ADA Workshop Addresses Accessibility

by Guam CEDDERS Developmental Disabilities Guam Systems for Assistive Technology
On July 27, 2018, Leah Abelon, Guam System for Assistive Technology Center Coordinator, presented an interactive workshop entitled “Creating Accessible Office Documents and Using Windows Ease of Access at the Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities (DISID) Computer Lab. Participants included staff from DISID, Public Defender Service Corporation, and AmeriCorps. The workshop highlighted topics on visibility, audibility, and mobility. The workshop also focused on ensuring that documents are structured correctly for individuals with disabilities to be able to access them.
Participants were given the opportunity to explore the accessibility settings using the the exercise materials provided.

GSAT Advisory Council General Membership Meeting Held

by Guam CEDDERS Developmental Disabilities Guam Systems for Assistive Technology
On July 24, 2018, the GSAT Advisory Council held their General Membership Meeting at the GSAT Conference Room. Topics included the progress of GSAT’s State Level and Leadership Activities, Assistive Technology purchases, and a report on the recently concluded Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America (RESNA) Conference. In attendance were, (pictured from left, clockwise) Evelyn Duenas, Vice – Chairperson; Benito Servino, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) Representative; Crystal Koch and Noemi Sanchez, Guam Legal Services – Disability Law Center (GLSC-DLC) Representatives; Raymond Sayas, Guam Developmental Disabilities Council (GDDC) Representative; Barbara Johnson, Secretary; Lourdes Ann Mesa, Chairperson. Present but not in the photo: Leah Abelon, GSAT Center Coordinator and Ivan Babauta, ASL Interpreter.

Guam EHDI Project Fitme/GPPT Deaf/Hard of Hearing Parent Support Coordinator Attends Community Outreach Event

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Uncategorized
Susan R. Dugan, Guam EHDI Project Fitme Project Coordinator with Guam Positive Parents Together, Inc. (GPPT), participated in the Power of Play Community Outreach at the Hemlani Apartments on July 27. Ms . Dugan shared information on the Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (Guam EHDI) Project with the residents of this community, and more specifically, information about the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Parent Support Group.

EPICS Summer On-site Courses Focus on Language Assessment and Research

by Guam CEDDERS EPICS Interdisciplinary Pre-Service Preparation

On-site summer courses for the Educating Pacific Island Clinicians in Speech Pathology (EPICS) Project began on July 23 and will go until August 3.  Dr. Carol Zepecki, CCC-SLP, faculty from San Jose State University, is the instructor for the two classes, EDSP 221- Research Methods and EDSP 276 – Clinical Practicum Assessments.

EPICS is a collaborative project between San Jose State University and Guam CEDDERS which brings SJSU’s graduate program in Speech Pathology to our region.  There are currently 16 scholars from Guam and 3 scholars from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands enrolled in the program.

EPICS scholar Camille Gonzales takes the lead in facilitating this language assessment session on July 25.

Scholar Lily Reyes (left) records data while Camille Gonzales (center) leads the session.

Kariñu Holds Peer Family Support Group Meeting

by Guam CEDDERS Project Kariñu
Karinu staff and parents pose for a photo after the Peer Family Support Group meeting on July 17, 2018 at the Pacific Star Resort and Spa.
Pauline Camacho, Karinu Lead Family Partner, assists Jamie Freitas, parent, as she demonstrates how to make Spam Musubi to parents who attended the Peer Family Support Group on July 17, 2018.
Children who attended Karinu’s Peer Family Support Group on July 17, 2018 enthusiastically raise their hands to answer questions about good touch and bad touch during a presentation by Healing Heart and the Department of Public Health and Social Services Bureau of Social Services Administration.
Parents take turns introducing each other at the start of the Karinu Peer Family Support Group on July 17, 2018.

Guam Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) Orientation and Strategic Planning

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Demonstration Services
Elaine Eclavea, Guam CEDDERS Early Childhood (EC) Consultant reviews the Agenda and contents of the Guam Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) Orientation & Strategic Planning event held at the Dusit Thani Guam on July 17, 2018.
Elaine Eclavea, EC Consultant, discusses the Elements of Interaction before the afternoon group activities.
Keith Villaluna, Guam CEDDERS Data Specialist, and Elaine Eclavea, EC Consultant, gather input from the ICC members during the Guam ICC Orientation & Strategic Planning event held on July 17, 2018.

Guam CEDDERS Training Associate Met with Guam Memorial Hospital Authority Nursing Supervisors About the Hearing Screening Compliance Survey

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Continuing Education Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
L – R:  On July 11, 2018, Marie Wusstig, Guam CEDDERS Training Associate met with Guam Memorial Hospital Authority (GMHA) nursing supervisors, Avelina “Bing” Opena, RN, NICU supervisor and Ma. Victoria “Marivic” Guiao, RN, OB Ward supervisor to review results and recommendations of the Hearing Screening Compliance Survey. Supervisors provided additional input for the training objectives for the upcoming “Hearing Screening Protocol and Equipment Training”, scheduled for July 16 – 17, 2018, which will be facilitated by, Renee L.G. Koffend, AuD, CCC-A, Guam EHDI Audiologist Consultant.

Guam Positive Parent Together Inc (GPPT), Project Fitme Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HH) Parent Support Group Training

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
On July 14, 2018, the Guam’s Positive Parents Together Inc (GPPT), Project Fitme Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HH) Parent Support Group coordinated a training and learning session for families to learn more about hearing loss, audiological evaluations, types of hearing aids and hearing aid maintenance. The session was conducted at Guam Hearing Doctors by Renee L.G. Koffend, AuD., CCC-A. Dr. Koffend (far right) demonstrates one of the many tests conducted determine if an individual has some form of hearing loss on Liam Cruz (middle), son of Jay-Lynn Mendiola (far left).
On July 14, 2018, Guam’s Positive Parents Together Inc. (GPPT), Project Fitme Parent Support Group Members, are pictured with Dr. Renee L.G. Koffend, who conducted a training and learning session on hearing loss, audiological evaluations, types of hearing aids and hearing aid maintenance. Pictured from left to right is Renee L.G. Koffend, AuD, CCC-A; Evelyn and Gatbo Topasna; Jay-Lynn Mendiola and Liam Cruz; Trisha and Caleb Suzuki; and Susan R. Dugan, GPPT Project Fitme Project Coordinator.

GSAT Advisory Council Executive Committee Conducts Meeting

by Guam CEDDERS Developmental Disabilities Guam Systems for Assistive Technology
On July 10, 2018, the GSAT Advisory Council Executive Committee met to develop and approve the agenda for the upcoming GSAT Advisory Council General Membership Meeting. (Pictured from left, clockwise) Dawn Maka, Member-at-Large; Lourdes Ann Mesa, Chairperson; Kirstin Rosario, ASL Interpreter; Evelyn Duenas, Vice-Chairperson, Josephine Cortez, Member-at-Large; and Barbara Johnson, Secretary; B Lou Mesa, Chairperson; Leah Abelon, GSAT Center Coordinator; Evangelis Babauta (standing), ASL Interpreter; Evelyn Duenas, Vice Chairperson; and Josephine Cortez, Member at Large.

Guam CEDDERS provided the “Pripåra Hao Emergency Preparedness Checklist and Guidebook for Persons with Disabilities” to the Guam Developmental Disabilities Council Program Coordinator

by Guam CEDDERS Continuing Education Developmental Disabilities Information Dissemination
Jenika Ballesta, Research Associate, presented copies of the “Pripåra Hao Emergency Preparedness Checklist and Guidebook for Persons with Disabilities” to Marie Libria, Guam Developmental Disabilities Council Program Coordinator. Ms. Libria will share these products during the 2018 AIDD Technical Assistance Institute, 2018 NACDD Annual Conference and related meetings, and during the “Emergency Preparedness: What Can Councils Do?” panel featuring FEMA, Alabama DD Council, and Guam DD Council.