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March, 2017

NCDB eNews

DB Summit discussion group.

 Network News

2017 Deaf-Blind Summit

It was good to see everyone in Austin earlier this month at the Deaf-Blind TA Network Summit! Our conversations, based on results from the national needs survey and focused on technical assistance approaches and processes, provided ideas for improving the work of projects and furthering collaboration. The discussions also resulted in many ideas that will improve the delivery of state TA!

For those of you who weren’t able to make it to Austin there will be an opportunity, in conversation with NCDB staff and other state projects, for a personal review of the two days of the meeting. We invite you to read through the conference presentation to get a sense of the structure of our two days together.

In the months ahead NCDB will follow up with a series of webinars to continue our national exploration of TA practices.  Announcements for those webinars will be posted in the State Portal on the NCDB website.  The webinars will include:

  • Results from the National Family Survey that was recently distributed to families across the nation.
  • Continued exploration of the four implementation phases covered in Implementing Evidence-Based Practices for Children Who are Deaf-Blind: TA Reference Guide.
  • Examples of collaboration from our Summit meeting, as well as opportunities to discuss additional in-state, cross state, and national collaborations.  An initial summary of those collaborations can be found towards the end of the conference presentation. 
  • Prioritization of next steps from Summit discussions about national needs. 

We want to express our sincerest thanks to our OSEP project officer, Jo Ann McCann, for joining us at Summit and for providing encouragement for the development of critical collaborative work across our Deaf-Blind TA Network to meet the needs of children and their families.  


Maurice, Jo Ann and Linda share a thought.

Summer Transition Institutes Race for the Dream

TWO transition institutes will be held this summer!  In June, the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind will host the Southeast Family Deaf-Blind Transition Institute: Race for the Dream...We are Limitless.  In July, Indiana State University will host the Midwest Transition Institute: Race for the Dream...Creating Opportunities for Tomorrow.  Both institutes represent collaborative efforts between more than 10 state deaf-blind projects and will bring together families, young adults, and service providers to explore issues of access and self-determination.  For a peek at what a transition institute looks like, check out Accessing the Dream

Toolbox icon  Tools for TA

EI&R Initiative Hosts National Webinar to Launch Part C Framework

In 2016 the Early Identification and Referral (EI&R) Initiative convened a work group of state deaf-blind project staff to look at intervention practices for Part C service providers and coordinators.  The group has curated a collection of resources and training materials based on developmental domains and DEC practices that state projects can use to provide customized training for Part C providers in their state.  The formal launch of this new product, The Sooner the Better: A Technical Assistance Framework Based on DEC Recommended Practices for Early Intervention Providers, will take place during a national webinar, Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 12 p.m. PST.  Watch for announcements in your mailbox.

Grief Support for Families

NCDB, the National Family Association for Deaf-Blind (NFADB), and state deaf-blind project personnel have been collecting grief resources for families related to child loss.  We invite you to take a look.  In addition, a new Parent and Guardian Grief Support Group will be offering a series of web-based meetings beginning in May and continuing for five consecutive months.  Enrollment is free. You can find complete information about the support group at this link

Calendar icon  Mark Your Calendars

Professional Development Webinar Series

In collaboration with several personnel prep program faculty members, NCDB has launched a series of national webinars to discuss recent research findings from the field of deaf-blindness. It is never too late to join in the discussion.  Check out the list of webinars here

 Website Tip

Did you know that you can make and share collections of bookmarked items, events, materials, and posts on the NCDB website? Visit the bookmark help section to learn more about this handy feature.

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The contents of this communication were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education #H326T130013. However, the contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the The Research Institute, nor the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project Officer, Jo Ann McCann.