GSAT Conference and Fair Planning Committee held its second meeting to discuss the upcoming conference and fair on November 15. In attendance were (Clockwise from top left), Ben Servino, DISID/DVR,DSS Director; Mary Kidd, GSAT Consultant; Evangelis Babauta, ASL Interpreter; Leah Abelon, GSAT Center Coordinator; Josie Cortez, Member; Evelyn Duenas, Member; Jennifer Vicente, Guam Legal Services – Disability Law Center (GLSC-DLC) Representative; Barbara Johnson, Vice-Chairperson; and Raymond Sayas, Guam Developmental Disabilities Council (GDDC) Representative.
On November 10, Avelina “Bing” Opena (right), Guam Memorial Hospital Authority (GMHA) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nursing Supervisor, met with Marie Wusstig, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate and Guam EHDI Project Coordinator (left), on the progress of the hearing screenings conducted in the NICU. Further discussion focused on newborn hearing screening system sustainability.On November 10, Marie Wusstig, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate and Guam EHDI Project Coordinator, shares ideas with Renee Veksler, Guam Memorial Hospital (GMHA) Health Educator and Acting Program Coordinator of the Education Department, on future prenatal classes, EHDI services offered to expecting mothers, and system sustaibability. Apearing in the photo are (L-R) Christina Jung, Guam CEDDERS Research Associate; Marie Wusstig, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate; and Renee Veksler, Guam Memorial Hospital (GMHA) Health Educator and Acting Program Coordinator of the Education Department.
On October 27, Elaine Eclavea, Guam CEDDERS Consultant, provided training and technical assistance on family coaching and strategies for documenting progress monitoring with the CNMI Part C SSIP Core Team. The team also reviewed the child outcome data of the Part C SSIP – State Improvement Measurable Results (SiMR).October 28, 2016, Ms. Eclavea, Guam CEDDERS Consultant, conducted a presentation with the Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) staff to on the early childhood outcome measurement process. In addition, ECSE staff had the opportunity to review the child outcome data with specific data on length of service, age at entry, types of disabilities reports that will be used to analyze and report on the Annual Performance Report Part B Indicator 7.
Dr. Robert Corso, executive director of the Pyramid Model Consortium, trained fourteen individuals on Practice-Based Coaching using the Pyramid Model September 26 and 27, 2016 at the University of Guam School of Business and Public Administration. Participants included representatives from Department of Education-Guam Early Intervention System, Early Childhood Special Education Preschool, Head Start, and Student Support Services Division; Project Kariñu, and Guam CEDDERS. Dr. Robert Corso focused on the importance of using Practice-Based Coaching to ensure high fidelity implementation of the Pyramid Model Practices.
On August 26th Dr. Renee Koffend, Aud., CCC-A, Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (GEHDI) Audiology consultant, conducted hearing screening on infants using an AABR device (top), and an OAE device (bottom), during the Outpatient Hearing Clinic held at Guam EHDI, House 21, Dean’s Circle, UOG.
On August 24, Leah Abelon, GSAT AT Center, demonstrated the use of Eyepal to Finia Kachita (left), a student from the Guam Community College (GCC), and Kimberly Bautista, GCC Acomodative Services (right). Eyepal is an assistive technology tool that converts printed text into speech.
Guam CEDDERS provided 40 copies of the 2016 Neni Directory to Robert L. Dames, Offender Workforce Development Specialist at the Guam Department of Labor (DOL) on August 22. The Directories will be passed out to DOL staff who provide counseling supports and to parents of young children who are seeking the assistance from the various workforce development programs. Pictured from left to right are Robert L. Dames, Department of Labor; Ruth Leon Guerrero and Jenika Ballesta, Guam CEDDERS/Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (Guam EHDI) staff.Guam CEDDERS presented 10 copies of the 2016 Neni Directory to Emmercita Reyes on August 22. Reyes is a counselor at M.U Lujan Elementary School. Pictured from left to right, Emmercita Reyes, M.U Lujan and Ruth Leon Guerrero, Guam CEDDERS/Guam EHDI staff.
Dolores Camacho is a retired high school teacher who taught French and English for 36 years. She recently acquired funding for hearing aids with the help of the Guam Options for Alternative Loans – Assistive Technology (GOAL-AT), an alternative financing program under the Guam System for Assistive Technology. Mrs. Camacho shared that she wished she knew about Assistive Technology, when she was still teaching. She said, “it would have made communication with her students a lot easier.”
Elaine Eclavea, Guam CEDDERS Early Childhood Consultant, summarizes previous strategic planning meetings during the Project Tinituhon Strategic Management Team (SMT) Meeting on July 28 at The Guam Hilton Resort and Spa.June Perez, the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority representative on the Guam Early Learning Council, provides input during the Project Tinituhon Strategic Management Team Meeting on July 28.Pauline Camacho and Lizzy Calvo, Karinu; Pat Mantanona, Guam Early Intervention System; Cathy Tydingco Part B Preschool; and Jolene Dagame, Parent, talk about successes and challenges in early childhood over the last 10 years during the Project Tinituhon Strategic Management Team Meeting on July 28.SMT members pose for a photo during the Project Tinituhon Strategic Management Team Meeting on July 28.
On August 11, Guam CEDDERS facilitated a webinar for GDOE Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HH) staff with Cathy Carotta, Ed.D., CCC-SLP, Boys Town National Hospital (on screen), to discuss the draft D/HH Program Manual. Pictured from left to right: Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS; Camille Gonzales, Itinerant Services Teacher, D/HH Program; and Paula Ulloa, GDOE D/HH Program Coordinator.
