 Network News
OHOA Module Users Group
The OHOA Module Users Group (MUG) is a community of practice comprised of state deaf-blind project personnel and university faculty who use the OHOA (Open Hands, Open Access) Deaf-Blind Intervener Learning Modules to provide training and professional development. Although the modules were designed for intervener training, members of this group have found they are also ideal for training educators, other service providers, and families. Via monthly online meetings and participation in a private group space on the NCDB website, members learn from each other as they share strategies, resources, and expertise developed while hosting modules within their states. Current hot topics for this group include:
- Identifying the best ways to collect evaluation data
- Providing options for professionals to obtain CEUs or college credit
- Intervener training models
- Increasing participant engagement and completion
The OHOA MUG group is a key activity of NCDB’s Interveners and Qualified Personnel Initiative. For more information, contact Julie Durando.
National Task Force on Services for Young Adults with Additional Disabilities
One of the biggest challenges for the deaf-blind network is to improve post-school outcomes for youth who are deaf-blind. Although there have been modest improvements in some areas, many youth still face obstacles that adversely impact where they live and work and they often lack opportunities to expand their social circles. For young adults with additional disabilities these obstacles are more pronounced.
NCDB has established a national task force comprised of state deaf-blind projects, national and state adult service organizations, and families to:
- Conduct a national needs assessment to ascertain resources and areas of strength and weakness in state developmental disabilities service delivery systems related to employment, independent living, and recreation.
- Develop a set of recommendations to guide collaborative work that will address identified needs.
- Identify strategies to rally stakeholders and partners to become involved in collaborative efforts to improve services.
2017 Southeast Transition Institute
On June 22 through June 25, the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind hosted the 15th transition institute for young adults. The theme “Racing for the Dream” was fitting for the ten young adults and their families who participated in interactive presentations, action planning, and social networking. Perhaps the highlight for the young adults was the experience of visiting the famous Talladega Speedway where they rode in a race car going 135 mph!
The attendance of the young adults and their families was sponsored by multiple deaf-blind projects in the southeast region. The institute also welcomed an attendee and her family from Puerto Rico. All left with individual action plans for the upcoming school year to help them prepare them for college, careers, and community living.
 Tools for TA
NCDB has a new Families Matter Story!
In our newest Families Matter story, you will learn about the experiences of Ava Bullis, a fifth grader with Usher syndrome type 1, as she transitions to a new school. In a series of videos, Ava's family, administrators, teachers, friends, and Ava herself share their experiences and the steps they took to ensure a successful transition. This resource should be of great value not only to families, but also to educators welcoming a new student with deaf-blindness to their school.
Peer-to-Peer Support for Early Intervention Training
In April, NCDB hosted an online tour of a new product: The Sooner the Better: A Framework for Training Early Intervention Practitioners on Deaf-Blindness. The framework is a collection of training resources (e.g., slide presentations, videos, handouts) that state deaf-blind projects can use to support early intervention efforts for parents and service providers. This September, twelve state deaf-blind projects will begin to meet monthly to discuss ways to package information in the framework to meet unique needs in their states. As the groups meet, we look forward to sharing their insights with the broader network.
 Mark Your Calendars
NCDB Webinar Series Continues
July 12, 2017 - National Family Needs Assessment Results
Megan Cote from NCDB will provide a summary of a national needs assessment survey of families of children with deaf-blindness conducted by NCDB and NFADB.
September 20, 2017 - A Parent's Story
Myrna Medina, Family Engagement Specialist at California Deaf-Blind Services, will share her family’s story of the life of her son Norman.
DB Summit 2018
The Deaf-Blind TA Network will hold a meeting for NCDB and state deaf-blind project personnel on April 14 and 15 (Saturday and a half day Sunday), 2018. The meeting will be held in conjunction with the Deafblind International Network of the Americas Conference, which begins the afternoon of April 15 in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Presentation proposals for the conference are due June 30.
 Website Tip
NCDB webinar information is now located on the lower left side of our home page, below the map of the United States. It includes information about upcoming and previous (recorded) webinars. As always, you can still find webinar information by selecting the "Webinars" link under "Events & Training" on the site's main menu bar.
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