NEWS
Late-Onset Hearing Loss: Mary's Story
Published in the Summer 2023 edition of the Hands & Voices Communicator.
Happy 2022 - Press Release!
As we roll into 2022, there are a few announcements to make at Indiana Hands & Voices.
THANK YOU MICHELE
Firstly, the wonderful Michele Prifogle completed her two-year term as the President of our Board of Directors on December 31st, 2021. Don’t worry, she isn’t going far - we have invited her to stay on our Executive Board as our new Treasurer (previously, one of Mariana Barquet’s many roles).
We want to say a big THANK YOU to Michele, for all you have done for our chapter over the past 2 years.
WELCOME DANA
Stepping into the President role is Dana Slama, Dana was previously our Vice President. As the mom of twin boys (one of whom is deaf), and one of our original ASTra Advocates, Dana is no stranger to our community. Dana has been on our Board of Directors for over 3 years, and has chaired our Polo and Fundraising Committees.
Please help us welcome Dana to her new role as President of IN Hands & Voices!
As we roll into 2022, there are a few announcements to make at Indiana Hands & Voices.
Thank you michele
Firstly, the wonderful Michele Prifogle completed her two-year term as the President of our Board of Directors on December 31st, 2021. Don’t worry, she isn’t going far - we have invited her to stay on our Executive Board as our new Treasurer (previously, one of Mariana Barquet’s many roles).
We want to say a big THANK YOU to Michele, for all you have done for our chapter over the past 2 years.
welcome Dana
Stepping into the President role is Dana Slama, Dana was previously our Vice President. As the mom of twin boys (one of whom is deaf), and one of our original ASTra Advocates, Dana is no stranger to our community. Dana has been on our Board of Directors for over 3 years, and has chaired our Polo and Fundraising Committees.
Please help us welcome Dana to her new role as President of IN Hands & Voices!
(Almost) the whole crew at the 2021 Polo Fundraiser
2021 EHDI Family Conference Recordings
In case you weren’t able to attend last Saturday, please enter your info here to receive links to the recordings.
A friendly and casual place for parents and guardians of D/HH children from all over Indiana to connect. Please know that we are committed in keeping the group unbiased and free of judgment, regardless of our personal choices surrounding communication methods. We are also a support group, it is important to us that each one of our members feel safe and comfortable with each other. If you feel that this may benefit you, great! We look forward to connecting with you.
Tuesday, July 28th via Facebook Party
Hosted by Katie Bleeker, a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing! Katie is looking forward to sharing research and tips, as well as book recommendations with you.
Friday, August 21, 2020. Gates open @ 5pm!
This is our Indiana Hands & Voices Annual Fundraiser and Silent Auction. It is an outdoor event taking place on the fields at the Hickory Hall Polo Club in Whitestown.
Entry is $20 per vehicle. This is a tailgating event, so bring a carload, some folding chairs, and your picnic dinner! There will be activities and treats for the kids, and refreshments available, including beer and wine for those over 21.
Social distancing and other restrictions due to COVID-19 will be followed as per the ISDH guidelines at the time of the event.
Please click the image below for more information and tickets!
Cued Speech is a visual mode of communication in which mouth movements of spoken language combine with “cues” to make the sounds (phonemes) of traditional spoken languages look different. Eight different hand shapes are used in four places around the face to represent different sounds.
Our friends at Maryland/DC Hands & Voices are offering FREE beginner Cued American English Classes. Please email president.mddc.hv@gmail.com to register.
Top 5 Things
Thursday, May 21st at 1:00pm EDT via ZOOM
Let's say goodbye to this school year by having a virtual play date for all DHH kids! ASL Interpreter available. Click on the image for a direct link.
Our friend's at Hear Indiana are hosting a parent INcouragement Night (online) focusing on Auditory Function. Click the image below to RSVP.
New to ASL?
Gallaudet offers year-round FREE basic ASL lessons.
Already using ASL?
The Gallaudet Summer Residency programs are now being offered online for a wide range of levels.
Click the image below to link to their website for more information.
Michele Prifogle serves as the President of the Board of Directors for the Indiana Chapter of Hands & Voices. Her (almost) 10 year old son, Pearson is D/HH. He is just finishing up 3rd grade at his local elementary school.
Here is Pearson’s favorite joke:
Q: Why can’t you hear a pterodactyl using the restroom?
A: Because the p is silent
Michele has been staying sane during these crazy times of the COVID-19 pandemic by taking virtual Hot Yoga classes in front of her fireplace courtesy of The Hot Room. She has been making the best of staying at home by spending quality time with her family cooking, doing home projects, and puzzles.
This tip sheet is from the Family Leadership in Language & Learning (FL3) series, brought to you by Hands & Voices. To see a list of all available Parent Tip Sheets, please click on the image.
The Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education (CDHHE) Audiology department has released the following COVID-19 FAQ addressing questions, policies, and procedures currently in place concerning Audiology services.
Click the logo to view the PDF.
Indiana Hands & Voices Newsletter - April 2020
IN H&V news and upcoming events for March 2020
Welcome to the April 2020 edition of the IN Hands & Voices Newsletter. We’re glad you’re here! Our goal is to provide resources and events in Indiana for Families of children with Hearing Loss, especially during these stressful times. We've moved our newsletter to our website to make it even easier to view.
Click here to view the newsletter from the top, or any of the links in the contents section below to jump straight to something that interests you.
Contents:
UPCOMING EVENTS - By IN Hands & Voices
Family Zoom - connect with other D/HH families - Tuesdays @ 10:30am
Unwind Zoom - connect with other parents - Thursdays @ 8:30pm
8/21/2020 - Polo at Sunset Fundraiser, Whitestown, IN - details coming soon!
9/18/2020 - 9/20/2020 - H&V Leadership Conference, Nashville, TN - details coming soon!COVID-19
Office of Special Education (OSE) FAQ - Indiana Department of Education (IDOE)
Teletherapy - A parent’s Experience - our very own Mariana Barquet, IN H&V!
Survey for Families with D/HH Children - PsychData Research
#INThisTogether - Keeping families safe - Spread the word, not the virus
Information and Resources for D/HH Families - IN H&VRESOURCES FOR D/HH FAMILIES:
Parent Tip Sheet - Language Pragmatics
Learning LSL Through Telepractice - Hearing First
Free myASLTech Membership for Kids in AprilAT-HOME ACTIVITIES
Free ASL Coloring Pages & Activities - by Emma & Egor
eLearning Resource Guide - by Hearing Our Way
Please reach out to us at inhandsandvoices@gmail.com with any ideas on how to make our newsletter better.
COVID-19 - Information for D/HH Families
Last edited 4/06/2020
Last updated 4/06/2020
Here we will post a collection of information and links to support our D/HH families throughout this period of time.
Contents:
Teletherapy - a Parent’s Experience - Hands & Voices
Office of Special Education (OSE) FAQ - Indiana Department of Education (IDOE)
Grade-level Continuous Learning Challenge - Indiana Department of Education (IDOE)
Considerations for Families with DHH Children during COVID-19 - Hands & Voices HQ
COVID-19 Resources - Hands & Voices HQ
A Comprehensive List of Educational Resources - Amazing Educational Resources
eLearning Day Program Guidance for Students with Disabilities - Indiana Department of Education (IDOE)
Meeting IDEA /Article 7 Timelines During eLearning Days, Expanded Learning Opportunities, or School Closures Due to COVID-19 Concerns - Indiana Department of Education (IDOE)
Teaching Remotely to DHH Students - Council for Exceptional Children
New Resources for Educators, Local Leaders on K-12 Flexibilities, Student Privacy, and Educating Students with Disabilities During Coronavirus Outbreak - from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)
Talking to Children About COVID-19 - National Association of School Psychologists
Guidance from IDOE on COVID-19 Closures and E-Learning Days - Information for those that are in the process of and Educational Evaluation or an ACR (Annual Case Review = Annual Case Conference) released by Indiana Department of Education.
Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions Due to School Closings - Resources for supporting our kids of all ages through these next few weeks - huge google spreadsheet of resources
Supporting Younger Ones - an infographic
Office of Special Education (OSE) FAQ
SOURCE: Indiana Department of Education (IDOE)
Grade-level Continuous Learning Challenge
SOURCE: Indiana Department of Education (IDOE)
Considerations for Families with DHH Children during COVID-19
SOURCE: Hands & Voices HQ
A Comprehensive List of Educational Resources
SOURCE: Amazing Educational Resources (public facebook group)
Click here to open link (facebook page - login not necessary)
List of Sites for Families to Use While School is Closed
SOURCE: Unknown
eLearning Day Program Guidance for Students with Disabilities
SOURCE: Indiana Department of Education (IDOE)
First Steps’ COVID-19 Policies
Meeting IDEA /Article 7 Timelines During eLearning Days, Expanded Learning Opportunities, or School Closures Due to COVID-19 Concerns
Teaching Remotely to DHH Children
New Resources for Educators, Local Leaders on K-12 Flexibilities, Student Privacy, and Educating Students with Disabilities During Coronavirus Outbreak
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos issued new resources today that will assist education leaders in protecting student privacy and ensuring students with disabilities continue to receive services required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in the event of school closures due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
The Education Department also released important information for K-12 educators on flexibilities the Department could grant when it comes to the accountability standards required by law under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
Talking to Children About COVID-19
GUIDANCE FROM IDOE on COVID-19 Closures and E-Learning Days - Timelines
Source: https://www.facebook.com/INSOURCEparentshelpingparents post from Friday, March 13th @ 11:17am
To: Superintendents, Special Education Directors
From: Dr. Nancy Holsapple, Director of Special Education Date: March 11, 2020
Subject: Meeting IDEA /Article 7 Timelines During eLearning Days, Expanded Learning Opportunities, or School Closures Due to COVID-19 Concerns
The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) Office of Special Education has received several inquiries regarding how a school is to meet certain required Article 7 timelines if a school is closed, as a strategy to stop or slow the spread of COVID-19 in communities. Specific concerns center around conducting the evaluation and convening the case conference committee (CCC) within 20 or 50 instructional days of receipt of parental consent and convening the CCC for the annual case review (ACR) within one year of the previous ACR.
1. Evaluation Timelines
If a school makes a decision to close and does not utilize eLearning Days or expanded learning opportunities, the days of dismissal are not instructional days, so this type of closure will not impact timelines for conducting evaluations. If, however, school remains in session through the use of eLearning Days or expanded learning opportunities, then those days do count as instructional days and the 20 or 50 instructional day timeline to complete evaluations must be followed.
While utilizing eLearning Days or expanded learning opportunities, it may still be possible that the multidisciplinary team can complete its evaluation report within the required timelines depending on how much and what portions of the evaluation have been completed. Additionally, school personnel should work with their local health department and the parent to inquire about meeting with the student to conduct the educational evaluation.
2. CCC Meeting or Annual Case Review
Schools have the option to conduct CCC meetings teleconference, videoconference, or through a Webex if an in-person meeting is not possible.
Although there is no provision under the IDEA or Article 7 permitting a waiver of the timelines established in the federal regulations, a school should take appropriate actions to comply and document its efforts to comply with timelines. Communication with the parent is essential to meet the requirements.
Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions Due to School Closings
Suggestions for Supporting Younger Ones
U.S. Department of Education guidelines on educating Students with Disabilities during school closures due to COVID19
https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/qa-covid-19-03-12-2020.pdf
Indiana Hands & Voices Newsletter - March 2020
IN H&V news and upcoming events for March 2020
Welcome to the first Newsletter of March, 2020. We’re glad you’re here. Our goal is to provide you with information on resources and events in Indiana for Families of children with Hearing Loss. Please visit our main page at https://www.inhandsandvoices.org/ for more information.
IN Hands & Voices Team News
IN Hands & Voices welcomes the following new board member:
and the following new Guide By Your Side (GBYS) Parent Guides:
Contents:
SAVE THE DATES - Upcoming IN Hands & Voices Events
3/11/2020 - Parents Zoom Call, DHH+, online
4/4/2020 - Coffee Chats, North Vernon, IN
4/16/2020 - CANCELED - ASTra Training (Spanish), Indianapolis, IN
4/17/2020 - CANCELED - ASTra Training (English), Indianapolis, IN
8/21/2020 - Polo at Sunset Fundraiser, Whitestown, IN - details coming soon!
9/18/2020 - 9/20/2020 - H&V Leadership Conference, Nashville, TN - details coming soon!SAVE THE DATES - Upcoming D/HH Events Hosted by Other Groups
3/14/2020 - CANCELED - St Joseph Institute for the Deaf Monthly Playgroup, Indianapolis, IN
3/23/2020 - Hearing First Auditory Development and Function Course - registration closes
4/18/2020 - St Joseph Institute for the Deaf Monthly Playgroup, Indianapolis, INRESOURCE: PARENT TIP SHEET - Language Phonology
PHEW - you made it to the bottom of our newsletter!
Please reach out to us at inhandsandvoices@gmail.com with any ideas on how to make our newsletter better.
We are at the 2020 Annual EHDI Meeting!
Wishing two of our board members safe travels as they represent IN H&V at the Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Annual Meeting.
This weekend, two of our INH&V board members are off to Kansas City, Missouri to represent our chapter at the 2020 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Meeting.
This conference officially runs March 8-10, but there are several pre-conference events to attend on the 7th, including a H&V meeting.
Let’s wish our ladies safe travels, smooth presentations, and lots of learning this weekend! We look forward to hearing your news and stories when you get back.