DOE Vision Instruction Program Staff Participate in Webinar Session

November 16, 2018: Donna McNear, Consultant for the Guam Department of Education, Division of Special Education, Vision Instruction Program (on screen) facilitated another webinar in a series focused on providing supports to students with visual impairment. Attending this session were (L-R): Pat Mantanona, Program Coordinator for the Guam Early Intervention Program; Diane Artero, Vision Instruction Program (VIP) Teacher; Darlene Taimanglo VIP Teacher; and Tricia Taitague, Part B VI Program Coordinator.

Visual Impairment Supports Webinar Held August 28

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Guam Department of Education Vision Impairment

Guam CEDDERS facilitated a webinar on August 28 conducted by Donna McNear, M.Ed., Vision Impairment (VI) Consultant, for Guam Department of Education, Division of Special Education VI Program personnel. Attending the two-hour webinar were (L-R): Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS; Donna McNear (on screen); Darlene Taimanglo, Part B & C VI Technical Assistance (TA) Provider; Diane Artero, Part B VI TA Provider; and Tricia Taitague, VI Program Coordinator.

Vision Instruction Consultant Meets with Parents of Children with Visual Impairments

by Guam CEDDERS Vision Impairment

VI Consultant standing left while speaking with parents sitting in a classroom. — Donna McNear, Vision Instruction Consultant (standing), met with parents of children with visual impairments on August 31 at Chief Brodie Memorial Elementary School. Also attending were Special Education vision instruction staff.

Webinar Held with GDOE VI Staff

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Technical Assistance Community Services: Training Vision Impairment

Group seated at conference table. — Guam CEDDERS facilitated a webinar presented by Donna McNear, Vision Instruction Consultant (shown on screen) for the Guam Department of Education, Division of Special Education’s Vision Instruction (VI) Program. Topics discussed included the implementation of Unified English Braille (UEB) and assistive technology for students who are blind. Also discussed was Donna’s upcoming on-site visit in January 2016. Attending the webinar were (starting left, clockwise) Paula Ulloa, VI School Program Consultant; Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS; Darlene Taimanglo, VI teacher; Diane Artero, VI Teacher; and Judy Quinata, Braille transcriber. This activity was supported through a contract between Guam CEDDERS and the Guam DOE, Division of Special Education.

AT Demo Conducted

by Guam CEDDERS Community Services: Demonstration Services Guam Systems for Assistive Technology Information Dissemination Pacific VIP Self-Advocacy Vision Impairment

Three individuals seated around conference table with AT device on table. — Carla Torres (left), GSAT Program Coordinator, and Roy Rosario (far right), GSAT Advisory Council member, provided Maria Pineda (center) a demonstration of the Eye-Pal ROL portable scanner and reader. Roy shared his positive experiences with the Eye-Pal ROL and the various ways he uses it to access printed materials and maintain independence in his life.

Sigalu Epenesa (Left) and Amy Epati, (Right) met with June De Leon (Center), Guam CEDDERS Associate Director and Project Director for the Pacific Vision Instruction Project (Pacific VIP) on August 5 to discuss final activities of the project. The Pacific VIP is a personnel preparation grant, in partnership with the University of Massachusetts-Boston.
(L-R) Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director; Sigalu Epenesa, Pacific VIP Scholar; Paolo Salavea, American Samoa Special Education Interim Coordinator; Amy Epati, Pacific VIP Scholar, and June De Leon, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director, met on August 5 to finalize steps for completing activities of the project.

Pacific VIP Scholars Complete Final Activities

by Guam CEDDERS Interdisciplinary Pre-Service Preparation Pacific VIP Vision Impairment

Pacific VIP Reps Meet with Agencies During Chuuk Site Visit

by Guam CEDDERS Interdisciplinary Pre-Service Preparation Pacific VIP Vision Impairment

Eight individuals seated around table. — A meeting was held on August 19, attended by representatives of Chuuk State Special Education and Chuuk Department of Public Health, to discuss collaborative activities related to vision impairments in Chuuk. Attending the meeting were (Clockwise starting at bottom left) : Ansina Kony, Special Education Coordinator; Donna McNear, UMASS-Boston Vision Instruction Project Adjunct Faculty; Callie Brusegaard (partially hidden), UMASS Boston doctoral student; Cathy Mori, Chuuk Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Project Coordinator; Chelsea Mori, VIP Scholar and Chuuk State VI Instructor; Awreen Paul, Department of Public Health; Dr. Anamarie Yomai, Public Health Physician; and Jason Reiong, VIP Scholar and Chuuk High School Principal. Not shown: Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director.

Pohnpei State Vision Instruction Program Receives Donated Braille Books

by Guam CEDDERS Early Childhood Information Dissemination Pacific VIP Vision Impairment

Four individuals standing holding braille children's books. — The Pohnpei State Department of Education, Special Education Program, received a contribution of braille books for young children through the donation of Sheila Amato and her volunteers from West Virginia. This donation was made through the networking contact of Donna McNear, Pacific Vision Instruction Project (Pacific VIP) Consultant and UMASS-Boston adjunct instructor. Pictured receiving the books on August 21, are: (L-R) Roddy Robert, Vision Instruction Teacher; Karlina Henry, Special Education Coordinator; Joseph Villazon, Director of Education; and Johnatan Zared, Pakein Elementary School Principal. Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director, delivered the books during her Pacific VIP site visit to Pohnpei.

Jennifer Shoniber, Pacific VIP Pohnpei Scholar, conducts a lesson during her practiucm observation while Mary Dean, UMASS Boston Practicum Supervisor, watches. Lilly Abraham and Florina Esiel observe in the background along with the studentâ€™s grandmother.
Florina Esiel (left), Pacific VIP Pohnpei Scholar, conducts an introduction to Braille lesson with a kindergarten student with the assistance of Mary Dean, UMASS Boston Practicum Supervisor, on April 24.
Florina Esiel encourages her young student to practice using a Braille writer while being observed by Mary Dean.
Pacific VIP Chuuk Scholars prepare for the 30-minute boat ride to Tonoas where Jason Reiong, was scheduled to demonstrate a lesson to be observed by Mary Dean, UMASS Boston Practicum Supervisor, on April 28. (L-R) Jason Reiong, Marybeth Dean, Chelsea Mori Phillip, Mekoishy William.
Jason Reiong, Pacific VIP Chuuk Scholar has no problems keeping his student on the lesson during an on-site practicum observation conducted by Marybeth Dean, UMASS Boston Practicum Supervisor. Mekioshy William, Pacific VIP Chuuk Scholar observes in the background.
Mekioshy William, Pacific VIP Chuuk Scholar conducts a lesson with his student on the island of Pata, in the Chuuk lagoon on April 29.
Lilly Abraham, Pacific VIP Pohnpei Scholar, works with one of her students during a practicum observation session on April 25.
(L-R): Arthur Albert, FSM National Government Special Education Director; Marybeth Dean, UMASS Boston Practicum Supervisor; and Carlina Henry, Pohnpei State Special Education Coordinator, discuss the activities that occurred during Ms. Deanâ€™s on-site visit at an exit meeting in Pohnpei on April 25.
Pacific VIP Chuuk Scholars attend a debrief meeting at the end of the Chuuk Practicum On-Site Visit on May 1. (L-R): Jason Reiong, Scholar; Marybeth Dean, UMASS Boston Practicum Supervisor; Ansina Kony, Special Education Coordinator, Chuuk DOE; Chelsea Mori Phillip, Scholar; Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS; and Mekioshy William, Scholar.

Pacific VIP Scholars Complete Final Practicum Observation

by Guam CEDDERS Pacific VIP Vision Impairment