I Tellai The Bridge Guam CEDDERS Newsletter Volume 8, Number 4 September 1, 2006 \ Inside this issue: Page PAC-6 Training 1 PAC-6 Training, con’t. 2 Walk, Wheel, Run Early Childhood Outcomes 3 FSM SPP Parent-To-Parent Meeting 4 Caregiver Tips Brochures Pediatrician TA Visit 5 Project Tinituhon Update 6 Dr. Finn’s Visit 7 Leadership Institute Teacher Standards Adopted 8 Memoirs of a Job Coach 9 Guam EHDI Presentation 10 CEDDERS Photo Gallery 11 Calendar of Events 12 Farewell to Liz Horne First PAC-6 Training Completed The first Pacific Assessment Consortium (PAC6) Project training, “Enhancing Local Capacity For An Inclusive Assessment System,” took place at the University of Guam on July 6-8. This training laid the foundation for comprehensive state assessment systems. In partnership with the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO), the Western Regional Resource Center (WRRC), and UOG, the training was attended by Leadership Assessment Teams (LATs) from six Pacific jurisdictions including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau (ROP). The LAT members included special education administrators and program specialists, school administrators, general education assessment curriculum specialists. Rachel Quenemoen, Senior Research Fellow at NCEO, presented on the implications of the federal assessment and accountability requirements in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) and the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. Ms. Quenemoen also presented an overview on alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards. Dr. Martha Thurlow, Director of NCEO, reviewed the IDEA requirements for providing appropriate accommodations for participation in state-wide assessment. With the theoretical framework established, Linda Holt, a general education teacher from Maui District, Hawaii State Department of Education, demonstrated the critical link between abstract concepts to actual “hands-on” practice. Ms. Holt shared her classroom experiences with all students, including students with disabilities, in the general curriculum and statewide assessments. She demonstrated various teaching strategies, sample lessons, and accommodations for the participants to take home to share with their colleagues. As one participant stated, “Ms. Holt’s modeling of how assessment can be a daily routine in your teaching was exactly what the teams had hoped for.” On the last day of the training, the LATs assessed their current practice for including students with disabilities in their jurisdiction assessments in relation to the components of an effective, comprehensive, and inclusive assessment system. The LATs then identified specific “next steps” for improving their jurisdiction assessment system. continued on Page 2 Photo with caption: PAC6 Jurisdictional Leadership Assessment Teams (LATs) attended a 3-day workshop on “Enhancing Local Capacity for an Inclusive Assessment System” held July 6-8 at the University of Guam campus. Teams from American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau developed Action Plans to include all children in the assessment process. Page 2 PAC-6 Training con’t from Page 1 Photo with caption: The American Samoa LAT members discuss their current practices, while Dr. Brad Lenhardt (right) from WRRC lends his support. (L-R) Robert Soliai, Assessment Specialist; Paulo Salave’a, Curriculum Specialist; Jeanette Vasai-Tilo, Special Education Prgram Director; & Dr. Lenhardt. Leadership Assessment Team Training Participants in colored box: American Samoa Guam Jeanette Vasai-Tilo Terese Crisostomo Paulo Salave’a Cathy Cardenas Robert Soliai Mary Therese Artero CNMI Sophie Duenas Joanne Nicholls Nerissa Bretania-Shafer Laura Brown Pia Watson Josie Jones-Lizama RMI Nora Fujihira Ruthiran Lokeijak Esther Tilipao Kanchi Hosia FSM Stanley Heine Makir Keller Frank Horiuchi Burnis Danis Clarence Luther Arthur Albert Hiram Malolo Mitch Ioanis ROP Marbe Martin Evans Imetengel Judith Gapey Lyliza Madris Dorothy En Pillar Ngiraswei George Goounug Walk, Wheel, Run Event Completes 4th Year The Fourth Annual Guam Assistive Technology Walk, Wheel, Run Fun Event was held on July 29. Despite being postponed twice because of conflicts in scheduling with other similar events and poor weather, 219 people registered for the event that took place for the first time in the late afternoon. Photo with caption: Brandon Cobb, (in wheelchair) gives other participants a “run for their money” during the race. Special thanks go to the Guam Running Club which laid out the course and timed the event. Page 3 Creating Supports In the Region FSM Early Childhood Outcomes Measurement System Guam CEDDERS facilitated a 2-day onsite technical assistance and training for Special Education staff from YAP State, FSM on June 28 & 29. The training was designed to provide support on the implementation of the FSM Early Childhood Outcomes Measurement System. Participants reviewed the updated FSM Inventory of Development (FSM-ID) that will be used to assess all preschoolers with disabilities upon entry and exit of the program. The FSM-ID will be one source of information that will be used to monitor and track the percentage of preschoolers with IEPs who demonstrate improved: ? Positive social-emotional skills (including social relationships) ? Acquisition and use of knowledge and skills (including early language/communication and early literacy); and ? Use of appropriate behaviors to meet their needs. The data collected will be included in the FSM Annual Performance Report that will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs in February 2007. This activity was supported by the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC). Photo with caption: (L-R) Elaine Eclavea, Guam CEDDERS Health, Wellness, & Prevention Initiative Area Coordinator and Judy Gapey, Special Education Coordinator for Yap State, facilitated the recent training on the FSM-Inventory of Development to assess the progress of preschoolers with disabilities. FSM State Performance Plan goes Local The Pohnpei Department of Education recently submitted their SY 2006-2007 Local Performance Plan (LPP) for Special Education to the FSM Department of Health, Education, and Social Affairs (HESA) Special Education Program Office for review and approval. With technical assistance provided by Guam CEDDERS, the Pohnpei Special Education program staff worked tirelessly to collect, verify and analyze data for the 20 Indicators identified in the LPP. The Special Education team presented their draft version of the LPP to the Special Education Advisory Panel and other stakeholders on July 28 to gather their input and approval before submitting it to HESA. To help continue the momentum, Guam CEDDERS’ June De Leon and June Quitugua facilitated a meeting on August 19 with over 60 resource teachers, staff and administrators on Nahlap Island, Pohnpei where they presented an overview of the LPP and continued working with the team on verifying data. Although it was a long, arduous process, the Pohnpei team pulled together and finalized their Local Performance Plan with prioritized activities scheduled to begin this school year. Photos with caption: June De Leon (standing) gestures to make a point during a meeting with stakeholders to develop Pohnpei State’s Local Performance Plan. Special EducationTeachers (standing) (L-R) Dirver Max Henser, Yunis Siden, Harry Wichep, and Maruame, show their school spirit with a cheer at the opening of the Pohnpei State LPP Orientation Session. Page 4 Parent-to- Parent Support Group Hold “Kick Off” Meeting What are some ways that we could support you? This was one of the questions posed by Ann Marie Cruz, parent of a child with disabilities during the Guam Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (Guam EHDI) Parent-to-Parent Orientation held on Saturday, August 26, at the Guam Reef Hotel. Twenty-two parents of children with hearing impairments participated in networking with service providers from the Guam Public School System, Division of Special Education’s Guam Early Intervention System (GEIS), Speech and Language Program, Vision and Hard of Hearing Program, and the Pediatric Evaluation Diagnostic Service (PEDS). Other programs represented included the Guam EHDI Project and Guam System for Assistive Technology. Mrs. Ann Marie Cruz, Mr. Joe Mendiola, and Mrs. Joyce Flores facilitated the 3-hour gathering by sharing the purpose of the support group and service and supports available to parents of children with hearing impairments or deafness. Mrs. Susan Daga shared the isolation she felt during her experience at her child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting. She suggested that the Parent Support Group be available to support families by attending an IEP meeting with them. Mrs. Cruz indicated that there are names of parents listed in the Guam EHDI Parent-to-Parent brochure and in the “Directory of Services for Parents” for the purpose of contacting others should they have any questions, desire to talk to someone, or would like support during an IEP meeting. In addition, the Guam EHDI project walked parents through the NEW Guam EHDI website that will be launched in mid-September. For more information regarding the Parent to Parent support group, contact Ann Marie Cruz at 653-7991, Mr. Joe Mendiola at 477-8279/80, or Mrs. Joyce Flores at 653-0626. Photo with caption: Family members of young children with hearing impairments attended the Parent-to-Parent Orientation held on August 26 at the Guam Reef Hotel. “Caregiver Tips” Series To Promote Development Launched Parents and caregivers are always on the lookout for information that may help them provide a nurturing environment for their young children. The Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services, Child Welfare and Development Fund commissioned a series of brochures that were produced by Guam CEDDERS to specifically address this need. Aligned with the poster series that was completed earlier this year, the areas of language, cognitive, social emotional, and gross motor development were highlighted in the brochures. Each brochure provides information on typical developmental milestones and activities to help children grow in each of the areas. For more information about the brochures, contact Guam CEDDERS at 735-2466. Page 5 Developmental Pediatrician Conducts TA Visit As part of Project Tinituhon’s outreach and technical assistance activities, Dr. Catherine McClain recently concluded a week of activities geared towards increasing awareness about Guam’s Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) plan, the medical home concept, and support in the area of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Dr. McClain, a pediatrician, with sub-specialties in developmental-behavioral pediatrics and autism, is the Director of the Center for Disability and Development at the University of New Mexico and a professor in the Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine. Her visit to the island represented a unique opportunity for a physician with a sub-specialty in ASD to provide technical assistance and support to physicians, early childhood providers, and parents. The week-long site visit was a whirlwind of activities that maximized the expertise of Dr. McClain. The week’s activities began with an introductory luncheon meeting and a brief appearance on K57’s “The Big Show” to publicize Project Tinituhon and the Parent Night with Dr. McClain. Over the course of the week, Dr. McClain gave presentations on the medical home model utilizing ASD as a framework for this service delivery model to Project Tinituhon’s Strategic Management Team (SMT), Guam Medical Society, Guam Memorial Hospital Authority, and the parent group Autism Community Together (ACT). The presentation at the Guam Medical Society meeting and grand rounds at GMH afforded attendees with the opportunity to earn Continuing Medical Education credits. Physician attendance and interest at the GMS meeting was overwhelmingly positive. Dr. McClain’s consultation service for children suspected of having ASD, or with ASD, was the highlight of her visit. Several clinical visits were conducted with the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) Special Kids Clinic, private clinics in collaboration with the child’s regular physician, and the child’s service coordinator from Guam Early Intervention System (GEIS). Dr. McClain received a temporary medical license which allowed her to examine and diagnose those children she saw at the private clinics in conjuction with the primary physician for each child. She additionally presented information relating to issues of early diagnoses of ASD to early childhood service providers at a well attended event sponsored by the Guam Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC). Participants included representatives from DPHSS, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, and Guam Public School System, Division of Special Education and Head Start. Her session with parents of children with autism also generated a great deal of interest with excellent attendance by parents who were able to ask medical questions of Dr. McClain. Finally, the visit concluded with a “kick-off” conference to publicize Project Tinituhon with invitations extended to an array of private and public early childhood service providers on Guam. Project Tinituhon is a DPHSS grant facilitated by Guam CEDDERS. Photos with caption: Project Tinituhon SMT meeting with Dr. Catherine McClain. (L-R): Linda DeNorcey (DPHSS), Ama Underwood (Honey Bear Kid Center), Julie Celeste (DPHSS), Kerina Oshiro (Guam CEDDERS), Dr. Catherine McClain, Michelle Sasamoto (DMHSA), Stacia Borja (Parent Member), Liz Borja (Guam CEDDERS). Dr. McClain smiles while being interviewed on Radio Station K-57’s “The Big Talk Show” with host Travis Coffman, a parent of a child with autism. Page 6 Project Tinituhon Update Project Tinituhon continues to move forward in its strategic planning process. In June, families and service providers participated in focus group sessions that are part of the environmental scan and needs assessment. The purpose of the family focus group was to gather their input and perspectives on the status of Guam’s service system for very young children, birth to five years, and their families in regards to the five focus areas of the project. (See colored box below) The focus of the provider session was on the effectiveness of the current service delivery system for young children and their families. A total of 23 parents and grandparents participated in the family focus group while 15 service providers from various agencies participated in the service provider focus group. Service providers representing the Department of Public Health and Social Services, Department of Labor, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Guam Public School System, Guam Community College, and the U.S. Naval Hospital participated in the provider session. Additional participants were from a private pediatric dental clinic and child care provider. Parents primarily expressed a need for affordable health insurance and greater latitude in their choice of health and child care services. Meanwhile, several themes related to the effective delivery of services emerged during the provider session and included: the importance of providing sufficient information and supports for linkage with other services, the need for cross-training between different agencies, simplification of criteria to receive services, and centralization of the array of services and the application process (i.e.-One Stop Center). During a July meeting of the Strategic Management Team (SMT), the focus group results were shared with members of the group. Additional activities during this meeting included the development of the Project’s mission statements and an update on the “kick off” conference held in August. The next steps for the Project in the upcoming months include the completion of the environmental scan, additional survey interviews with consumers, and planning for the working group sessions. These activities will move Guam forward in the development of its strategic plan for a comprehensive system of services and supports for young children and their families. (See story on page 5) Text in colored box: Project Tinituhon Focus Areas 1. Access to health insurance and medical homes; 2. Early childhood care and education; 3. Mental health and socio-emotional development; 4. Parent education; and 5. Family support Photos with caption: Tiffany Chinel (front, right) gives her input on Guam’s service delivery system during the Parent Focus Group Session held in June 2006. Service providers listen to a colleague provide input during Project Tinituhon’s Service Provider Focus Group meeting held on June 22. Advertisement: YOU are invited to attend a Parent Night with Karen Heying, Program Manager from the National Infant & Toddler Child Care Initiative, @ZERO TO THREE (National Center for Infants, Toddlers, & Families) September 18, 2006, Monday 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Guam Marriott Resort & Spa Space is limited! Deadline to register is September 13. Call Ruth at 735-2466 Page 7 Text in colored box: Dr. David Finn’s Visit: A Parent Perspective Dr. David Finn, a consultant on autism, was on Guam July 14-18 to provide technical assistance to the Guam Public School System. He met with parents and Special Education personnel to share information on providing services and supports to children with autism. Accompanying Dr. Finn was Perry Phillips, also an educational consultant. The following article was written by Evelyn Claros, mother of Nick, a 9-year-old child who has autism. Mrs. Claros attended the parent sessions held July 14 and 15. Dr. David Finn was a great speaker. His background and experience in dealing with individuals with autism is incredible. He has been exposed to individuals within the spectrum of Autism (from mild to severe). His experience and knowledge included information related to how the brain of an individual with autism is formed slightly different as compared to a “typical person.” Here are some points that Dr. Finn noted during his presentations: ? There are a few other types of related disorders: Autism, Rett Syndrome, Child Disintegrative Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disability-Not Otherwise Specified. ? Performing an “IQ” test is not appropriate for children with Autism. He shared with parents some of the more common treatment and interventions that we may want to consider or do some research on. For the families who attended this two-day conference, one of Dr. Finn’s greatest assets was his ability to relate and respond to parents with children who fall within all the different areas of the Autism spectrum. Having immediate family members who fall within the mild to severe range on the autism spectrum helped him tremendously to relate to our challenges that we face with our children. This meant a lot to parents because we speak the same language and are on the same page in terms of discussing the disability. He further shared that teachers who teach our children must have a heart for our children. From a parent perspective, that is very important to us to know that the teacher has the “heart” to want to teach our children. He also shared that parents should focus on the strength of our children and not on their weakness. Children with autism are very visual and are most comfortable when operating in a concrete sequential way, that is, dealing with activities in a predictable manner. Child Care Leadership Institute Completed Lesson plans, instructional strategies, assessment, and child outcomes were the topics highlighted during the Leadership Institute for child care directors and preschool teachers. The 45-contact hour Institute, attended by 44 professionals and paraprofessionals in the field, took place on Saturdays in February through June. The Institute was facilitated by Guam CEDDERS, through a contract with the Guam Department of Public Health & Social Services, Child Welfare and Development Fund. Photos with caption: Preschool teachers from the Guam Public School System share part of their lesson aligned with the Guam Early Learning Guidelines. Susan Hammer and Elaine Eclavea (standing) discuss child outcomes reporting using sample data from the Creative Curriculum Developmental Continuum Assessment Toolkit. Page 8 Project Håtsa: Guam Professional Teacher Standards Adopted Several critical Project Håtsa activities took place over the summer months with the most significant event being the adoption of the Guam Professional Teacher Standards by the Guam Education Policy Board (GEPB) during their July 26 meeting. This action took place after eight months of research and deliberation by the Focus Group 1 comprised of teachers, school administrators, counselors, and University of Guam, School of Education faculty. This group, facilitated by Program Coordinator Connie Guerrero, met an average of three times a month to produce their draft in May. The draft then underwent an exhaustive review by the Certification Advisory Council. Next, the GEPB subcommittee on Curriculum, Special Education, and Textbooks conducted their work session and provided input before referring the updated draft to the GEPB, which voted unanimously for its adoption. “The adoption of these Standards was the result of the hard work and commitment to the process by our many stakeholders. This is clearly a positive example of how the various parts of the educational system can work collaboratively towards an ideal,” said Dr. Nieves Flores, Project Håtsa Director. Catherine Stoicovy, acting executive director for the UOG School of Education, is also pleased with the adoption, saying that “the new standards add yet another quality assurance mechanism that will complement National Council for Accreditation for Teacher Education (NCATE), National Board for Professional Teacher Standards (NBPTS), and Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) standards currently used to establish a coherent system of standards and assessments for teacher preparation and certification.” The Standards set for implementation during the 2007-08 School Year, may be viewed at the Håtsa website at www.gdoe.net/hatsa. The next step under this Focus Area is to develop an “Alternative Route” for individuals who already have a baccalaureate degree in a non-education field and are aiming to become certified teachers. Another major milestone that occurred this summer was the assignment of 15 mentors and two district coordinators to begin the Mentoring component of the Project. After undergoing a 40-hour orientation in July conducted by Dr. Aline Yamashita, Mentor Program Coordinator, the mentors were assigned to 64 mentees who volunteered to receive this critical support for this school year. A visit by Dr. Kay Fukuda on August 7-11 provided key technical assistance to the evaluation component of the project. Lastly, Project Håtsa sponsored a district-wide workshop on “Effective Professional Development: Helping Teachers Improve Student Learning.” Dr. Patricia Roy and Dr. Parker McMullen, consultants from the National Staff Development Council, conducted this training attended by teams from all public schools during the week of July 31. Photos with caption: Connie Guerrero (standing) asks UOG Education students what they think about the newly adopted Guam Professional Teacher standards during a class presentation on August 11. The Standards are set for implementation next school year. John Anderson, (left) GPSS Liaison, and Connie Guerrero, (center) Project Hatsa Program Coordinator appeared on KUAM News Extra on August 22 to inform the general public about the “Guam Professional Teacher Standards” adopted by the Guam Education Policy Board during their July 26 meeting. At right is Sonya Artero, host of News Extra. Patricia Roy, consultant from the National Staff Development Council, gets involved in a discussion with the team from Agueda Johnston Middle School on August 1. Page 9 Memoirs of a Job Coach: Experiencing Radical Change Fourteen Community Rehabilitation Providers (CRPs), who completed at least one online course on Supported Employment, had an opportunity to apply to participate in the Association for Persons in Supported Employment (ASPE) 2006 conference held in Boston on June 28-30. A simple letter of application, which related what students learned from the course, how they applied their newly acquired knowledge, and their most memorable job coaching moment, exposed a radical change in perception and practice among new practitioners in the area of supported employment. Danielle Bansil, the selected job coach from Guam Vocational Rehabilitation and Workshop Center, a non-profit organization having a long history serving people with disabilities, expressed these impressions in her application letter: “This ‘Supported Employment’ course, ironically, made me want to learn more from professors and experts in the field of job coaching persons with disabilities. When I began my employment with the Guam Rehabilitation and Workshop Center, the tasks seemed simple enough to learn on the job. After six (6) months, however, I found myself wanting to know more about my job and the population of persons with disabilities… Prior to taking this course, I honestly did not know anything about “Marketing and Job Development.” I find this topic and the one on “Long-Term Support and Funding” the most valuable of all topics covered in class. Although “Customer Profile and Job Site Support” may be equally important for coaches to know, the hardest tasks for job coaches are in the areas of marketing, job development, and the funding of long-term support. These two skills are the ones I have yet to acquire and to experience. This course gave me the basic working knowledge to begin with, especially that I will be facing my first long-term support assignment this coming August. I actually put to use my new knowledge as class progressed. I started replacing the old me with the new me day by day from the beginning of class to the end. The product of this course is a more polished diamond of a job coach. The terms are now more accurate and politically correct. The planning is more person-centered, and assessments better understood and more useful. Additionally, this actually affected connectivity among us at the Guam Rehab, horizontally and vertically, as one working organization toward one common goal. My most memorable occasion was the day I got accepted back in confidence by my consumer with autism after a long week of taking continuous verbal outburst from him. The uncontrollable outburst was sparked by the presence of an external expert called in to assess the consumer’s refusal to perform a particular task. I did not quit my job or give up on my consumer. All I did was to give him some distance while being there for him to reach out when he is ready. I also convinced management to give him a chance. It worked! We got back as a team. In summary, the course definitely is priceless to me. Taking this course online was itself an experience, communicating with the instructor and classmates without ever hearing a voice or seeing faces. However, the advantage was the fact that I had more time to read, comprehend, and to reflect before attempting to respond to questions. The best topics learned are those in marketing, job development, and long-term support. Personally, I enjoyed having the chance to interact with our counterparts in the Mainland.” With the conference theme being, “Employment for All – Start a Revolution,” APSE focused on employment for individuals with disabilities, uniting a broad range of providers, people with disabilities, family members, educators, and employers. Ms. Bansil also had an opportunity to meet Dr. Katherine Inge of Virginia Commonwealth University, the lead instructor for the online course offerings, the main catalyst for connecting to the APSE opportunity. Guam CEDDERS and partner San Diego State University supported Ms. Bansil’s experience and look forward to her advocacy for the growth of supported employment opportunities on Guam. Photo with caption: Dr. Katherine Inge, Virginia Commonwealth University, Ginger Porter, Guam CEDDERS, and Danielle Bansil, job coach for the Guam Vocational Rehabilitation Center, met in Boston at the Association for Persons in Supported Employment (APSE) Conference held on June 28-30 in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Inge coordinates the online delivery of A Web-Based Certificate for Supported Employment and Supported Competitive Employment for Individuals with Mental Illness. Miss Bansil was selected from a pool of local course completers to participate in the three-day conference. Page 10 Guam EHDI Findings Presented at International Newborn Hearing Screening Conference Guam CEDDERS Core Faculty and Project Director for Guam EHDI, Dr. Velma Sablan, presented the preliminary research findings from the Guam EHDI program at the 2006 National Hearing Screening Conference held at Lake Como, Italy on May 31 to June 3. The international conference on newborn hearing screening has been held every two years in Italy since its inception in 1998. Sixty-six countries were represented during this year’s conference whose theme was “Beyond Newborn Hearing Screening-Infant and Childhood Hearing Science and Clinical Practice.” Dr. Sablan, along with co-authors Elaine Eclavea, Guam EHDI Program Coordinator, and Vicky Ritter, Guam EHDI Nurse Assistant, developed the presentation entitled, “The Guam EHDI Tracking and Surveillance System: Using Data Trends to Improve Hearing Screening Outcomes.” Dr. Sablan presented Guam’s findings in a panel with representatives from Spain, Germany, China, and Brazil. The presentation will be available for on-line review on the Guam EHDI website which will be launched in mid-September. Photo with caption: Dr. Karl White, of Utah State University and Guam CEDDERS Core Faculty Dr. Velma Sablan attended the opening reception for the Newborn Hearing Screening Conference held at the Villa Erba Congress Centre at Lake Como, Italy. Dr. White, a pioneer in the newborn hearing screening initiative, represented the U.S. on the international panel which opened the conference. Text in colored box: Infants identified with hearing loss from 2002 to 2004 • 19 infants were identified with hearing loss (7 in 2003 and 12 in 2004). • For 2005, 4 infants were referred for services • The high risk group for 2003 to 2004 totaled 639 Pie Chart: Guam’s Statistics in Newborn Hearing Screening 2002-2005 From 2002 to 2005, compiled hearing screening data from the Guam EHDI Project shows a significant increase in the number of newborn hearing screenings conducted prior to newborns being discharged from the hospital or birthing center. In 2002, only 228 newborns of the 3,222 recorded births, representing 7% of births that year, had hearing screening prior to discharge; whereas, in 2005, 2,803 out 2,813 recorded births or 99.6% of births that year had hearing screenings prior to discharge. Page 11 Photos with caption: Guam CEDDERS Photo Gallery Visitor Explores Possibilities Hiroshi Yoshikawa, President of the “Intercultural Youth Exchange Organization” and “American Dream, Inc.”, non-profit organizations, recently visited the University of Guam to explore the possibilities of providing educational opportunities on Guam to Japanese students with disabilities. Mr. Yoshikawa was particularly interested in bringing students who use wheelchairs to Guam to learn English and possibly continue in undergraduate programs. (L-R) Peter Roy Martinez, UOG Alumni Relations Director, Mike Terlaje, AT Specialist, Dr. Heidi San Nicolas, Guam CEDDERS Director, Mr. Yoshikawa, Terrie Fejarang, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director, & Chris Bejado, UOG Marketing Specialist. Meeting Up With Our Captioner After doing business over the Internet and phone for the past 5 years, Terrie Fejarang, (right) Guam CEDDERS Associate Director, finally met John Armour, (left) President of Armour Closed Captioning Services, while Terrie was in Bloomington, Minnesota. John and company, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, have provided the closed captioning for seven Guam CEDDERS video productions. Consultants Enjoy Guam’s Views (Left Photo) In July, consultants Dr. Martha Thurlow (center) and Dr. Brad Lenhardt (right) spent the Sunday after the PAC6 training with June De Leon, (left) Guam CEDDERS Associate Director, touring southern Guam (See related story on page 1). Håtsa Brings in NSDC Consultants for Workshops Ken Chargualaf (left), GPSS acting interim superintendent, and Parker McMullen, consultant from the National Staff Development Council, share views during a training session on August 1. (See related story on page 4.) Page 12 Calendar of Upcoming Events September 2006 ? Sep 1-Guam CEDDERS Advisory Council Mtg., 3:30 p.m., GSAT Training Center ? Sep 7-Project I Famagu’on-ta Consumer Focus Group Meeting, Yona Community Center, 6-8:30 p.m. ? Sep 7-11-Project Håtsa’s Center for Teacher Quality TA Visit, Håtsa Office, Mangilao ? Sep 7-15-Guam’s Individualized Inclusion Preschool Project Training, GSAT Center, 12:30-2:30 p.m. ? Sep 9-2006 Child Care Training Institute (Early Learning Guidelines 0-3 yrs.), Guam Marriott Resort & Spa, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ? Sep 11-12-FSM TA Visit, Chuuk ? Sep 12-Guam EHDI Quarterly Advisory Committee Meeting, Hilton Resort & Spa, 11:30 a.m.– 1:30 p.m. ? Sep 11-12-FSM National SPP Committee Meeting, Chuuk ? Sep 14-Sagua Mañagu Child Link Training, Tamuning, 10:00 a.m. ? Sep 14-Project I Famagu’on-ta Eval. Team meeting with Wrap Coordinators, Hagåtña ? Sep 16-2006 Child Care Training Institute (Early Learning Guidelines 0-3 yrs.), Guam Marriott Resort & Spa, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ? Sep 18-Parent Night with Karen Heying, Guam Marriott Resort & Spa, 6-8 p.m. ? Sep 21-Project I Famagu’on-ta Eval. Team meeting with Wrap Coordinators, Hagåtña ? Sep 28-Project I Famagu’on-ta Eval. Team meeting with Wrap Coordinators, Hagåtña ? Sep 29-Nene News Dissemination October 2006 ? Oct 1-Project Fo’na Fall Courses Begin ? Oct 3-4-CNMI PSS Site Visit, Saipan ? Oct 5-13-Guam’s Individualized Inclusion Preschool Project Training, GSAT Center, 12:30-2:30 p.m. ? Oct 9-13-OSEP Verification Visit, Majuro ? Oct 9-12-OSEP Verification Visit, Palau ? Oct 16-20-OSEP Verification Visit, FSM National/Pohnpei State November 2006 ? Nov 24-29-NCATE University of Guam School of Education Site Visit December 2006 ? Dec 1-Guam CEDDERS Advisory Council Mtg., 3:30 p.m., GSAT Center ? Dec 23-UOG Commencement Long-time GSAT Staffer Bids Farewell Photo with caption: A breakfast gathering was held on August 9 to commemorate the 11 years of dedication and hard work that Liz Horne has put into building the Guam System for Assistive Technology Center (GSAT) to what it is today. Liz recently moved on to a new position with the Department of Defense Education System. Liz is shown above with Mike Terlaje, AT Specialist. Best of luck in your new job, Liz! We’ll certainly miss you! 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@uog9.uog.edu 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 This issue of I Tellai was made possible by contributions from Evelyn Claros, and the following Guam CEDDERS staff members: Liz Borja, June De Leon, Elaine Eclavea, Terrie Fejarang, Mary Kidd, Kerina Oshiro, Ginger Porter, June Quitugua, & Velma Sablan. 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. The University of Guam is an equal opportunity employer and provider.