UOG Students visit GSAT

by Jenika Ballesta Community Services: Model Services Guam Systems for Assistive Technology
On March 29, 2018, Leah Abelon, GSAT Center Coordinator, facilitated a presentation and demonstration on Assistive Technology to students in the “Introduction to Exceptional Individuals” Course at the University of Guam. This course investigates exceptionalities, including disabling conditions. Pictured here is Dr. Catherine Cardenas and her students.

Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention​ (Guam EHDI) Project Fitme​ Awarded 2018 Website of the ​Y​ear

by Jenika Ballesta Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
On March 20, 2018, Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention​ (Guam EHDI) Project Fitme​ received ​the​ 2018 Website of the ​Y​ear ​A​ward at the Annual ​National ​EHDI Meeting ​held in Denver, ​Colorado​.​ ​ Karl White​, Ph.D., ​Director of the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM), commented on ​the improvements and accessibility of the site. The website was designed and constructed by Sherry Guerrero, former Disability Media Specialist, with content written and organized by the Guam EHDI Team.​​ Accepting the award on behalf of Guam EHDI were (Front Row, L-R): JJ Mendiola and Marie Wusstig. (Back Row, L-R): Karl White and Tony

Sherry Guerrero, former Disability Media Specialist, poses with the Guam EHDI Website of the Year award. Ms. Guerrero was instrumental in the design and maintenance of the website during her tenure at Guam CEDDERS.

Project Fitme Parent Support Group Coordinator Meets with GEIS

by Jenika Ballesta Community Services: Model Services Continuing Education Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Guam Early Intervention System
On March 9, 2018, Susan Dugan, (R), the newly designated Project Fitme Deaf/Hard of Hearing Project Coordinator under Guam Positive Parents Together, Inc., a non profit organization, met with Marie Wusstig,(L), Guam EHDI Project Coordinator, and Pat Mantanona (C), Guam Early Intervention System Program Coordinator. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the re-establishment of a D/HH Parent Support Group.

Guam EHDI Audiologist Conducts Orientation for Northern Regional Community Health Center Staff

by Jenika Ballesta Community Services: Technical Assistance Community Services: Training Continuing Education Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
On February 23, 2018, Renee Koffend, AuD., CCC-A, Guam EHDI Audiology Consultant, conducted an orientation on the Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program for the clinic staff based at the Department of Public Health & Social Services Northern Regional Community Health Center

Parents of Deaf/Hard of Hearing Children Attend Support Group Orientation Meeting

by Jenika Ballesta Community Services: Technical Assistance Continuing Education Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
The first meeting of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Parent Support Group was held on March 14. The purpose of the group is to establish a parent to parent support system to help parents of newly identified infants and toddlers learn about options and navigating systems and The meeting was facilitated through a partnership with Guam Positive Parents Together (GPPT), headed by Ann Marie Cruz, President, and the Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (Guam EHDI) Project Fitme, administered by Guam CEDDERS. Parent support efforts are facilitated by Susan Dugan, BSW, Project Coordinator. Attending the meeting were (L-R) Tricia Suzuki, Joe Tuquero, Caleb Suzuki, Susan Dugan, Evelyn Topasna, Alea Dugan, and Tanya Simer. Not Shown: Terrie Fejarang.
Susan Dugan and Caleb Suzuki share a light moment after the meeting.

Guam EHDI Staff and GPPT Fitme Project Coordinator Attend Parent Leadership Training in Saipan

by Jenika Ballesta Continuing Education Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
(L-R) Susan Dugan, Guam Positive Parents Together (GPPT) Project Fitme Project Coordinator; Candance Lindow-Davies, Hands & Voices Director of Outreach; Karen Putz and Stephanie Olson, Hands & Voices Co-Directors of Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HH) Infusion take time out to pose for a photo during the D/HH Parent Leadership Training that took place in Saipan, CNMI on February 24, 2018, as part of the CNMI EHDI Project’s parent engagement initiative. The purpose of the training was to provide guidance to parents of children who are D/HH on leadership strategies to support other parents of children who are D/HH.
Parents and trainers take a group photo during the D/HH Parent Leadership Training that took place in Saipan, CNMI on February 24, 2018, as part of the CNMI EHDI Project’s parent engagement initiative.
Stephanie Olson, Hands and Voices Co-Director of D/HH Infusion poses with Terrie Fejarang, Guam EHDI Project Director. Stephanie was part of a Hands and Voices team that conducted training and technical assistance for parent leadership in Saipan, CNMI on February 22-24.
(L-R) Terrie Fejarang, Guam EHDI Project Director, and Mystica Kaipat, Saipan-based Sign Language Interpreter, reminisce about when Mystica started her formal interpreter training in 1996. Mystica was a member of the first cohort to complete the requirements to earn an Associate Degree in Sign Language Interpreting under the Regional Sign Language Interpreter Training Program facilitated by Guam CEDDERS in partnership with Guam Community College. They met up at the D/HH Parent Leadership Training that took place in Saipan, CNMI as part of the CNMI EHDI Project’s parent engagement initiative during which Mystica served as a local-based interpreter.

EPICS Accreditation Site Visit Call

by Jenika Ballesta Continuing Education EPICS
Educating Pacific Islanders Clinicians in Speech Pathology (EPICS) Scholars participated in a “Site Visit Call” on March 16 conducted by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) Team reviewing the San Jose State University graduate program in Speech Language Pathology. The CAA Team included (shown on the screen, L-R) Donald Fuller, chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; Vicki Hammen, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Associate Professor and Program Director of the Communication Disorders Programs at Indiana State University; and Kira Wright, MS, CCC-SLP, a speech-language pathologist and resource specialist for The Hello Foundation. EPICS scholars who attended the meeting were (clockwise, starting at right) John Payne, Megan Merfalen, Lillian Reyes, and Christina Coles. Not shown: Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director, and EPICS Liaison for Guam and the CNMI.

24th Annual GSAT Conference Assistive Technology; Breaking Barriers to Accessibility and Independence

by Jenika Ballesta Community Services: Demonstration Services Community Services: Model Services Community Services: Technical Assistance Continuing Education Guam Systems for Assistive Technology

On 2 March 2018 Maria Bontogon, a student at the University of Guam, conducted a presentation on her assistive technology device called the Orcam for participants atending the 24th Annual Assistive Technology Conference held at the Westin Resort Guam. The Orcam is capable of reading printed text from any surface or material such as books, banknotes, barcodes, and can distinguish between faces/colors. The Orcam supports accessibility for Self-advocates with vision and print impairments.
Jeff Warfield, a Social Worker with the Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities (DISID), presented on Accessible Parking requirements during the GSAT Conference held at the Westin Resort Guam on March 2. The presentation focused on the requirements for providing “Accessible Parking” at all Government and Business facilities, including the “Path of Travel” requirements under the American with Disabilities Act, and how to apply for an “Accessible Parking Placard” or License Plate”.
Evelyn Duenas, Self-Advocate, is shown having a discussion with Elaine Eclavea at the Learn to Sign Act Early Display Table during the Annual Assistive Technology Conference on March 2. Featured at the table was the: CDC Milestone Developmental Tracker App which explains the importance of knowing how children grow, learn and develop properly from two months to five years. Paying close attention to how they play, learn, speak, act and move provide cues to the development of young children. The Developmental Tracker App makes tracking developmental milestones much easier and fun.
On 2 March 2018 , Tia Ivanko, Technical Assistance Coordinator, and Stephanie Zito, Technical Assistance Specialist from the National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes, conducted one of the keynote presentations on how technology is an important tool to reduce barriers and increase communication access for deaf individuals in both education and employment environments during the Annual GSAT Conference held at the Westin Resort Guam. Their session included a myriad of options available for assistive and communication technology for education and training settings. Participants were given guidance, tools, and resources essential to employing effective services for deaf Self-advocates.
Finia Kachita, a student at Guam Community College, demonstrated how she uses her AT device called the KNFB Reader. This AT device converts printed text to speech or Braille instantly and accurately. It features the best optical character recognition (OCR) technology available and uses patented image detection technology to quickly and easily detect and decipher printed text anywhere and at any time. It helps blind, low-vision, dyslexic, and other print-disabled users live the lives they want, independently.
Shawni Acfalle, GSAT Center Assistant, provides a brief explanation of points shared on the State Rehabilitation Council Information Board to one of the conference attendees. The Information Board lists a variety of improvements that need to be addressed by Department of Vocational Rehabilitation to provide better services for people with disabilities on Guam. Shawni also discussed how the information may affect his personal, academic and employment endeavors in the future. Having technology, innovation and awareness are important tools to reduce barriers and increase communication access for individuals with disabilities as they pursue educational and employment goals.