Langston University Reps Share Info on Research Project Supports

by Guam CEDDERS CEDDERS CORE Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Guam Systems for Assistive Technology
February 27, 2019: CEDDERS staff pose with Langston University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (LU-RRTC) staff and representatives from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Republic of the Marshall Islands. The Langston University team comprising of Corey Moore, Principal Investigator and Research Director; Edward Manyibe, Capacity-Building Director and Research Associate Professor; and Andre Washington, Co-Principal Investigator/Technical Assistant Coordinator, are on Guam to share opportunities for Guamanians to conduct research in the fields of disability and rehabilitation. Funded through a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services the LU-RRTC is actively recruiting participation in research opportunities in the U.S. Territories. Funding includes technical assistance in grant writing, conducting research, data analysis, and manuscript preparation and publishing.

Guam EHDI Parents & Staff Visit North Carolina D/HH Programs

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Department of Education Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Guam Early Intervention System
February 20, 2019: Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) Project, Guam Positive Parents Together, and Guam Department of Education – Guam Early Intervention System met with North Carolina Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) staff. Both EHDI Teams were able to share their experiences and the resources within their programs with one another. Front row left to right: Jenika Ballesta, Guam CEDDERS, Research Associate, Marie Wusstig, Guam EHDI, Training Associate; Beth Whitfield, NC Early Learning Sensory Support Program; Tisha Suzuki, Parent Mentor; Susan Dugan, GPPT Project Fitme Coordinator; Cathy Tydingco, GDOE-GEIS, School Program Coordinator; Ann Marie Cruz, GPPT Board President; Johnnie Sexton, CARE Project, Founder, Executive Director; NC-EHDI staffs; Evelyn Topasna, Parent Mentor; Tanya Simer, Guam EHDI, Hearing Screening Paraprofessional.
February 21, 2019: Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) Project, Guam Positive Parents Together (GPPT), and Guam Department of Education (GDOE) – Guam Early Intervention System (GEIS) toured the Greensboro County Deaf Education programs at Frazier Elementary School, Hunter Elementary School, Johnson Street School, and Grimsley High School. The Deaf Education program provides equal educational access for deaf and hard of hearing students. Support services are provided for different hearing loss and communication needs which consist of American Sign Language Interpreting and Assistive Technology devices. Pictured left to right: Joann Mapas, GCS Deaf Education Lead; Jenika Ballesta, Guam CEDDERS Research Associate; Tanya Simer, Guam EHDI Hearing Screening Paraprofessional; Ann Marie Cruz, GPPT Board President; Evelyn Topasna, Parent Mentor; Susan Dugan, GPPT Project Fitme Coordinator; Marie Wusstig, Guam EHDI Training Associate; Trisha Suzuki, Parent Mentor; Cathy Tydingco, School Program Coordinator, GDOE-GEIS.

EHDI Meets CSDHH

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Department of Education Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Guam Early Intervention System
February 19. 2019: Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) Project, Guam Positive Parents Together, and Guam Department of Education – Guam Early Intervention System met with Communication Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CSDHH) staff in Greensboro, North Carolina to discuss the programs and services CSDHH provide. CSDHH is a non-profit organization that provides services for Individuals who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) and their families, which consists of advocacy, American Sign Language (ASL) classes, interpreting, and social activities. Pictured from left to right: Jenika Ballesta, Guam CEDDERS Research Associate; Cathy Tydingco, School Program Coordinator, Guam Department of Education; Ann Marie Cruz, GPPT Board President; Tanya Simer, Guam CEDDERS Hearing Screening Paraprofessional; Paige Sprinkle, CSDHH, Program Coordinator; Susan Dugan, GPPT Project Fitme Coordinator; Trisha Suzuki, Parent Mentor; Meredith Kaplan, CSDHH, Outreach Coordinator; Jen Dunn, NC Early Learning Sensory Support Program; Marie Wusstig, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate; Evelyn Topasna, Parent Mentor. Not pictured is Kelle Owens, MPA, Executive Director, CSDHH.
February 19, 2019: Guam Positive Parents Together are pictured from left to right: Ann Marie Cruz, GPPT Board President; Trisha Suzuki, Parent Mentor; Susan Dugan, GPPT Project Fitme Program Coordinator; Evelyn Topasna, Parent Mentor; Meredith Kaplan, CSDHH, Outreach Coordinator.

EHDI Delivers DAE Toolkits to GDOE-GEIS

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Department of Education Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Guam Early Intervention System Information Dissemination
February 15, 2019: Guam Department of Education Guam Early Intervention System (GDOE – GEIS) staff received ten Diagnostic Audiological Evaluation (DAE) Toolkits for infants referred for a DAE from Guam EHDI staff. Toolkits include materials to assist families to prepare for the infant’s diagnostic audiological evaluation. Pictured from left to right; Tanya Simer, Guam EHDI Hearing Screening Paraprofessional, and Nacrina Atoigue, Secretary, GDOE – GEIS. Not shown: EDLynn Beyond, Guam CEDDERS Student Office Assistant.

Guam EHDI Participates in Call with Regional EHDI Teams

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
February 13, 2019: The Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (Guam EHDI) Project participated in a call with the EHDI Program coordinators from American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Hawaii, the Marshall Islands, and Palau to discuss the agenda and process of the upcoming Territories Meeting scheduled for March 2 before the Annual EHDI Conference in Chicago. Shown in this screen shot are (L-R) Sheilla Marie Deray, Newborn Screener and Family Support Coordinator, and Angie Mister, CCC-A, CNMI EHDI Coordinator, who facilitated the meeting.

Project Fitme D/HH Parent Support Group and Guam EHDI Team Meet to Prepare for “Fieldtrip”

by Guam CEDDERS CEDDERS CORE Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
February 9, 2019: Parents of children who are deaf/hard of hearing and Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (Guam EHDI) staff and service providers, met in preparation for their upcoming site visit with the Parent and Professional Collaborative in Greensboro, North Carolina. The team will be attending a conference to help parents through their emotional journey and to improve their cultural communication. The team will also be visiting several programs in the area that provide an array of services to children who are D/HH and their families. Pictured from left to right: Jenika Ballesta, Guam CEDDERS Research Associate; Susan Dugan, GPPT Project Fitme Coordinator; Cathy Tydingco, School Program Coordinator, Guam Department of Education; Terrie Fejarang Guam CEDDERS Associate Director; Trisha Suzuki, Parent Mentor; Marie Wusstig, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate; Evelyn Topasna, Parent Mentor; Tanya Simer, Guam CEDDERS Hearing Screening Paraprofessional; Ann Marie Cruz, GPPT Board President; and Jecilla Cruz, Self-Advocate and daughter of Ann Marie Cruz.

GPPT/Project Fitme and Guam EHDI Participate at the Lion’s Club Health Fair

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Guam Systems for Assistive Technology Information Dissemination
February 02, 2019: The Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (Guam EHDI) Project Fitme and Guam’s Positive Parents Together (GPPT) participated in the Lion’s Club Health Fair at the Micronesia Mall Center Court. Guam EHDI and GPPT shared information about initial hearing screening for newborns and parent supports available to families of children identified with a hearing loss. Pictured at the event were (standing, L-R): Ashley Babauta, GPPT/Project Fitme Support Staff ; Jenika Ballesta, Guam CEDDERS Research Associate; and Bobbie Aflleje, GPPT/Project Fitme Support Staff.
February 02, 2019: the Guam System for Assistive Technology (GSAT) participated in the Lion’s Club Health Fair at the Micronesia Mall Center Court. Pictured at the event is Leah Abelon, GSAT Center Coordinator.

EHDI Brochures Delivered to Pediatric Clinic and DPHSS

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
Jan. 25, 2019: The Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (Guam EHDI) Project provided copies of the Guam EHDI brochures to pediatric clinics. These publications promote the importance of newborn hearing screening, early detection and intervention services. Pictured from left to right: Tanya Simer, Guam EHDI Staff, and Dr. Yolanda Carrera, Pediatrican.
Guam EHDI brochures were also provided to Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS), Bureau of Social Services Administration (BOSSA). Pictured from left to right: Tanya Simer, Guam EHDI Staff, and Mari Blas, BOSSA Social Worker.

“Introduction to Deaf and Hard of Hearing” Training Held for Parents and Family Members

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention

January 19, 2019: Renee Koffend, AuD, CCC-A, facilitated a Parent Leadership Training on “Introduction to Deaf and Hard of Hearing” for parents and family members at Guam Hearing Doctors. The training focused on the causes of hearing loss, available hearing technology and other forms of communication, the purpose and importance of the hearing booth, and how to read an audiogram which shows the type, degree, and configuration of hearing loss.
(Pictured from left to right) Front Row: Milo Roberts, Jamae Quenga, Mila Nicole Quenga. Dr. Renee Koffend, and Evelyn Topasna.
Back Row: Bobbie Aflleje, Project FitMe Staff; Ivan Babauta, ASL Community Interpreter; Nathan Manibusan, ASL Community Interpreter; Susan Dugan, Project FitMe Coordinator; Caleb and Trisha Suzuki.

 

 

CA-LEND Cohort 2 Meet

by Guam CEDDERS Department of Public Health & Social Services Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention LEND
JANUARY 10, 2019: UOG CEDDERS, through a sub-award from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), is currently facilitating the second cohort of the California Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (CA-LEND) Health Professional Support Program for Children with Congenital Zika Virus (ZIKV) Infection in American Samoa and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Basin. Pictured (l to r): Jenesse Quan and Isabella Fagota, Social Workers, Karinu, Department of Public Health and Social Services; Tanya Simer, Hearing Screening Paraprofessional, Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (Guam EHDI) Project; Josephine Cruz, CEDDERS Training Associate; and EDLynn Beyond, CEDDERS Student Office Assistant and currently a student in the University of Guam Master of Public Administration Program. Not pictured: Vera Blaz, CEDDERS Training Associate and CA-LEND ZIKV Training Coordinator.