GDOE’s Continuous Improvement Road Map for Improving Reading Achievement

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Training Continuing Education Guam Department of Education
Chief Brodie Memorial Elementary School 1st grade teachers practice administering the aimswebPlus Early Literacy measures.
Capt. H.B. Price Elementary, 1st grade teacher and aimswebPlus trainer, Leilani Mesa (standing) assists participants in using the aimswebPlus assessment system.
(L-R) First grade teachers from M.U. Lujan Elementary, Bertha Torres and Ursula Umadhay, observe fellow colleagues as they practice administering the aimwebPlus.
J.M. Guerrero kindergarten teacher and aimswebPlus trainer Kasuandra Penaflor (standing) guides participants as they practice navigating the aimswebPlus online portal.

GDOE Participates in OSEP Leadership Conference Poster Session

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Model Services Continuing Education Guam Department of Education

The Guam Department of Education (GDOE) in partnership with Guam CEDDERS participated in the poster session at the Office of Special Education Program (OSEP) Leadership Conference on July 22 in Washington, D.C.  The title of the poster was “It Happens in the School Building.” The poster centered on the continuous improvement efforts of the four State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) target schools as they work on increasing the reading achievement of elementary students, specifically those students with disabilities.

From L-R ront row: June De Leon, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director; Yolanda Gabriel, GDOE Assistant Superintendent Division of Special Education; Terese Crisostomo, GDOE School Program Consultant; Josephine Cruz, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate; Natasha Dela Cruz, Principal, M.U. Lujan Elementary; Melissa Mafnas, Principal, J.M. Guerrero Elementary School; Laura Taisipic, GDOE School Program Consultant. From L-R Back row: Dennis Bakker, GDOE Division of Special Education Data Manager; and Charlie Kniseley, OSEP State Lead.

Assistive Technology and Accessibility Training at DISID

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Continuing Education Developmental Disabilities Guam Systems for Assistive Technology
June 10, 2019: GSAT Center Coordinator Leah Abelon conducted training on the usage of a TDD/TTY, a telecommunication device for the Deaf, and creating accessible documents. Training participants included staff from the Guam Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities (DISID) Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Division of Social Services.

Behavioral Health and Disabilities Glossary Presented at NASW Guam Conference

by Guam CEDDERS CEDDERS CORE Continuing Education Developmental Disabilities Disability Studies Research and Evaluation
Mariles Benavente, LCSW, LPC, and former Guam CEDDERS Cultural and Linguistic Competence Coordinator, conducted a breakout session titled, “The Behavioral Health Glossary in Chamorro: a Practical Tool towards Health Literacy and Patient-Centered Care” during the recent Guam Chapter of the National Association of Social Work Conference on March 17, 2019 held at the Westin Resort Guam. The glossary was developed to promote the importance of using interpreters, translators, and language products, such as this glossary, to improve access and use of behavioral health and disabilities services by the island’s linguistically diverse population. Ms. Benavente served as the editor of the glossary which was published in 2017 by Guam CEDDERS. A copy of the Glossary was given to the over 40 participants who attended the session. For an electronic copy of the glossary, go to www.guamcedders.org/publications-products/.

Guam CEDDERS Training Associate Met with Guam Memorial Hospital Authority Nursing Supervisors About the Hearing Screening Compliance Survey

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Continuing Education Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
L – R:  On July 11, 2018, Marie Wusstig, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate met with Guam Memorial Hospital Authority (GMHA) nursing supervisors, Avelina “Bing” Opena, RN, NICU supervisor and Ma. Victoria “Marivic” Guiao, RN, OB Ward supervisor to review results and recommendations of the Hearing Screening Compliance Survey. Supervisors provided additional input for the training objectives for the upcoming “Hearing Screening Protocol and Equipment Training”, scheduled for July 16 – 17, 2018, which will be facilitated by, Renee L.G. Koffend, AuD, CCC-A, Guam EHDI Audiologist Consultant.

Guam CEDDERS provided the “Pripåra Hao Emergency Preparedness Checklist and Guidebook for Persons with Disabilities” to the Guam Developmental Disabilities Council Program Coordinator

by Guam CEDDERS Continuing Education Developmental Disabilities Information Dissemination
Jenika Ballesta, Research Associate, presented copies of the “Pripåra Hao Emergency Preparedness Checklist and Guidebook for Persons with Disabilities” to Marie Libria, Guam Developmental Disabilities Council Program Coordinator. Ms. Libria will share these products during the 2018 AIDD Technical Assistance Institute, 2018 NACDD Annual Conference and related meetings, and during the “Emergency Preparedness: What Can Councils Do?” panel featuring FEMA, Alabama DD Council, and Guam DD Council.

LTSAE: Tips and Tools for Monitoring and Tracking Children’s Early Development Training for Headstart Family Advocates

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Community Services: Training Continuing Education
On June 22, Jenika Ballesta, Guam CEDDERS Research Associate (seated left), facilitated training on “Learn the Signs. Act Early,” for Headstart Family Advocates. The “Learn the Signs. Act Early” Program aims to improve early identification of autism and other developmental disabilities in children to enable families to access needed services and supports. Not shown in picture: Vera Blaz, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate.

Guam CEDDERS Director Participates in Panel Presentation

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Model Services Continuing Education Developmental Disabilities
On Friday, May 25, 2018, Heidi San Nicolas, Guam CEDDERS Director (left), participated in a panel discussion entitled, “Preparing the Territories- What have we learned and What Happens Now?” at the Getting it Right 2018 National Inclusive Disaster Strategies Conference held at the Marriott Metro Center, Washington DC. The panel presentation focused on a summary of the White Paper prepared by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) with input from four of the five Territory UCEDD Directors regarding Disaster Preparedness and the role of UCEDDS. (Seated L-R): Dr. San Nicolas; Tafa Tua-Tupuola, Director, American Samoa UCEDD; Dr. Carol Salas, University of Puerto Rico UCEDD Director; Dr. Kimberly Mills, University of the Virgin Islands UCEDD Director; Daphnee Guilleume, AUCD Public Health Program Manager; and Adriane Griffen, AUCD Senior Director, Public Policy and Leadership.

Guam CEDDERS Participates in Social Work Practicum Fair

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Demonstration Services Continuing Education Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Guam Systems for Assistive Technology
On April 20, 2018, Guam CEDDERS participated in the ​University of Guam, ​Social Work Practicum Fair held at the UOG School of Business and Public Administration Building. The fair provided an opportunity to help inform Social Work ​​students choose a field placement​ for their senior year​. ​Vera Blaz (left) Guam CEDDERS Training Associate, looks on as Tanya Simer (middle), current GSAT ​Social Work ​student intern​​, shares information​ about her experiences​ ​with​ Tiffany DeMesa (right), ​student, ​during the Practicum Fair.