NCSC AA-AAS System: Improving Educational Results for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Uncategorized

Guam CEDDERS continues to provide technical support to Guam Department of Education and CNMI Public School System in their efforts to improve educational results for students with significant cognitive disabilities requiring an alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards (AA-AAS). Since 2010, Guam and CNMI have been active members of the National Center and State Collaborative (NCSC) Project, a USDOE Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)-funded project led by five centers and 24 states, inclusive of Guam and CNMI as members of the Pacific Assessment Consortium (PAC6).

5 individuals sitting around a table.
During the October 29 session, Thelma Cing (speaking), CNMI Special Education Teacher, shares how she uses the NCSC instructional resources in the classroom.
Room full of participants sitting around tables.
June De Leon, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director, gestures to participants during her October 29th presentation of CNMI’s Spring 2015 NCSC AA-AAS participation and performance results.

UOG Students Explore Assistive Technology

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Demonstration Services Community Services: Technical Assistance Community Services: Training Developmental Disabilities Disability Studies Guam Systems for Assistive Technology Information Dissemination Self-Advocacy

Three students in assistive technology center.
A Scavenger Hunt assignment was given to the seven students enrolled in UOG’s ED443, Assistive Technology class. Their assignment was given to them to familiarize themselves with GSAT, its vast array of technology, and an opportunity for “hands-on” exploration of its lending library. The students were given multiple scenarios/circumstances in which they needed to identify a minimum of two assistive technology devices, ranging from low to high tech that would assist in providing sufficient support in those areas. In the photo above, Ann Flores, Anntonette Quiambao, and Gabriel Posadas, (L-R) came in to GSAT on November 13, 2015, to complete their scavenger hunt.
Student sitting at desk.
Gabriel Posadas, a student from the University of Guam’s UOG’s ED443- Assistive Technology class, explores features of a software program designed to help students with learning disabilities who struggle with reading and writing.

Webinar Held with GDOE VI Staff

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Community Services: Training Vision Impairment
Group seated at conference table.
Guam CEDDERS facilitated a webinar presented by Donna McNear, Vision Instruction Consultant (shown on screen) for the Guam Department of Education, Division of Special Education’s Vision Instruction (VI) Program. Topics discussed included the implementation of Unified English Braille (UEB) and assistive technology for students who are blind. Also discussed was Donna’s upcoming on-site visit in January 2016. Attending the webinar were (starting left, clockwise) Paula Ulloa, VI School Program Consultant; Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS; Darlene Taimanglo, VI teacher; Diane Artero, VI Teacher; and Judy Quinata, Braille transcriber. This activity was supported through a contract between Guam CEDDERS and the Guam DOE, Division of Special Education.

Guam Memorial Hospital Authority Stakeholders Meet with Guam EHDI Staff on Quality Improvement Strategies

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Early Childhood Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Guam Early Intervention System
Seven individuals seated around conference table
Members of the Initial Screening Quality Improvement team meet to discuss effective strategies to improve Guam EHDI AIMS. Seated clockwise from (L-R): starting from bottom: Alyson Ward, National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM); Valerie Meno, Guam Memorial Hospital Authority (GMHA); Ruth Sabangan, GMHA; Avelina Opena, GMHA; Terrie Fejarang, Guam EHDI; Elaine Eclavea, Guam EHDI; and Joseph Mendiola, Guam EHDI.

Guam EHDI Project Stakeholders Meet to Address Quality Improvement Needs

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Early Childhood Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Guam Early Intervention System
A crowded banquet room listens attentively to speaker.
Alyson Ward, Quality Improvement Advisor from the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM), provided technical assistance on strategies for effective Quality Improvement activities for EHDI programs on August 10-12. Staff from the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority, Guam Regional Medical City, Guam Early Intervention Program, and the DOE Audiology Department joined the Guam EHDI Project for this quality improvement effort.

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  • Several individuals seated in large lecture hall watching presentations on multiple screens.

    Cohort 2 team participated in a group webinar on July 17, with Sharron Corle from the National MCH Workforce Development Center, on screen in background. The webinar was on Strengths Based Leadership. Cohort 2 is a team of early childhood program administrators, staff, and parents that are receiving training and technical assistance on how to improve health and education services, access, and integration on Guam. Cohort 2 is a Department and Public Health & Social Services initiative in collaboration with the University of Guam Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service (Guam CEDDERS), Department of Education, Office of the Governor and Office of the First Lady. (Back row right to left: Margarita Gay, Linda Rodriguez, Julyne Manglona, Pauline Camacho. Middle row from right to left: Joe Montague, Bonnie Brandt, Terry Aguon. Front row from right to left: Elaine Eclavea, Jolene Dagame, Elizabeth Calvo.)

  • Group posing for photo with image of presenter projected on large screen behind them.

    On July 17, Sharron Corle (on screen), Maternal Child Health Consultant, facilitated a webinar with the Cohort 2 Leadership Team on Strengths Based Leadership. Cohort 2 is a team of early childhood program administrators, staff, and parents that are receiving training and technical assistance on how to improve health and education services, access, and integration on Guam. Cohort 2 is a Department and Public Health & Social Services initiative in collaboration with the University of Guam Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service (Guam CEDDERS), Department of Education, Office of the Governor and Office of the First Lady. (Front row left to right: Jeffrey Pinaula, Vera Blaz, Pauline Camacho, Elaine Eclavea, Tammy Bamba, and Linda Rodriguez. Back row from left to right: Elizabeth Calvo, Jolene Dagame, Bonnie Brandt, Margarita Gay, Julyne Manglona, Terry Aguon, Maggie Bell, Joe Montague.)

Cohort 2 Attends Strengths Finder Webinar

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Department of Public Health & Social Services Early Childhood

  • Group standing.​

    Eleven Early childhood providers completed training on the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ- 3). Participants included (L-R): Katrina Cruz, Special Education Preschool Program; Rose Estrellado, Project Bisita; Arleen Dela Cruz, Project Bisita; Sherill Imo, Project Bisita; Vera Blaz, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate; Joleen Dagaine, Project Kariñu Intern; Elizabeth Calvo, Projects Kariñu and Bisita; Lolita Leon Guerrero, Project Kariñu; Pauline Camacho, Lead Family Partner Projects Kariñu and Project Bisita Home Visitor; Aisha Diaz, Project Kariñu Student Intern; Elaine Eclavea, Guam CEDDERS Consultant; Eileen Quitugua, Guam LAUNCH; Tammy Bamba, Guam LAUNCH. Elaine Eclavea and Vera Blaz served as ASQ Trainers.

  • Trainer standing in front of white board. Trainees sitting around conference table.

    Vera Blaz, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate, reviews how to administer the ASQ-3.

Early Childhood Providers Complete Training on ASQ-3

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Early Childhood Project Bisita I Familia Project Kariñu

Guam EHDI Team and DPHSS Representative meet with Information Systems Consultant

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Early Childhood Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
Group standing.
The Guam CEDDERS CDC Early Hearing Dectection and Intervention (EHDI) Team met with Norman Okamura, Ph.D., faculty specialist and consultant from the University of Hawaiii – TASI unit and Linda DeNorcey, Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) health services administrator, to discuss the progress and needs to further enhance the interoperability of Child Link, the Guam EHDI database, and the DPHSS health information system. L-R: Dr. Okamura; Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director; Elaine Eclavea, Guam CEDDERS EHDI Consultant; Ms. De Norcey; and Joseph Mendiola, Guam CEDDERS EHDI Data Coordinator.

Parents Receive Support from National Team

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Early Childhood
Three individuals seated at conference table viewing.
Parents on the Cohort 2 Leadership Team are shown receiving support via a webinar from the National Maternal Child Health Workforce Development Center team on how to create a system support map on June 17 at Guam CEDDERS. This tool will enable parents and caregivers to graphically express their ongoing personal journey as they support their child or children with special health care needs. The process of creating a system support map will help them clarify, demonstrate, document, and troubleshoot the complex responsibilities, needs, resources, services involved in supporting their child or children. The Cohort 2 Leadership Team is a team of parents and early childhood leaders & administrators working together to improve and increase access to health, early care and education services for children birth to age 8 that are uninsured or medically indigent.

Guam EHDI Advisory Council Meeting

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Early Childhood Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
Advisory council seated in large conference room.
Guam EHDI Advisory Council Meeting on June 8, 2015 at the Lotte Hotel. The Guam EHDI Advisory meets on a quarterly basis to review program updates and data for all newborn-infant hearing screenings on Guam. The June meeting was the first meeting of 2015. Members also discussed the transition of staff and the newly funded HRSA grant.