CNMI Early Intervention Engages in Professional Development

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Early Childhood
On August 28 & 29, Elaine Eclavea (standing), Guam CEDDERS Early Childhood Consultant along with Keith Villaluna (not pictured), Guam CEDDERS Data Specialist facilitated professional development trainings for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Public School System IDEA Part C, Early Intervention Program staff in Saipan. The trainings focused on the CNMI Early Intervention Coaching Procedures called the LATTE, the Tiers of Intervention (TOI), and the Child Outcome Summary (COS) and Early Childhood Outcomes (ECO) data.

Guam State Rehabilitation (SRC) Outreach Committee Meet

by Guam CEDDERS Developmental Disabilities Guam Systems for Assistive Technology
On August 27, The Guam State Rehabilitation (SRC) Outreach Committee held their work session to discuss about the Customer Satisfaction Surveys that will be going out to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Clients. In attendance were: (Standing L-R) Lourdes Ann Mesa, SRC Chairperson; Leah Abelon, Outreach Committee Chairperson; Tim Murphy, Member; Seated (L-R) Brittney Cruz, Member; and Rodney Calimlim.

Guam System for Assistive Technology (GSAT) Client Demonstration

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Demonstration Services Guam Systems for Assistive Technology
On August 27, Shawni Acfalle (standing), Guam System for Assistive Technology (GSAT) Center Assistant demonstrates the first Braille and tactile smartwatch called the Dot Watch to Rodney Calimlim (seated), an individual who is blind. The smartwatch synchronizes to your smartphone and displays caller, text messages, appointments, or notifications from various apps on your smartphone. The Dot Watch is now available for demonstration and individuals can contact the GSAT Office at 735-2490 for an appointment.

GSAT and Guam EHDI attend Breastfeeding Awareness Month Fair

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Demonstration Services Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Guam Systems for Assistive Technology Information Dissemination
On August 24, 2019, Guam System for Assistive Technology (GSAT) participated in the 6th Annual Breast Feeding Awareness Fair at the Micronesia Mall Center Court. GSAT shared information on various assistive technology available to assist children with communication and limited fine and gross motor skills. (Pictured L-R) Shawni Acfalle, GSAT AT Center Assistant; and Leah Abelon, GSAT Program Coordinator.
On August 24, 2019, Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) and Guam Positive Parents Together (GPPT), participated in the 6th Annual Breastfeeding Awareness Fair at the Micronesia Mall Center Court. Guam EHDI and GPPT shared information about the importance of initial hearing screening for newborns and the parent support group available to assist families of children identified with a hearing loss. (Pictured L-R) Bernadine Reyes, Guam CEDDERS Office Assistant; fair participant, and Bobbie Afjelle, GPPT Support Staff.

Guam EHDI Advisory Council Held Annual Meeting

by Guam CEDDERS Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
On August 20, Guam EHDI Advisory Committee held its annual meeting at the Guam Lotte Hotel. Council members from Department of Public Health & Social Services (DPHSS), Guam Department of Education (GDOE), Guam’s Positive Parents Together (GPPT), Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH), parents and siblings of children identified with a hearing loss, and Guam EHDI staff discussed and collaborated on various issues to improve early hearing detection and intervention processes for young children in our community.

Guam Early Intervention System (GEIS) State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) and Professional Development Training

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Training Guam Department of Education Guam Early Intervention System

Elaine Eclavea, Guam CEDDERS Early Childhood Consultant, conducted the Guam Early Intervention System (GEIS) State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) and Professional Development Training to GEIS staff on August 16.  Service Providers and Service Coordinators participated in the full-day training which focused on the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Plans, Evidence-Based Practices, and Early Childhood Coaching.

Guam CEDDERS Early Childhood Consultant Elaine Eclavea (standing) interacts with the GEIS service coordinators and providers during the Early Childhood Coaching portion of the training.

GDOE’s Continuous Improvement Road Map for Improving Reading Achievement

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Training Continuing Education Guam Department of Education
Chief Brodie Memorial Elementary School 1st grade teachers practice administering the aimswebPlus Early Literacy measures.
Capt. H.B. Price Elementary, 1st grade teacher and aimswebPlus trainer, Leilani Mesa (standing) assists participants in using the aimswebPlus assessment system.
(L-R) First grade teachers from M.U. Lujan Elementary, Bertha Torres and Ursula Umadhay, observe fellow colleagues as they practice administering the aimwebPlus.
J.M. Guerrero kindergarten teacher and aimswebPlus trainer Kasuandra Penaflor (standing) guides participants as they practice navigating the aimswebPlus online portal.

GSAT and Guam EHDI attend the Guam Federation of Teachers Fair

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Demonstration Services Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Guam Systems for Assistive Technology Information Dissemination
August 10, 2019: Leah Abelon, GSAT Center Coordinator, and Tanya Simer, Guam CEDDERS Research Associate, demonstrate the features of the various Assistive Technology devices to Mara Wusstig, Teacher at the Guam Department of Education, during the Annual Guam Federation of Teachers’ Health Fair at the Guam Premier Outlets.
August 10, 2019: Jenika Ballesta, Guam CEDDERS, Research Associate and Tanya Simer, Guam CEDDERS, Research Associate, provided information about the importance of newborn hearing screening, developmental milestones and other resources for persons with disabilities to a parent during the Guam Federation of Teachers’ the 6th Annual Health Fair at the Guam Premium Outlet. Not pictured Bobbie Afjelle, Guam Positive Parents Together Inc. (GPPT) Project Fitme Support Staff provided information on the parent support group available for families of children identified with a hearing loss.

First Group of Educating Pacific Island Clinicians in Speech (EPICS) Scholars Complete Externship in San José, CA

by Guam CEDDERS EPICS Interdisciplinary Pre-Service Preparation

August 3, 2019: As part of the requirements in their graduate program in speech language pathology at San José State University, nine Guam-based EPICS scholars completed their externship at various sites in the San José, California area. The second cohort of 10 scholars will be placed in an externship in the same area next summer.

EPICS Scholars John Payne, Lilly Reyes, and Lisa Eclavea were placed at the Learn Speech Therapy Clinic in Gilroy, California. Shown with their Externship Supervisors are (L-R): John Payne; Lily Reyes; Dawn Hansen, CCC-SLP; Lisa Eclavea; and Lynzy Melzer, CCC-SLP.
Asha Advani, EPICS Scholars recently completed her externship at the Rite Care Childhood Language Center in San José, California as part of the Educating Pacific Island Clinicians in Speech (EPICS) Project requirements. Shown in this photo are (L-R): Rachel Sense, CCC-SLP and Karen Wong, CCC-SLP, Externship Practicum Supervisors, and Asha Advani.
Cassandra Dimla, EPICS Scholar, (right) completed her externship at the Integrated Intervention for Children with Autism Clinic in San José, CA. At right is Tayler Kina, CCC-SLP, her Externship Supervisor.
Aileen Serrano, EPICS Scholars, (Left) is shown here with
Uduak Osom, CCC-SLP, her Externship Supervisor at the Innovative Therapy Services Clinic in Santa Clara, CA.

Not shown:  Christina Coles, EPICS Scholar and Externship Supervisor Nadia Naval, CCC-SLP at the Innovative Therapy Services Clinic and Dianne Supida, EPCIS Scholar and Nikki Sedaghat, CCC-SLP, her Externship Supervisor at Integrated Intervention for Children with Autism Clinic.

Guam EHDI Met with GPPT on Future Training Activities

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Guam Early Hearing Detection & Intervention
On August 2, Guam’s Positive Parents Together (GPPT) Board President Ann Marie Cruz (left) and GPPT Parent Mentor Evelyn Topasna (right) met with Marie Wusstig (center), Guam CEDDERS Training Associate, to discuss the facilitation of training opportunities for families to develop their self-advocacy skills, the recruitment of potential deaf mentors, planning for The CARE Project Family Retreat, and social activities for families of children identified with a hearing loss.