Page 1 I Tellai The Bridge Guam CEDDERS Newsletter Volume 10, Number 2 March 7, 2008 Inside this issue: Page CIMAP Holds Meeting 1 CIMAP Snapshots 2 GSEG: PAC6 #2 3 & 4 DD Awareness Proclamation 5 Tri-Agency Heads on Radio Tinituhon Consultant Parent Info Center Opens SOC Conf. Announcement 7 Model Child Care Center Staff Training Center ADA Assessments 8 Family Child Caregiver Training 9 Project Menhalom Updates 10 Menhalom cont.GPSS Parent/Family Survey 11 GSAT & Tri-Agency Conferences 12 Håtsa Highlights 13 Transit Driver Training 14 Project GATE Delivers Maps 15 Reader Survey Calendar of Events 16 CIMAP Holds Leadership Team Meeting The Pacific Consortium for Instructional Materials Accessibility Project (CIMAP) held its first face-to-face meeting with key partners on February 19-21 at the University of Guam. The purpose of the meeting was to bring together leadership teams comprised of Special Education Directors and Curriculum Chiefs from the Pacific Basin entities of American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mari-ana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. With project consultants, the leadership teams addressed their technical assistance needs for improving their system to provide timely educational materials in appropriate accessible formats for students with print disabilities. Chuck Hitchcock from the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standards (NIMAS) Technical Assistance Center, presented on NIMAS/NIMAC. Brand new in the 2004 IDEA Reauthorization, NIMAS is designed to maximize access to the general education curriculum for students who are blind or have other print disabilities through the timely provision of accessible instructional materials created from NIMAS source files. NIMAS addresses the provision of textbooks for students in grades K-12 who are blind or have print disabilities. In order to do this, textbook publishers have agreed to provide a requesting agency, i.e., state education agencies and local school districts, with electronic disks (formatted according to NIMAS) of all new books for their translation into braille, large print, etc. NIMAC, the National Instructional Materials Access Center, stores all disks and digital formats. Jim Fruchterman, CEO of Bookshare.org, and president and CEO of Benetech, demonstrated how students with print disabilities can access Bookshare.org to download literacy materials such as Grandma’s Love by Dottie Winterlee. Downloads are available in English as well as in Chamorro for both print and audio forms. Jim walked special educators, curriculum leaders, and assistive technology specialists through the steps to use Bookshare.org. All nine participating island entities registered with Bookshare.org to access thousands of literacy materials at the click of a mouse. Based on her many years of working with children from the region, Donna McNear, consultant on vision impairments and initial instigator of the project, focused on the students to be assisted. Marcelene Santos, J.D., presented on her extensive research of copyright law and how it impacts policy. Pacific CIMAP staff Mike Terlaje, CIMAP Coordinator, JJ Mendiola, Data Coordinator, Mary Kidd, Training Associate, and Connie Guerrero, Training Associate for Services and Policies, presented the results and implications of the needs assessment conducted between October 2007 and January 2008 on the “common and unique needs” of each of the entities in their effort to provide accessible materials for children with print disabilities. A lengthy discussion ensued on the use of equipment and software for creating accessible formats and contractual language for the textbook procurement process. As a summary, Michael Sharpe, Ph.D., External Project Evaluator, highlighted the evaluation design based on the proposal and priorities of the grant competition. After the presentations and conversations, each leadership team drafted action steps to address policy, procedural, and implementation needs for improving their system to provide timely educational materials in accessible formats for students with print disabilities. The Guam CEDDERS CIMAP staff will conduct follow up activities with each leadership team to ensure that technical support is provided to meet their Action Steps. Photos with caption: Regional leaders who attended the CIMAP meeting included: (Sitting L-R) Ary Kumos, Chuuk (FSM) SpEd Coordinator; Judy Gapey, Yap (FSM) SpEd Coordinator; Helen Sengebau, Palau Acting SpEd Coordinator; Suzanne Lizama, CNMI Acting SpEd Coordinator; Katrina Celes Pieper, Guam Associate Superintendent, SpEd. (Standing, L-R) Mike Terlaje, Guam CEDDERS Pacific CIMAP Coordinator; Mitch Ioanis, FSM National Early Childhood SpEd Coordinator; Henry Phillip, Pohnpei (FSM) SpEd Coordinator; Ruthiran Lokeijak, Marshall Islands SpEd Director; Marbe Martin, Kosrae (FSM) SpEd Coordinator, Moe Vaatausili, American Samoa SpEd Director; Burnis Danis, FSM National Curriculum Chief; June De Leon, Guam CEDDERS Pacific CIMAP Director. (L-R) Michael Burdge, Consultant from ILSSA, Sheryl Lazarus, NCEO, Jean Clayton, Consultant from ILSSA, June De Leon, PAC6 Project Director, Guam CEDDERS, Caroline MaGee, WRRC, June Quitugua, PAC6 Project Coordinator from Guam CEDDERS, & Dan Robertson, UOG Project Evaluator. Page 2 CIMAP Snapshots (Collage of photos) (1) American Samoa’s Donna and Moe smile as Jim demonstrates a Chamorro Accessible Book—Not quite there, but a GREAT start-even Jim is smiling as Guam’s Katrina (2) attempts to follow along!! (3) Jim, Mike, Donna, and June respond to questions the morning of Day Two. These questions, along with “facts and highlights” from Day One, were compiled at the end of Day One to share the morning of Day Two (4). Presenters & Teams: RMI and Palau Teams (5), Donna (6), Connie (7), June (8), Jim (9), Marcy (10), and Chuck (11). (Not Shown: Mike Sharpe presenting on Project Evaluation) Page 3 and 4 Creating Supports In the Region GSEG II: Regional Assessment Institute #2 “The PAC6 Recipe for Success” The University of Guam’s Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (Guam CEDDERS) Pacific Assessment Consortium (PAC6) Implementation projects held their second regional assessment institute in Koror, Palau during the week of January 7-11, 2008, with 90 participants in attendance from American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Guam, the Marshall Islands, and Palau. The goal of the PAC6 Recipe for Success institute was to work with the jurisdictions to improve the capacity to accurately report on the performance and participation of students with disabilities in each entity’s assessment system, which brought Michael Burdge and Jean Clayton from the University of Kentucky’s Inclusive Large Scale and Standards Assessment (ILSSA) project back to the region for the third time. Also joining Mike and Jean was Dr. Sheryl Lazarus, Research Associate from the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO), whose expertise in implementing and monitoring effective, appropriate accommodations for general assessments added to the development of accommodations policy and guidelines for each of the jurisdictions. Guam CEDDERS’ June De Leon, Project Director, and June Quitugua, Assessment Coordinator, facilitated the overall institute, ensuring that the content and process met the collective and unique technical assistance needs of the Pacific Basin entities. Caroline MaGee, Research Assistant from the Western Regional Resource Center (WRRC), provided support and will also partner with June Quitugua in conducting the follow-up technical support to each entity to ensure the implementation of critical system changes in the area of assessments, inclusive of students with disabilities. The weeklong conference started on Monday at the beautiful Ngarachamayong Cultural Center in Koror, with individual jurisdiction team meetings reporting on the status of their activities since the July 2007 Pohnpei Assessment Institute and the Fall on-site TA visits. Jurisdiction Leadership Assessment Teams also reported on their progress to date on the development of their accommodations policy and guidelines, as well as the implementation of their Alternate Assessment based on Alternate Achievement Standards (AA-AAS) for SY 2007-2008. Tuesday through Friday brought the teams together to continue receiving the “added ingredients” to complete the recipe for success! Each jurisdiction’s liaison was identified as the “Executive Chef” for their entity, making them responsible for ensuring their team had all the ingredients for the recipe for success. The various “ingredients” included accommodations and best practices, participation guidelines, development of alternate achievement standards (AAS), scoring and rubrics, data collection, data analysis, and data reporting. Each jurisdiction’s recipe was unique, dependent upon the “spices” used for seasoning. As a result of participation in the Regional Assessment Institute #2, participants now have a greater understanding of the technical qualities for each component of an inclusive assessment system to include: (bulleted list) *Revisions to the current assessment accommodation guidelines that reflect research-based knowledge and best practices. * Guidelines for developing and implementing alternate assessments based on alternate achievement standards that clearly articulate linkage of alternate achievement standards with grade-level content standards. * Input to the design of an evaluation toolkit for the implementation of developed products to improve each jurisdiction’s capacity to accurately report assessment accommodation data. * Guidance for reporting 2006-2007 progress data on the participation and performance data for students with disabilities, including students with significant cognitive disabilities who participated in the pilot implementation of the alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards in Spring 2007. Guam CEDDERS would like to extend a sincere appreciation to the Republic of Palau (ROP) PAC6 Leadership Assessment Team and Special Education staff for their warm hospitality, hard work, and overwhelming support in making the Institute a success. With the leadership of Minister of Education, Mario Katosang: Director of Education Emery Wenty; Acting Special Education Coordinator Helen Sengebau; Assessment Chief Raynold Mechol; and Curriculum and Instruction Chief Debbie Tkel-Sbal, the efficient local logistical support provided favorable settings for focused work by each entity. The overall feedback was that the intensive week resulted in participants sharing unique entity cooking recipes, and of course, entity teams leaving with entity-specific assessment “recipes” for successfully including students with disabilities in an inclusive accountability system! Photos with captions: The PAC6 “Executive Chefs” kept the fires hot and were “cooking” up a storm during the Palau Institute. Heads of the Pacific entity teams included (L-R) Mitchon Ionais, FSM, Michelle Cerizo, Guam, Moe Vaatausili, American Samoa, Helen Sengebau, Palau, Ruthiran Lokeijak, Marshall Islands, and Suzanne Lizama, CNMI. The Guam CEDDERS PAC6 Team donned their “official” uniforms during the closing dinner for the Palau Institute. (L-R) June Quitugua, Assessment Coordinator, Jef Limtiaco, Grant Assistant, June De Leon, Project Director, Jonas Macapinlac, Media Specialist, & Celine Carbullido, Project Evaluator. (L-R) Guam team members, Bing Santos, Arnell Medler, Michelle Cerizo, Evangeline Iglesias. June Quitugua, Guam CEDDERS PAC6 Assessment Coordinator and Krystal Perez, Office Technician, (standing) assists the FSM team during a break out session at the beginning of the Palau Institute. (L-R) Mike Caldwell, Mekioshy William, Burnis Danis, and Karlina Henry. Rudy Lokeijak, RMI Special Education Director and “Executive Chef” (seated center, with hat), reviews Institute materials with team members, while Jean Clayton and Mike Burdge stand (L-R) ready to provide additional technical support. Page 5 Contained continued articles for Regional Assessment Institute #2 on Page 3 and the CIMAP Meeting on Page 1 which we did not separate in the text format. Page 6 Governor Proclaims March As Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month Acting Governor Michael W. Cruz, M.D., proclaimed March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month during a proclamation signing held at the Governor’s Complex in Adelup on March 3. As stated in the Proclamation, “this year’s theme, ‘Success! When Doors Open —We Succeed!’ reflects the determination of our individuals with developmental disabilities to be active and productive members of our community.” Acting Governor Cruz urges the people of Guam to support the visions of self-determination, independence, productivity, integration and inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families into our island community. Photo with caption: Attending the ceremony to proclaim “Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month” were (seated L-R) Vangie Cepeda, Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority (GHURA), Dr. Heidi San Nicolas, Guam CEDDERS, Manuel Cruz, Guam Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC), Acting Governor Michael W. Cruz, Evelyn Duenas, DDC member, and Benny Pinaula, GHURA. (Standing L-R) Davis Tevid, Department of Public Health & Social Services (DPHSS), Carol Cabiles, Guam Legal Services, Elizabeth Cruz, Community Integration, Office of the Governor, Julie Laurante, Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities (DISID), Evelyn Manibusan, DISID, Lisa Ogo, DDC member, Lou Bitanga, Catholic Social Services (CSS), Josephine Cortez, DDC member, Lourdes San Nicolas, CSS, Christina Perez, DDC, Marie Libria, DDC. (Back row, L-R) Mike Terlaje, Guam System for Assistive Technology (GSAT), & Allen Alexander, CSS. Tri-Agency Heads Team Up To Promote Awareness The Tri-Agency Directors went on the air on February 29 during “The Big Show” Radio Station K-57’s afternoon drive time show to publicize the 14th Guam System for Assistive Technology Conference and the Disability Community Conference and Exhibition. Photo with caption: (L-R) Rebecca Santo Tomas, Esq., Executive Director, Guam Legal Services Corporation, Manuel Cruz, Executive Director, Guam Developmental Disabilities Council, Heidi San Nicolas, Ph.D., Director, Guam CEDDERS, speak with Travis Coffman, K57 Radio “The Big Show” Host, about Tri-Agency activities. Page 7 Tinituhon: Consultant Promotes Developmental Screening Guam native Brian Que, M.D., a pediatrician working on his specialty in developmental disabilities, provided three different sessions and focus groups of training to local pediatricians, family practitioners, allied health professionals, early interventionists, head start teachers, and preschool special education teachers on the importance and critical use of developmental screening tools as a standard of quality health care for young children, birth to five. In addition to developmental screening, other topics included: So the Screen is Positive, Now What Do I Do?; Behavior 101 – Applied Behavioral Analysis; Perspectives on Autism; Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder; Cerebral Palsy; Mental Retardation. As part of Project Tinituhon, Guam’s Early Childhood Comprehensive System, Dr. Que provided this training and technical assistance in support of increasing the access of all young children to quality health care on Guam. During his visit, he also conducted a family night in which he encouraged parents and families to be strong advocates for quality health care of their young children and discussed the topics of behavior management, the use of developmental screening to check the growth and development of their children, and signs to look for which might indicate a child with a special need. Approximately 40 parents attended the event. Photo with caption: Dr. Brian Que provided training to physicians and other health professionals at Guam Memorial Hospital Education Room on March 1, 3, and 4. Guam PIRC Opens It was a DREAM come true! With technical support from Guam CEDDERS, the Guam Positive Parents Together (GPPT), a non-profit organization comprised of parents of children with disabilities, was awarded a U.S. DOE Parent Information Resource Center (PIRC) Grant for Project DREAMS—Dedicated to Reaching Excellence and Maintaining Success. The overall goal is to increase parent involvement in the education of their children in school and at home. Photo with caption: (L-R) GPPT Board Members: Evelyn Claros, Treasurer, Mary-Therese Edgerle, Vice President, Ann Marie Cruz, President, & Helen Middlebrooke, Secretary. For more information about PIRC activities, call 477-7472 (PIRC). Text in Colored Box: I Famagu’on-ta, (Our Children) Guam’s System of Care Conference Announcement “Transforming Children’s Mental Health in the Pacific Islands: Celebrating Our Progress & Sharing Our Knowledge”, September 15-17, 2008 For more information, contact Annie Unpingco at 477-5338. Page 8 Model Child Care Participants Upgrade Skills Model Child Care Directors/Assistant Directors completed training on the Creative Curriculum Progress Outcomes and Reporting Tool (CC-PORT) on February 2. The CC PORT is the Creative Curriculum’s® Progress & Outcomes Reporting Tool. It is an assessment reporting tool used in conjunction with the Creative Curriculum® Developmental Continuum Assessment Toolkit for Ages 3-5 which stores, processes, and reports observational records based on the Continuum. The reports show progress of GROUPS of children and are not a tool for assessing an individual child’s progress. It can produce reports by CLASS, SCHOOL (CENTER), and PROGRAM LEVEL. The reports are organized by developmental objectives and categories, consistent with the Continuum. Centers will be able to use the reports to determine areas of strength and weakness, learn about progress of children, and plan for growth (i.e. use to assist in development of lesson plans or curriculum). Data is entered at three checkpoints throughout the year – as determined by the center. Between each of the checkpoints, providers collect observational records regarding children’s work. At each checkpoint, the providers complete an “Individual Child Profile” form, based on all the observational records collected. After all the profiles are completed, the data is then entered into the CC-PORT to be processed. Data from individual profiles will be entered in the CC-PORT to assist directors/assistant directors in producing outcomes reports. Photo with caption: CC PORT Training Completers: (Standing, L-R) Carmentina Fejeran, Tricia Henricksen, Michelle Huffer, Delena James, Jessica Tamam, Annabelle Jones, Ama Underwood, Lizzy Borja (Data Instructor), & Leona Balagbagno; (seated, L-R) Corazon San Nicolas, Delilah Charfauros, Maria Zenaida Unsay, Subasri Nagarajan, & Lorna Soriano. Model Child Care Program Candidates Undergo ADA Assessments A facility assessment is one of the supports provided to child care centers that participate in the Model Child Care Center Program. . Accessibility of building entrances, hallways, toilets, sinks, playgrounds, and parking lots are assessed using standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Participating centers include School of Creative Arts in Mangilao, Little Lambs Preschool & Day Care Center in Mangilao, ABC 123 Learning & Development Center in Dededo, and The Young Learner Center in Dededo. For more information on how to become part of the Model Child Care Program, contact Mary Kidd at 735-2507 or via email at mkidd@ite.net. Photo with caption: Mike Terlaje, Assistive Technology Specialist at the Guam System for Assistive Technology (GSAT) and Travis Brown, Office Assistant, take measurements as part of an assessment to determine a center’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Page 9 Family Child Care Training Helps Caregivers and Parents Hats off to the participants who completed all four sessions offered for Family Child Care (FCC) Training. They attended and participated in 15 hours of training to receive 1.5 Continuing Education Units through the University of Guam’s Professional Development and Lifelong Learning Center. Funded through the Department of Public Health and Social Services, the training sessions focused on areas of development for young children including Social Emotional, Language/Communication, and Cognitive domains. The Social and Emotional Development session reviewed preventive strategies such as setting up the environment and establishing security and trust with children and how to “teach” appropriate behavior when young children are angry or have a problem. In the Language Development session, participants increased their awareness and knowledge of a variety of strategies for teaching first and second language learners, and typical language development, including the seven stages of communication development from birth through five years. Learning styles and multiple intelligences, and how these affect the way young children think and learn, were topics reviewed in the Cognitive Development session. All sessions addressed the needs of ALL children, including those with disabilities, providing opportunity to address specific cultural traditions through the lens of current research on best practices. These sessions provided the latest research-based information and developmentally appropriate practices to enhance the quality of care provided and available to our youngest children, whether at home with a parent/grandparent, in a family child care setting, or in a child care center. Photos with caption: Training completers included: Oliva Aguon, Home Provider; Rivian Alafanso, Home Provider; Rowena Balatbat, Dominican Child Development Center; Mektekt God, Parent; Telwas Joab, My School Child Development Center; Eightleen Kukku, Home Provider; Memorina Luke, Good Day Child Learning Center; Falery Mailos, Translator for Home Provider; Sabrina Mantanane, My School Child Development Center; Jayme Quidachay, Home Provider; Maria Elena Batac, Dominican Child Development Center; Mintina Ruda, Translator for Home Provider; Maurina Ruta, Home Provider; Juanita San Nicolas, Home Provider; Placida Zulueta, Dominican Child Development Center; Sinania Henere, Good Day Child Learning Center; Isabel Compton, Amazing Kids Child Development Center; Therese Rayray, Amazing Kids Child Development Center; & Alfanso Raksy, Home Provider. Training completers also included: L-R: Rivian Alfanso, Raksy Alfanso, Rowena Balatbat, Maurina Ruta, Maria Elena Batac, & Jayme Quidachay. Family & Model Child Care Program Caregivers Upgrade Skills Delilah Charfauros shares her group’s methods when teaching social emotional skills to young children during training for family child caregivers. Edwin Villanueva from The Young Learner Center shares his work group’s ideas during the Model Child Care Center Program Training Sessions in January. Page 10 Project Menhalom Team Sets Stage Project Menhalom, Guam Public School System’s (GPSS) Character Education project in partnership with Guam CEDDERS, is setting the stage to launch Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) at all public middle schools for School Year 2008-2009. PBIS involves creating a school environment where 1) students clearly understand the behaviors expected of them, and 2) students are acknowledged or rewarded for meeting those behavioral expectations. By the start of next school year, every middle school will have a full-time School Level Facilitator dedicated to implementing PBIS. Several schools have established their PBIS team, or School Climate Cadre, and have begun posting and teaching the school-wide behavioral expectations of the students. Each school will also be using the School-Wide Information System (see SWIS.org) to generate data on Office Discipline Referrals. The SWIS data is then used by the team to make decisions addressing discipline and school safety. To strengthen its knowledge foundation, Project Menhalom team members attended a PBIS Coaches Conference at Oregon State University on January 14. The team spent the rest of the week participating in site visits at several schools around Eugene, Oregon, witnessing PBIS in action and meeting with representatives of schools that have been successfully implementing PBIS for over ten years. The team also participated in an Individual Systems Training, focused on strategies for children with challenging behaviors, as well as an Individualized PBIS or “IPBS” team meeting at one of the elementary schools. The School Level Facilitators (SLFs) who attended the trainings have spear-headed PBIS launches at their middle schools, including pep rallies and award ceremonies for students who have displayed good character. Guam CEDDERS staffers Rosemarie Camacho, Technical Assistant, and Celine Carbullido, Project Evaluator, have begun conducting School-Wide Evaluation Tool (SET) interviews at all of the middle schools to collect baseline information, such as current student and staff awareness of the school’s behavioral expectations, as well as each school’s existing crisis intervention plan and system for acknowledging positive behaviors. The results of the SET will be presented to the middle school principals, School Climate Cadres, and Project Leadership Team to illustrate which “critical components” the schools have in place for successful implementation of PBIS. To establish a unified vision for project stakeholders, Ms. Camacho led the Project Leadership Team (PLT) in a visioning activity on February 13. The PLT, made up of community stakeholders such as the Department of Youth Affairs, Sanctuary, Inc., the Guam Police Department, Victim Advocates Reaching Out, and the University of Guam. The PLT adopted “Excellence in Character, Service, and Learning” as its vision. Next steps include validating the vision and framework for Character Education and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) with other community stakeholders. Guam CEDDERS is working with GPSS to facilitate a PBIS conference currently scheduled for May 8 and 9, 2008 during which members of the School Climate Cadres (SCC) will be introduced to the logic and framework of PBIS, as well as gain knowledge and skills for successful implementation. SCC members will have a better understanding of their role, learn how to use SWIS data to make decisions for school safety and discipline, and will develop an action plan for full implementation of PBIS at their school for next school year. While the goal of PBIS is to establish a positive school environment, the goal of Character Education is to improve the attitudes and behaviors of the students. Guam CEDDERS will therefore be assisting the schools and Project Leadership team in their selection of one to two Character Education Curriculums, which will be taught by the middle school teachers during their “home-based”, time during the school day. Photo with caption: Project Menhalom Character Education Team take a short break for a group photo during the PBIS Conference in January. (L-R) Dr. Edward Santos, Project Director, Joleen Quintanilla, School Level Facilitator for Jose Rios Middle School, Rosemarie Camacho, Training Associate, Bobbie Babauta, School Level Facilitator for Untalan Middle School, Celine Carbullido, Project Evaluator, Terry Benavente, District Coordinator, & Mary Jean Knoll, District Coordinator for Springfield, Oregon. Page 11 Guam CEDDERS Facilitates GPSS Parent & Family Survey Process The Guam Public School System’s (GPSS) Division of Special Education conducted its annual Parent Involvement Survey and Family Feedback Survey for School Year 2006-2007 from August to November 2007. The purpose of the surveys was to gather data from families of infants and toddlers and from parents of school aged children who received services from the Division of Special Education during the 2006-2007 school year. Guam CEDDERS was subcontracted to facilitate the GPSS Guam Early Intervention System Family Feedback Survey and the GPSS Division of Special Education Parent Involvement Survey process as part of their efforts to gather data necessary to complete their Annual Performance Report (APR) due to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (U.S. DOE OSEP), specifically for Indicator #4 for Early Intervention (Part C) and Indicator #8 for Special Education (Part B). Utilizing the survey instrument developed for the 2005-2006 school year as a sample, Guam CEDDERS conducted pre-focus group sessions with parents to determine whether the survey instrument should be modified and discussed ways to improve dissemination and collection of surveys across the island. One hundred ten surveys were disseminated under Indicator #4 with a return of 95 surveys or 86%. A total of 92 respondents indicated that they “know their rights”, which translates into 96.8%; a total of 90 respondents indicated that they “effectively communicate their children’s needs”, which translates into 94.7%; and a total of 88 respondents indicated that they “help their children develop and learn”, which translates into 92.6%. Post-survey focus group sessions were conducted with the same parents to review and validate the survey results. Parents shared that the results were in line with what they had responded to in their own surveys. For the GPSS Part B school-aged group, the purpose of the survey was to address Indicator #8, which is to determine the percent of parents with a child receiving special education services who report that schools facilitated parent involvement as a means of improving services and results for children with disabilities. A total of 2,345 surveys were disseminated throughout the three levels of the 36 schools across the island with a return of 558 or 24%. Survey results provided that for those who completed the survey, 62% of parents felt that their schools facilitated parent involvement. The post-survey focus group sessions uncovered some differences in opinion from the parents who felt that their schools could do much more to encourage and support parental involvement. The final report was transmitted to GPSS in January and was incorporated into their APR to U.S. DOE OSEP in February. Text in Colored Box: Of 95 Part C Surveys Completed, Parents Said: 96.6% “know their rights” 94.7% “effectively communicate their child’s needs” 92.6% “help their child develop and learn Page 12 Tri-Agency Offers Latest Information During GSAT Conference & Community Disability Conference & Exposition GSAT 14th Annual AT Conference Friday, March 7, 2008 8:30—9:00am Keynote Speaker: Dr. Mary J. Miller First Guam Resident to Receive a Cochlear Implant Breakout Session A “Assistive Technology Across the Lifespan Services” ? Establishing a Foundation for Assistive Technology Use ? Integrating AT in the Classroom ? Planning for the AT Long Term Breakout Session B “Making Instructional Materials Accessible” ? Overview of Pacific CIMAP ? GOAL-AT Loan Program: Funding Success ? Website Accessibility Breakout Session C “Mobility & Assistive Technology” ? Wheelchair Securement & Best Driver Practices ? Spotlight: Accessible Vans on Guam: Part I ? Spotlight: Accessible Vans on Guam: Part 2 Vendors & Service Providers on Display * Guam System for Assistive Technology * Guam CEDDERS * Guam Legal Services Corporation * Barrier Free (Accessible Taxi Service) * Center for Independent Living * Guam Options for Alternate Loans for Assistive Technology (GOAL-AT) * Guam Client Assistant Program * Guam Developmental Disabilities Council * Guam Early Intervention System * Guam Election Commission * Health Specialties * Isla Home Infusion * Ross Hearing Aids Tri-Agency Disability Community Conference & Exposition 8:30am Opening Remarks Breakout Session A Transportation ? Public Policy: Bill 203 ? Self-Advocacy in the Guam Public Transportation System ? Accessibility on Public Roads Breakout Session B Education * Parent Rights in Special Education * GPSS Transitioning from Part C to Part B * Success in Post Secondary Education & Supports at Guam Community College Breakout Session C Community Support * Organizing Boards & Non-profits to Support Individuals with Disabilities * Guam Positive Parents Together * Addressing Guam’s Special Needs Population during Emergencies Breakout Session D Disability Benefits * Public Health: Disability Programs & Benefits * GHURA: Fair Housing Rights, Home Owner Rehab, and Mainstream Program Breakout Session E Employment * DISID Guam Get Care/ DVR Job Training * Employing Persons with Disabilities Breakout Session F Community Support * Maximizing Independence: Part I * Maximizing Independence: Part 2 * Involuntary Commitment * Power of Attorney & Legal Guardianship Closing: 3:30 p.m. Page 13 Håtsa Updates Roberta Abaday, an English teacher at JFK High School and 1998 Guam Teacher of the Year, was honored for being the first teacher from Guam to achieve certification from the National Board for Professional Teacher Standards during the Project Håtsa Stakeholders meeting held on January 15. Ms. Abaday received funding support from the project to complete the review process, which included the submittal of a portfolio containing student work, videotapes of teaching sessions with commentary on the teaching and learning process, and taking a test that was administered in Hawaii. Consultants from the New Teacher Center (NTC) based at the University of California, Santa Cruz, were on island to conduct training entitled: “Mentor Academy 4:Designing and Presenting Professional Development for Beginning Teachers” held on January 15-17.This activity was one of a continuing series of training sessions under the Teacher Mentor Program, which provides induction support to beginning teachers. Outcomes of this training included skill development in analyzing data of beginning teacher practice to guide next steps in their mentoring; understanding adult learners and their needs to guide the design and content of beginning teacher professional development events; and designing professional learning events that are informed by best professional development practice.Identifying successes, challenges, and areas for continued growth were also discussed to help in planning for the continuation of the program. Photo with caption: Celebrating Roberta Abaday’s success at earning NBPTS certification are (Seated L-R) Luis Reyes, GPSS Superintendent & and Ms. Abaday. (Standing, L-R) Rosemary Garcia, Project Director, New Teacher Center, University of California at Santa Cruz, Dr. Helen Whippy, UOG Interim President, Cathy Cardenas, Community Representative, Nieves Flores, Håtsa Project Director, and Joann Camacho, First Lady. Participants in the “Mentor Academy 4” included: (Sitting, L-R) Linda Sablan, Mentor, Michael Strong, NTC Director of Research, Julie Almquist, NTC Regional Director, Rosemary Garcia, NTC Project Director, & Nate Taimanglo, Office Assistant. (second row, L-R) Håtsa staff Nieves Flores, Aline Yamashita, Emily Meno, Lou Benavente, Debbie Santos, Tiffany Fernandez, Mary Taitano, Connie Guerrero, Kirk Drygas, Ana Camacho-Anderson, Marie Barretto, & Joe Fernandez. (Back row, L-R) Mike Skinner, Rose Rios, & Dawn Blas. Page 14 Transit Drivers Complete Securement Training Fifty-five managers, dispatchers, operators, and transit personnel received training in Wheelchair Securement and Safety from CEDDERS instructors Mike Terlaje and Ginger Porter in January. Assisting with the hands-on training was Transportation Commission Vice President, Evelyn Duenas, who provided insight on differences of securement strap systems and techniques for meeting the standard of achieving less than two inches of easement. Photos with caption: Shown at one of the training sessions are: (Front row, L-R) Jose Reyes; Benito Santos; Instructor Evelyn Duenas; Teddy Saguilla; Vincent Salas; Douglas Racelis; & Eugene DeGuzman; (middle row, L-R) Norio Nakajima; Instructor Ginger Porter; Ricardo Auayan; Alberto Fejeran; Phillip Cruz; Remy Aguon; Etsuo Watabiki (Manager), Vincer Philip; & Clarissa Pocaigue; (back row, L-R) Lawrence Nelson; Joseph C. Manibusan (Deputy Director, DOA); Instructor Mike Terlaje; Rudy Cabana (DOA Planner); & Darrell Materne. The final eight of 55 transit personnel completed wheelchair securement and safety in January. (Back row, L-R) Paul Ragabo; Judy Aguigui (HR Manager); Greg Taitague; Ricky Rabago; Anthony Portka; Agustin Sanchez; & Frank Nauta; (front row, L-R) Instructor and Transportation Commission Vice President, Evelyn Duenas; & Transit Ombudsman, Emeline Pereira. Seven transit operators and managers had opportunity to learn more about disabilities and experience the challenges facing persons with mobility and vision impairments in one of six Sensitivity Training sessions held in February. Training evaluations reflected a desire on the part of the drivers to engage in more training on passenger service and other transit related issues. (Front row, L-R) Teofilo Pataque; Wesly Ersin; (back row, L-R) Erick S. Edmund; Lawrence Nelson; Jose Reyes; Mike Bustos; & Eugene DeGuzman. Page 15 Project GATE Delivers Transit Maps & Schedules Island-wide and area transit maps and schedules were presented to Joseph Manibusan, Deputy Director, Depart-ment of Administration, Division of Public Transportation Services, as part of the final piece of the United We Ride Coordination Planning Grant known as Project GATE (Guam Alliance for Transportation Efficiency). Beginning in March 2008, the map and schedule decals, along with Nihi Tafan Hanao – Let’s Go theme stickers, will be affixed to shelters and other physical structures as a temporary measure to identify designated stops along the four major fixed routes. Eligible paratransit riders will also receive Nihi Tafan Hanao lanyards for their new ID cards. Photo with caption: Ginger Porter, Project Director for the Guam Alliance for Transportation Efficiency (GATE) Project presents transit maps, schedules, and stickers to Joey Manibusan, Deputy Director, Department of Administraiton. Mr. Manibusan oversees the Division of Public Transportation Services. Text in Colored Box: Note To Readers I Lina’la-ta (Our Lives), the Quarterly Consumer Newsletter sponsored by the Tri-Agency — the Guam Developmental Disabilities Council, Guam Legal Services, and Guam CEDDERS — is being disseminated separately starting with this issue. If you would like to receive a copy of I Lina’la-ta, please let us know by sending us a message at mjohnson@ite.net or by calling us 735-2477. Text in Colored Box: I Tellai Reader Survey We invite you to take a few minutes to give input on this issue of I Tellai, as well as general comments on our quarterly publication. There are four convenient ways you can let us know your thoughts: mail, fax, online, or by phone. Mail your completed survey to: Guam CEDDERS, Office of Academic & Student Affairs University of Guam, UOG Station, Mangilao, Guam 96923 Fax your completed survey to Guam CEDDERS at 671-734-5709. Complete your survey online by going to: http://itellaisurvey.speedsurvey.com Call Terrie Fejarang at (671) 735-2477 or send a message to fejarang@ite.net. Page 16 Calendar of Upcoming Events March 2008 * Mar 7-Guam CEDDERS Advisory Council Meeting, Westin Resort & Spa, 1:30 pm * Mar 7-GSAT Annual Assistive Technology Conference, Westin Resort & Spa, 8 am-12 Noon * Mar 8-2008 Tri-Agency Disability Conference, Westin Resort & Spa, 8 am-3:30 pm * Mar 10-14-GSEG II RMI & Chuuk On-site Visit * Mar 11-UOG Charter Day * Mar 12-14-Tinituhon Project Director Mtg, MD * Mar 15-Special Olympics, Time & Venue TBA * Mar 15-Head Start Parent Mini Conference, “Transition to Kindergarten”, Time & Venue TBA * Mar 15-Model Child Care Center Training, CSS Conference Room, Barr Hts, 8:30 am-2:30 pm * Mar 19-20-GSEG II CNMI On-Site TA Visit * Mar 25-SAMHSA On-Site Visit, UOG Input Session * Mar 25-27-Project Håtsa District -Wide Prof Dev Follow Up Session #5, Venue TBA, 4-5 pm * Mar 27-28-2008 National Association of Social Work Training Conference, Hilton Guam Resort & Spa, 8 am-5 pm * Mar 29-Model Child Care Center Training, CSS Conference Room, Barr Hts, 8:30 am-2:30 pm * Mar 31-Apr 4-GSEG II FSM On-Site TA Visit April 2008 * Apr 1-Project Håtsa District-Wide Prof Dev Follow Up Session #5 for Kattan & Luchan Districts, Håtsa Ofc, Castle Mall Ste 10, 4-5 pm * Apr 2-Project Håtsa District -Wide Prof Dev Follow Up Session #5 for Haya District, Håtsa Office, Castle Mall Ste 10, 4-5 pm * Apr 4-GSEG II FSM On-Site TA Visit Ends * Apr 5-”Power of Play” Interactive Parent Conference, Tamuning Elem School, 9 am-12 noon * Apr 8-11-A.L.O.N.G. Parent Training, Guam Marriott Resort & Spa, Ballroom C, 9 am-3 pm * Apr 8-11-ORC MACRO Site Visit for CMHI I Famaguon’ta * Apr 9-11-Pacific Project Planning Partners meeting * Apr 11-Tri-Agency Mtg with ADD Commissioner Morrissey, HI * Apr 12-Model Child Care Center Training, CSS Conference Room, Barr Hts, 8:30 am-2:30 pm * Apr 19-Social Emotional Training, Venue TBA, 8 am-5 pm * Apr 19-Head Start Children’s Fitness Fair, Ages 3-10 years, Time & Venue TBA * Apr 26-Social Emotional Training, Venue TBA, 8 am-5 pm * Apr 26: Model Child Care Training, CSS Conference Room, Barr Hts, 8:30 am-2:30 pm * Apr 29-30-Project Håtsa District -Wide Prof Dev Follow Up Session #6, Venue TBA, 4-6 pm May 2008 ? May 3-Social-Emotional Training, Session 1, Time & Venue TBA ? May 6-7-Project Directors Instructional Materials Accessibility Meeting, Washington DC ? May 8-9– Guam PBIS Conference, Venue TBA ? May 10-Social-Emotional Training, Session 1, Time & Venue TBA ? May 17-Family Child Care Social Training, Time & Venue TBA ? May 20-22-Project Håtsa District -Wide Professional Development Follow Up Session #6, Venue TBA, 4 pm-6 pm ? May 31-Social-Emotional Training, Session 2, Time & Venue TBA ? May 31-Project Fo’na’s Cohort #2 Depart for Externship June 2008 ? Jun 6-Guam CEDDERS Advisory Council Mtg., GSAT Training Ctr, 3:30 p.m. ? Jun 7-Social-Emotional Training, Session 2, Time & Venue TBA ? Jun 12-13-ADD TA Institute, Washington DC ? Jun 23-24-Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) “Train-the-Trainer” Training, Time & Venue TBA ? Jun 30-CSEFEL “Train-the-Trainer” Training, Time & Venue TBA University of Guam Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, & Service (Guam CEDDERS) Newsletter Guam CEDDERS Office of Academic & Student Affairs University of Guam, UOG Station Mangilao, Guam 96923 Phone: (671) 735-2480/1 Fax: (671) 734-5709 TTY: (671) 734-6531 Email: heidisan@ite.net I Tellai is a quarterly publication of Guam CEDDERS. Director: Heidi San Nicolas, Ph.D. Editors: Terrie Fejarang, June De Leon, Ginger Porter Layout & Design: Margaret Johnson, Jonas Macapinlac This issue of I Tellai was made possible by contributions from the following Guam CEDDERS staff members: Liz Borja, Carmelita Ogo Connelley, June De Leon, Elaine Eclavea, Terrie Fejarang, Nieves Flores, Connie Guerrero, Mary Kidd, Ginger Porter, June Quitugua, & Aline Yamashita. Alternative formats (e.g. Braille, large print, or audio tapes) of I Tellai will be made available upon request. Please contact Margaret Johnson at (671) 735-2477 (v), (671) 735-6531 (TTY), or (671) 734-5709 (fax) for more information.