Friday Evening Speaker
Jennifer White - Innovative Person Driven Accommodation Tools: Shifting Compliance to Alliance
After a career as a HS special education transition teacher, Jennifer White opened Able Opportunities, Inc., a national disability consulting firm specializing in work with Deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind and nonlinguistic children / adults. In 2006 she created the Work Independence Network (WIN) Program, a replicable business model for hiring and retaining employees with disabilities. In 2014, she launched the Work Autonomy App, a person-driven accommodation tool. She is a Subject Matter Expert for the Department of Labor, a Corporate Disability Inclusion Specialist and National Technical Assistance Consultant. Her enthusiasm, based in functional solutions, is contagious.
Morning Workshops
Rachel Friedman Narr, Ph.D. is a Professor in Deaf Education/ Special Education at California State University, Northridge. She is committed to ensuring teachers are well prepared to teach diverse students in Deaf Education classrooms, as well as working with parents of Deaf /Hard of Hearing children. Rachel is the Director of Deaf Education And Families Project/Parent Links at CSUN, a parent-to-parent support network. Rachel has a breadth of experience working with DHH students birth-22 years and their families, both as a Speech-Language Pathologist and Deaf Educator. Rachel obtained her doctorate in Special Education from the University of Arizona in 1999
Rachel Narr - Education Choices
Barb Blakeslee, M. Ed., author and founder of My Key Consulting LLC, has developed a highly effective person-centered program, which is the first step toward supported progress in transition services. My Transition Portfolio is unique in its design and is a long-awaited platform for students, teachers and parents alike. Ms. Blakeslee has been teaching special education for 23 years with an emphasis in adult transition services for students ages 18-21. Her degrees in Speech Language Pathology and Special Education: Deaf/HH have enabled her to engage students and their families in providing positive post-school outcomes.
Barbara Blakeslee - Transitions
A good clear overview of assistive technology – with some examples of Deaf, HOH, autistic, CP, and a variety other challenges faced by students. Assistive technology (called AT) is not the same thing as any technology – it is defined by Federal and State laws and guidelines and is any technology which is focused on helping students (K-age 22) to access the school curriculum – including communicating with teachers and students and participating in course activities, getting around the classroom and the campus, reading or otherwise accessing text and online or digital materials.
Hanoch McCarty - Assistive Technology
Early Afternoon Workshops
Natasha Kordus - Does this Diagnosis Matter?
Dr. Natasha Kordus has provided a wide range of clinical and school-related training on a local, regional and national basis and is involved in a number of professional organizations. She has over 20 years of experience assessing Deaf and Hard of Hearing children and adolescents and training professionals in the field. This workshop will focus on understanding multiple diagnoses of Deaf children with disabilities and what clinicians are looking for when they determine additional diagnoses. Moreover, this workshop will help parents and professionals know where to focus their attention to provide intervention. Specific behavioral techniques will be reviewed and examples provided. Handouts will also be available.
What happens when your child who is Deaf and has special needs exits the school system? What are the options? Well there are not many options to choose among that have full access to language so a small group of us started our own agency. DPAC is opening doors for Deaf + adults and regular Deaf as well. It has an adult day program and supported employment for Deaf + adults and provides advocacy for this special group. It is well recognized in the Deaf community as an employer of regular Deaf staff as well. We have established a model that can be replicated elsewhere.
Nancy Eddy - Deaf Plus Adults
Evelyn Peña - Qualities of Raising a Deaf child with Unique Abilities in a Latino Household
Evelyn Peña is a mother of three, two boys and a girl. Her oldest son, Richard, is Deaf with Cerebral Palsy. Her and her husband have taught him independency and instilled into him that his disabilities did not define him. Patience is a big key in any family and giving them love and affection can be challenging in a Latino household. Seeing her child slowing detach from her family, she started going to college to become a Sign Language Interpreter and will be receiving her degree spring 2018. She is also the Vice President of Deaf Latinos y Familias Organization.
Afternoon Workshops
Sean Virnig - Education Policy Pathways for Deaf Plus Children
Sean Virnig, Ph.D., is Associate Director of the State Special Schools and Services Division under the auspices of California Department of Education. With a number of professional credentials in several states, Dr. Virnig has over 20 years of experience in the school system, government agencies, and higher education. This presentation will explore current education laws and policies that comprise the key pillars of a free and appropriate public education for every Deaf Plus child. Throughout this presentation, participants will have the opportunity to connect these pillars with the topics of all other presentations in this conference through discussion, story sharing and reflection.
Nancy Eddy - An Adoptive Mother's Journey​​
Christy joined our family when she was just 3 months old and led us on a journey no one expected. That was 30 years ago and times have changed since we started - mostly for the good. There was no newborn hearing screening then so she was 9 months old before we discovered she was Deaf and then her other special needs started to come to light. It was tough to accept in the beginning but what a delight she's been. Our whole family has experienced and learned so much over the years. It takes a lot of persistence! Nancy will share her journey with you.
Rachel Narr - Educational Choices
Rachel Friedman Narr, Ph.D. is a Professor in Deaf Education/ Special Education at California State University, Northridge. She is committed to ensuring teachers are well prepared to teach diverse students in Deaf Education classrooms, as well as working with parents of Deaf /Hard of Hearing children. Rachel is the Director of Deaf Education And Families Project/Parent Links at CSUN, a parent-to-parent support network. Rachel has a breadth of experience working with DHH students birth-22 years and their families, both as a Speech-Language Pathologist and Deaf Educator. Rachel obtained her doctorate in Special Education from the University of Arizona in 1999