Renee L.G. Koffend, Aud., CCC-A, Guam CEDDERS/ GEHDI consultant (standing at right),spoke before a captive audience of service providers from the Guam Early Intervention System (GEIS) on August 17, 2016 at the GSAT Center. Dr. Koffend’s presentation focused on “Hearing Loss Identification & Rehabilitation.”
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.”
Guam CEDDERS personnel were interviewed on K57’s Travis Coffman “GMH Healthcare Heroes Series” radio show on August 16 during the late afternoon drive home time segment. The focus of the interview was on the Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (Guam EHDI) Project. Pictured from left to right are June Perez, Guam Memorial Hospital Authority (GMHA) Program Coordinator and Co-Host of GMHA HEALTHCARE HEROES SERIES; Joseph John Mendiola, Guam CEDDERS/EHDI, Interoperability Data Manager; Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS/EHDI Project Coordinator; Travis Coffman, K57 Talk Show Radio Host; and Renee L.G. Koffend, AuD., CCC-A, Guam CEDDERS/EHDI Audiology Consultant.
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.
Dr. Heidi San Nicolas, Principal Investigator, Pacific VIP, Director, Guam CEDDERS, and June De Leon, Project Director, Pacific VIP, Associate Director, Guam CEDDERS, facilitated a presentation with the Pacific VIP partners from the University of Massachusetts-Boston during the 2016 OSEP Project Directors Conference recently held in Washington, D.C. on August 1-3. Shown left to right preparing for the presentation are Robert McCully, Liaison, Pacific VIP, NERCVE Director, UMass Boston; June De Leon, Project Director, Pacific VIP, Associate Director, Guam CEDDERS; Dr. Heidi San Nicolas, Principal Investigator, Pacific VIP, Director, Guam CEDDERS; and Dr. Laura Bozeman, Program Director, Vision Studies School of Global Inclusion and Social Development, UMass Boston. Also participating in the presentation was Glinda Hill, Project Officer, Research to Practice Division Office of Special Education Programs, USDOE.
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.
Guam CEDDERS showed the latest draft of “Ta Fan Acomprendi: Communicating with People with Disabilities to SiñA members on August 13 during their Self-Advocacy Refresher Workshop. Feedback received was very positive. Next steps include finalizing edits and adding audio description.
On August 4, Guam CEDDERS recently provided 400 copies of the Guam Early Learning Guidelines (GELGs), Three to Five Years to the Guam Head Start Program. Receiving the GELGs were (left to right): Ruthie Ann Lancero and Rowena Dela Cruz, Head Start staff and Cindy Respicio, Head Start Assistant Director. Also present were Vera Blaz and Marie Wusstig, Guam CEDDERS Training Associates.
On August 8, Ruth Leon Guerrero, Guam CEDDERS staff, presented 50 copies of the Hugåndo (Play) Book to Lee Meadows, M.D., physician at the Northern Region Community Health Center in Dededo. The Hugåndo book provides suggestions for parents and child caregivers on ways to promote learning with young children. This resource is available in English, Filipino, and Chuukese and will be passed out to patients who visit the NRCHC.
On August 8, Ruth Leon Guerrero, Guam CEDDERS staff (left), delivered 15 Guam EHDI “DAE Toolkits” to Guam Early Intervention System (GEIS). The Toolkits contain resources and information for families who have a child being referred for a Diagnostic Audiological Evaluation (DAE). Receiving the Toolkits is R-Leen Mario, GEIS staff (right).