Collaborative Child Find and Collaborative Child Find and Screening Activities Within Screening Activities Within EI/ECSE Delivery SystemsEI/ECSE Delivery Systems

Contact InformationContact Information::MaryAnn DemchakMaryAnn DemchakNevada Dual Sensory Impairment Nevada Dual Sensory Impairment ProjectProjectMail Stop 299Mail Stop 299University of Nevada, RenoUniversity of Nevada, RenoReno, NV 89557Reno, NV 89557(775) 784-6471(775) 784-6471mad@unr.edumad@unr.eduhttp://www.unr.edu/educ/ndsip/http://www.unr.edu/educ/ndsip/

Contact InformationContact Information::Annette CareyAnnette CareyLow Incidence CoordinatorLow Incidence CoordinatorBldg. 6 Room 304Bldg. 6 Room 3041900 Kanawha Blvd. East1900 Kanawha Blvd. EastCharleston, WV 25305Charleston, WV 25305(304) 558-2696(304) 558-2696acarey@access.k12.wv.usacarey@access.k12.wv.us

Presentation PurposePresentation Purpose

The purpose of this presentation is to The purpose of this presentation is to share information about EI/ECSE share information about EI/ECSE collaborative child find / screening collaborative child find / screening activities in Nevada and West Virginia at activities in Nevada and West Virginia at the following levels:the following levels:• State level and statewide initiativesState level and statewide initiatives• District level activitiesDistrict level activities• Local or specific agency activitiesLocal or specific agency activities

Overview of NevadaOverview of Nevada

Total of 17 school districts statewideTotal of 17 school districts statewide• Nevada Department of EducationNevada Department of Education

Total of 3 early intervention agencies Total of 3 early intervention agencies statewide (North, South, Rural)statewide (North, South, Rural)• Nevada Department of Human Resources, Nevada Department of Human Resources,

Health Division, Bureau of EI ServicesHealth Division, Bureau of EI Services

Overview of NevadaOverview of Nevada

Much of the state is rural and remoteMuch of the state is rural and remote

Frequently long distances from one family Frequently long distances from one family to anotherto another

No teacher licensure in area of No teacher licensure in area of deafblindnessdeafblindness

Overview of West VirginiaOverview of West VirginiaTotal of 8 Regional Education Service Agencies Total of 8 Regional Education Service Agencies (RESA)(RESA)Total of 55 school districts (WVSDB is 56Total of 55 school districts (WVSDB is 56 thth))Part C completing its system redesignPart C completing its system redesign

• WV Department of Health and Human Resources, Office WV Department of Health and Human Resources, Office of Maternal Child and Family Healthof Maternal Child and Family Health

• Summer 2004: 8 Regional Administrative Units (single Summer 2004: 8 Regional Administrative Units (single point of entry, open vendor system for services)point of entry, open vendor system for services)

WVSDB operates statewide outreach B – 5WVSDB operates statewide outreach B – 5• INSITEINSITE• SKI*HISKI*HI

Overview of West VirginiaOverview of West VirginiaMuch of the state is rural and mountainous with Much of the state is rural and mountainous with only 3 % considered “flat”only 3 % considered “flat”Although close in distance, more travel time is Although close in distance, more travel time is often required due to the terrain often required due to the terrain No teacher licensure in area of deafblindnessNo teacher licensure in area of deafblindnessWV Department of Education, Office of Special WV Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Marshall College of Graduate Education and Marshall College of Graduate College has a collaborative agreement to support College has a collaborative agreement to support a personnel preparation program both Visual a personnel preparation program both Visual Impairments and Deaf/Hard of HearingImpairments and Deaf/Hard of Hearing

Overview: Activities Aimed at State Overview: Activities Aimed at State InitiativesInitiatives

Establish relationships with state-level Part Establish relationships with state-level Part C and Part B (ages 3-5) personnelC and Part B (ages 3-5) personnel

Active committee member on state-level Active committee member on state-level committeescommittees

Embed deafblind project into EI/ECSE Embed deafblind project into EI/ECSE initiativesinitiatives

Newborn hearing screening activitiesNewborn hearing screening activities

West Virginia: State InitiativesWest Virginia: State Initiatives

Established relationship between project Established relationship between project director and Part C CSPD coordinatordirector and Part C CSPD coordinator

Serve as “Sensory Consultant” for Part CServe as “Sensory Consultant” for Part C

Member of Part C workgroup for system Member of Part C workgroup for system redesignredesign

Member, WV Early Transition Steering Member, WV Early Transition Steering CommitteeCommittee (membership includes state (membership includes state representatives for all early childhood initiatives)representatives for all early childhood initiatives)

West Virginia: State InitiativesWest Virginia: State Initiatives

Member Newborn Hearing Screening Member Newborn Hearing Screening AdvisoryAdvisoryPart C Sponsors Deafblind ConferencePart C Sponsors Deafblind ConferenceChildren’s Vision Rehabilitation ProjectChildren’s Vision Rehabilitation Project

• Provides comprehensive visual access evaluations: Provides comprehensive visual access evaluations: Medical, Low Vision, OT, O & M, AT, & Educational Medical, Low Vision, OT, O & M, AT, & Educational

Coordination between Part C, SKI*HI, Coordination between Part C, SKI*HI, INSITEINSITE

• Census CoordinationCensus Coordination• Parent AdvisorsParent Advisors

West Virginia: State InitiativesWest Virginia: State Initiatives

Part C support of CVI Mentorship ProjectPart C support of CVI Mentorship Project

Annual Project presentation on sensory Annual Project presentation on sensory impairments and early communication:impairments and early communication:

• Gizmo (AT Camp Birth – 8)Gizmo (AT Camp Birth – 8)• Celebrating Connections (Early Childhood Conference 1,800)Celebrating Connections (Early Childhood Conference 1,800)• PATHs (Partners in Assistive Technology Conference)PATHs (Partners in Assistive Technology Conference)

Early Childhood Focus Committee for VI & Early Childhood Focus Committee for VI & D/HHD/HH

Nevada: State InitiativesNevada: State Initiatives

Established relationships with both Parts B Established relationships with both Parts B & C CSPD coordinators& C CSPD coordinatorsChair, Nevada’s Special Education Chair, Nevada’s Special Education Advisory CommitteeAdvisory CommitteeMember, Part C workgroup OSEP Member, Part C workgroup OSEP Continuous Improvement Monitoring Continuous Improvement Monitoring ProcessProcessMember, task force for passage of Member, task force for passage of newborn hearing screening lawnewborn hearing screening law

Nevada: State InitiativesNevada: State Initiatives

Project display and/or presentations on Project display and/or presentations on sensory impairments:sensory impairments:• Nevada Association for Education of Young Nevada Association for Education of Young

ChildrenChildren• Department of Education megaconferenceDepartment of Education megaconference• Annual speech pathologist / audiologist Annual speech pathologist / audiologist

conferenceconference

Co-sponsor of INSITE trainingCo-sponsor of INSITE trainingProject information and training on Project information and training on sensory impairments to Nevada’s PTIsensory impairments to Nevada’s PTI

Overview: School District Level Overview: School District Level ActivitiesActivities

Training initiativesTraining initiatives

Dissemination of technical assistance Dissemination of technical assistance documents and project informationdocuments and project information

Developing relationships with key Developing relationships with key personnel in school districtspersonnel in school districts

Available for TA for children with only one Available for TA for children with only one sensory impairmentsensory impairment

Nevada: District Level ActivitiesNevada: District Level Activities

Statewide screening project of students Statewide screening project of students identified as hearing impaired (included identified as hearing impaired (included preschoolers)preschoolers)

Dissemination of screening posters, Dissemination of screening posters, screening brochures, and project screening brochures, and project brochures to school district child find brochures to school district child find coordinatorscoordinators• Brochures in English and SpanishBrochures in English and Spanish

Nevada: District Level ActivitiesNevada: District Level Activities

Letters regarding project to districtLetters regarding project to district– School psychologistsSchool psychologists– School nurses & public health nursesSchool nurses & public health nurses– Tribal health clinicsTribal health clinics– Speech pathologists & audiologistsSpeech pathologists & audiologists– VI & HI teachersVI & HI teachers– Members of state AT consortiumMembers of state AT consortium

Relationships with key school district Relationships with key school district personnel: school nurse, administratorspersonnel: school nurse, administrators

Nevada: District Level ActivitiesNevada: District Level Activities

Attendance at special education Attendance at special education administrator meetingsadministrator meetingsCollaborative activities with state Assistive Collaborative activities with state Assistive Technology project:Technology project:• Mailings to all consortium membersMailings to all consortium members• Regular participation in consortium meetingsRegular participation in consortium meetings• Assist in providing training at consortium Assist in providing training at consortium

meetingsmeetings• Project overviews at consortium meetingsProject overviews at consortium meetings

Nevada: District Level ActivitiesNevada: District Level Activities

Provision of TA (e.g., telephone, print Provision of TA (e.g., telephone, print materials, videos) to districts upon request materials, videos) to districts upon request for children who are only VI or HI (NOT for children who are only VI or HI (NOT on-site TA)on-site TA)

West Virginia: DistrictWest Virginia: DistrictLevel ActivitiesLevel Activities

Compulsory pre-enrollment screening for Compulsory pre-enrollment screening for hearing, vision, and speech and languagehearing, vision, and speech and languageDissemination of fall “Welcome Letter” to EI, Dissemination of fall “Welcome Letter” to EI, Families, and TeachersFamilies, and Teachers (includes: project (includes: project brochure, needs assessment and resources such brochure, needs assessment and resources such as DB-LINK)as DB-LINK)

Coordination of TA through:Coordination of TA through:• Marshall University Graduate College personnel Marshall University Graduate College personnel

preparation programspreparation programsVI and D/HHVI and D/HH

• CVRPCVRP

West Virginia: DistrictWest Virginia: DistrictLevel ActivitiesLevel Activities

Low Incidence CoordinatorLow Incidence Coordinator• Database of all special education teachers by Database of all special education teachers by

area of assignment (2area of assignment (2ndnd month report) month report)• Attendance at special education administrator and Attendance at special education administrator and

leadership conferencesleadership conferences• Involved in monitor and compliance activitiesInvolved in monitor and compliance activities• Maintain relationship with teachers of vi and d/hhMaintain relationship with teachers of vi and d/hh• Provision of TAProvision of TA

Conference Coordinator: RESA VIIConference Coordinator: RESA VII

Overview: Other Local ActivitiesOverview: Other Local ActivitiesEI Agencies and Other AgenciesEI Agencies and Other Agencies

Training initiativesTraining initiatives

Dissemination of TA documentsDissemination of TA documents

Available for TA for children with only Available for TA for children with only one sensory impairmentone sensory impairment

Parent training activitiesParent training activities

Overview: Other Local ActivitiesOverview: Other Local ActivitiesEI Agencies and Other AgenciesEI Agencies and Other Agencies

Developing relationships with personnel at Developing relationships with personnel at early intervention agenciesearly intervention agencies

Attending EI agency staff meetingsAttending EI agency staff meetings

Committee membershipsCommittee memberships

West Virginia: Local InitiativesWest Virginia: Local InitiativesEI AgenciesEI Agencies

Presentation: Impact of Sensory Presentation: Impact of Sensory Impairment on Child Development and Impairment on Child Development and LearningLearningChild ConnectionChild Connection

• Agencies Agencies • Relocation of familiesRelocation of families

Available for TA for child with only a vision Available for TA for child with only a vision or hearing impairmentor hearing impairment• Phone TA if not deafblindPhone TA if not deafblind• Connecting to ResourcesConnecting to Resources

West Virginia: Local InitiativesWest Virginia: Local InitiativesOther AgenciesOther Agencies

FY 2005 FY 2005 BEST Training (birth – 3)BEST Training (birth – 3)• Part C, Parent Advisors and FamiliesPart C, Parent Advisors and Families• Part C is providing the fundingPart C is providing the funding

Series of trainings on various issues Series of trainings on various issues related to deafblindnessrelated to deafblindness

Developed relationship with EI providersDeveloped relationship with EI providers

Deafblind Project’s AT MentorDeafblind Project’s AT Mentor

West Virginia: Local InitiativesWest Virginia: Local InitiativesOther AgenciesOther Agencies

Disseminate project brochures and census Disseminate project brochures and census information to Regional Administrative information to Regional Administrative Units (RAUs)Units (RAUs)

Part C Trails Van and RAUsPart C Trails Van and RAUs• Information Resource PacketsInformation Resource Packets• Toys and ATToys and AT

Nevada: Local InitiativesNevada: Local InitiativesEI AgenciesEI Agencies

Series of trainings on various issues related to Series of trainings on various issues related to deafblindness for EI agency staffdeafblindness for EI agency staffDeveloped relationships at each EI agency with Developed relationships at each EI agency with development specialists with expertise in vision development specialists with expertise in vision or hearing impairmentsor hearing impairmentsAnnual project overview presentation to each EI Annual project overview presentation to each EI agencyagencyDissemination of screening posters, screening Dissemination of screening posters, screening brochures, and project brochures to agency brochures, and project brochures to agency directorsdirectors

Nevada: Local InitiativesNevada: Local InitiativesOther AgenciesOther Agencies

Member, Mental Health / Disabilities Member, Mental Health / Disabilities Advisory Committee for Head StartAdvisory Committee for Head Start

Training on sensory impairments for Head Training on sensory impairments for Head Start teachers and assistantsStart teachers and assistants

Project info to all Head Start agenciesProject info to all Head Start agencies

What Else Has Worked?What Else Has Worked?

Relationship of other job responsibilities to Relationship of other job responsibilities to child find and screening activities child find and screening activities

NevadaNevada

Information in teacher preparation classesInformation in teacher preparation classes• Intro coursesIntro courses• Various courses in severe disabilitiesVarious courses in severe disabilities

Collaboration with Audiology professor in Collaboration with Audiology professor in School of MedicineSchool of Medicine

West VirginiaWest Virginia

Two Cycles ago began system analysis Two Cycles ago began system analysis approach to:approach to:

• Increase child find Increase child find • Decrease age of identificationDecrease age of identification

On-going attempt to embed project’s On-going attempt to embed project’s activities in both the system and training activities in both the system and training initiatives of Part Cinitiatives of Part C

Today, few “stand alone”activitiesToday, few “stand alone”activities

West VirginiaWest Virginia

Not a stagnant approachNot a stagnant approach

Focus on all kids, birth – 21, who have Focus on all kids, birth – 21, who have sensory impairments (Low-incidence sensory impairments (Low-incidence coordinator)coordinator)

• Hosting VI seminars through Office of Special Hosting VI seminars through Office of Special Education, birth-3 providers invitedEducation, birth-3 providers invited

• Educational Interpreter Conference offered a Educational Interpreter Conference offered a pre-conference on language development for pre-conference on language development for Part C and SKI*HIPart C and SKI*HI

West VirginiaWest Virginia

Membership on select committeeMembership on select committee• WV Assistive TechnologyWV Assistive Technology• DD CouncilDD Council• Early ChildhoodEarly Childhood• WV Newborn Screening AdvisoryWV Newborn Screening Advisory• GizmoGizmo

Part C/ Deafblind Project’s relationship Part C/ Deafblind Project’s relationship has changed from cooperation to has changed from cooperation to coordination to collaborationcoordination to collaboration

West VirginiaWest VirginiaDuring the grant competition, WV was During the grant competition, WV was faced with an increasing child count, faced with an increasing child count, increased planned activities and a increased planned activities and a decrease in available funds. decrease in available funds. Part C increased there financial support Part C increased there financial support for many of our activities:for many of our activities:

• Summer InstituteSummer Institute• BEST TrainingBEST Training• Family WeekendFamily Weekend• CVI Mentorship Project CVI Mentorship Project

SummarySummary

Process that began 2 or 3 funding cycles Process that began 2 or 3 funding cycles agoago

Reaching as many people as possible in Reaching as many people as possible in all activities is an underlying philosophy / all activities is an underlying philosophy / practice for both projectspractice for both projects

On-going nature of many of our activitiesOn-going nature of many of our activities