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

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.

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.

Parent Support Group Project Coordinator Receives Orientation

by Jenika Ballesta Community Services: Technical Assistance Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention

On Feb. 20, Susan Dugan, Guam Positive Parents Together (GPPT) Project Coordinator met with Marie Wusstig , Guam EHDI Project Coordinator, for a general orientation to the initial hearing screening process at various Guam birthing sites. Susan is facilitating the family engagement program for parents and families of children identified as having a hearing loss.

Project Fitme Held Quality Improvement Meeting with EHDI Partners

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention

The Guam EHDI Diagnostic Audiological Evaluation/Early Intervention (DAE/EI) Quality Improvement (QI) Team met on February 5 to discuss the current status of DAE completion rates. The meeting also developed strategies and a plan to facilitate improvements to increase the timely completion of DAEs. Attending the meeting were (L-R) Keith Villaluna, Guam EHDI Surveillance Specialist; Marie Wusstig, Guam EHDI Project Coordinator; Pat Mantanona, Guam Early Intervention System Program Coordinator; Susan Dugan, Guam Positive Parents Together (GPPT) Deaf/Hard of Hearing Project Coordinator; Renee L.G. Koffend, AuD., Guam EHDI Audiological Consultant, and Terrie Fejarang, Guam EHDI Project Director.

Individual Receives Assistive Technology from the Helen Keller National Center

by Jenika Ballesta Community Services: Technical Assistance Guam Systems for Assistive Technology

On January 12, 2018, Leah Abelon, GSAT Center Coordinator, provided technical assistance to Clifford Ray Hackett, who was the first recipient of technology through the iCanConnect – The National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) administered by the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC). The NDBEDP is a national program designed to help the many thousands of people in the U.S. with significant combined hearing and vision loss to connect with their family, friends, and community through distance communication technology. For those who qualify for the program and meet income eligibility guidelines, equipment and training for distance communication is provided for free. Guam CEDDERS recently established a collaborative relationship with HKNC to assist with demonstration, training, and technical assistance of Assistive Technology for individuals who are eligible for program support.

Training Focuses on Refinement of Continuous Improvement Road Map for Improving Reading Achievement

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Community Services: Training

Dr. Nieves Flores (standing, middle), Guam CEDDERS Consultant, checks in with the 5th grade teachers from J.M. Guerrero Elementary School as they work on the aimsweb practice activities on October 23.

Guam CEDDERS facilitated the second SY2017-2018 Guam Department of Education professional development (PD)session for the four State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) schools on October 23, 2017 at the Westin Resort Guam.

As a continuation from the August PD, the full day training focused on navigating the aimsweb screening system to generate reports and using the reading screening data for improving reading instruction, refining their continuous improvement steps, including the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, for implementation; and reaching agreement on the activities and timelines for implementing the screening/assessment and progress monitoring procedures for school year 2017-2018.

The morning session of the training had each school’s grade level logged into the aimsweb program to practice inputting scores, generating reports, graphing and analyzing screening results, and determining the level of intervention needed.

The afternoon session was facilitated by the Instructional Coaches and Consulting Resource Teachers – Technical Assistance, who provided participants with a review of the eight continuous improvement steps as well as identifying what’s working, challenges, and questions participants had with completing each step. The grade level teams worked together to complete the activities, learning from each other on how PDSAs are implemented in the four SSIP schools. Photos and videos taken in the classrooms on “what’s working” were also shared with the participants as encouragement for the teachers to continue implementing PDSAs in their classrooms.

Palau Drafts Coordinated Approaches for Disability Services Plan

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance

Since July 2017, the Republic of Palau, Ministry of Education – Special Education Program staff in partnership with the Head Start Coordinators and technical support from Elaine Eclavea, Guam CEDDERS Early Childhood Consultant, have been working to develop a process for ensuring coordinated approaches for serving children enrolled in Head Start settings. The team inclusive of both Special Education and Head Start staff reviewed the Head Start Program Performance Standard (HSPPS) 1302.101(b) Coordinated Approaches for Disability Services (CADS): “At the beginning of each program year, and on an ongoing basis throughout the year, a program must design and implement program-wide coordinated approaches to ensure full and effective participation of children with disabilities.” This standard requires appropriate supports and protocols are in place prior to and throughout the school year for preschoolers with disabilities.

The CADS plan ensures that all preschoolers with disabilities enrolled in Head Start will have access to highly individualized teaching that will result in active participation and increased learning to achieve the goals and objectives identified for the child. On August 21 and 22, Special Education and Head Start staff participated in a two-day training on early childhood coaching that was facilitated by Ms. Eclavea. During that same week, Special Education staff, in partnership with the Head Start teachers from the two pilot centers, developed coaching plans based on the priorities identified by the teachers to support the inclusion of preschoolers with disabilities in their center. For the past three months, Special Education providers have been coaching and mentoring Head Start teachers and teacher assistants in achieving the goals identified in the early childhood coaching plan. The results and progress achieved discussed during the team meetings held on November 28 and 29 were all positive.

Congratulations to the Parents, Head Start Teachers and Teacher Assistants, and Special Education Providers for their continued commitment to supporting preschoolers with disabilities in Head Start settings!

During an Early Childhood Coaching session, the Olbedekall Head Start Center celebrates the progress Elika (sitting on her mother’s lap) has made since being enrolled in the program.

Elaine Eclavea (far left), Guam CEDDERS Early Childhood Consultant, conducted training on Early Childhood Coaching in the Republic of Palau. The Olbedekall Head Start Center Team received incentives as part of their participation in the Early Childhood Coaching pilot program.

Project Bisita Celebrates First Graduation

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Department of Public Health & Social Services Project Bisita I Familia

Sherill Tinio (right), Project Bisita I Familia home visitor, poses with one of her families that graduated from the program on September 16.

Relida Sumaylo (right), Project Bisita I Familia home visitor, poses with one of her families that graduated from the program on September 16.

Project Bisita I Familia graduates 10 families from the program on September 16 at the Pacific Star Resort and Spa. The families pose for a group photo following the ceremony.

On December 1, 2012, Project Bisita I Familia home visitors embarked on a journey to provide a new kind of home visiting services to families on Guam. Grounded in its mission to improve the well-being of Guam’s children, birth to 8 years of age, and their families, through evidence-based home visiting services, Project Bisita I Familia has made a difference in the lives of many families.

Project Bisita is a free and voluntary program that was developed to encourage positive parent-child interactions, give parents the knowledge to support their child’s health, growth, and development; strengthen parents’ confidence, prevent child abuse and neglect, promote effective communication between parents and children, and improve coordination of services with other programs. Project Bisita uses the Healthy Families America® (HFA) home visiting model. In 1992, Prevent Child Abuse America® launched the HFA home visiting model to address high rates of child abuse occurrences to children under five. The program was designed to promote positive parenting, enhance child health and development, and prevent child abuse and neglect.

Project Bisita began its pilot home visiting program with three (3) full-time home visitors serving eight (8) enrolled families. As of September 2017, Project Bisita had 58 families enrolled in the program. These families started out receiving home visiting services once a week. Since the program is strength-based and family-driven, the families would set manageable goals with short time frames. Activities that emphasized healthy development and positive discipline were also given to parents to use in the home. As families achieved their goals, the home visits decreased in number. When goals had been met and evidence of positive outcomes were seen, families received home visiting services twice a month. As families became more self-sufficient, services decreased to once per month and then once per quarter.

On September 16, 2017, ten families with a total of 11 children graduated from the program. These families met their goals with positive outcomes and have transitioned out of the home visiting program. The children are now enrolled in the following Department of Education programs—Preschool Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Program, Head Start Program, or Kindergarten. Being a part of Project Bisita has given these families a hand up and a head start to future success in school and in life.

Guam CEDDERS Facilitated Training on “Learn the Signs. Act Early.”

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Community Services: Training