeanne Seaver and Janet DesGeorges

A Clean Launch: Transitioning DHH Students Out of High School to Infinity and Beyond

Room: TBA

The culminating goal for our children is to exit the education system equipped to be productive adults. Whether our children continue their education in college, attend job training programs or seek employment, we need to be sure that we use the IDEA required Transition Plan to prepare our children. This session will explore various components of the Transition Plan and the role of parents.

Trainers: Cheryl Johnson & Susan Elliott

11:15 – 11:30 am Break

11:30 – 12:30 pm SESSION 9 Plenary

Are You Feeling It?

Room: TBA

Another H&V Leadership Conference comes to a close, but this ending really marks the beginning of great things for your chapter and our organization. H&V chapter leaders/dads take the stage with some profound insights about leadership and organizational empowerment. Don’t miss this inspirational and awesome send-off.

Presenters: Matt McClellan and Tom Edwards

12:30 pm Thanks for coming! Closing and Farewell: Leeanne Seaver

(Please turn in your conference evaluation at this time)

Safe Travels!

Please Remember to fill out Conference Evaluation Forms!!

Funding for this conference was made possible in part by u13/DD000217-01 under Program Announcement 05031 from National Center for Birth Defects and Disabilities. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators at HHS-sponsored conferences do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government