OCDBE Updates 8-26-24

This fall, the Ohio Partnership for Excellence in Paraprofessional Preparation (OPEPP) offers three virtual workshops for paraprofessionals, including one on Paras as Interveners. Details about each workshop series, course descriptions, and registration information are listed here.

Dr. Jacqui Kearns, Dr. Judy Page, and other guests will present a seven-part series, Communicative Competence, for the 2024-2025 year. See the attached flyer for more details about the series. All sessions will be virtually from 4:00 to 5:00 pm (ET). To register, click here.

• 9/19/2024 - Core Vocabulary
• 10/17/2024 - Using Core as Part of the Curriculum
• 11/21/2024 - Considerations for Children with Visual Impairment
• 1/16/2025 - The Power of Peers
• 2/20/2025 - Communication Partner Strategies and Social Networks
• 3/20/2025 - Preparing Students with Complex Communication Needs for Transition
• 4/17/2025 - Considerations to Support Hearing in the Classroom

NFADB exists to empower the voices of families with individuals who are deafblind and advocate for their unique needs. Want to become a member? For more information on joining NFADB, click here.

The Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center invites you to join them on September 20, 2024, for the Ohio Family Engagement Leadership Summit, which is a day of professional learning and networking with those dedicated to advancing effective family-school-community partnerships across Ohio and beyond. This year’s theme is Family Engagement by Design with Dr. Katie Novak. This event is on Zoom from 9 AM – 3 PM Eastern Time. To stay updated about the details for this year's Summit, visit their website.

OCDBE offers parents/guardians of a child who is registered on the Ohio Deafblind Census the opportunity to support and increase their knowledge about deafblindness by assisting them in attending conferences, trainings, and workshops. To find out more about the program or to submit a request, visit https://www.ohiodeafblind.com/for-families/scholarships/

Upcoming Conferences, trainings and Workshops

Empowering Families Symposium: Let's Focus on Education will be held on Friday, September 27, from 8:00 am- 3:00 pm at Xavier University. The Symposium and vendor fair is designed to help patients and their families more easily access community resources, connect with special education advocates, and network with others facing similar challenges. For more information, see the attached flyer or visit here.

The Children’s Home’s Pediatric VIEW presents its second annual conference, October 3 – October 4, 2024, at the Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh, PA. This CVI conference will bring a variety of attendees from around the country together to educate and provide them with tools to use in their homes, practices, schools, and everyday life. For more details, visit here.

Save the date for the Texas Symposium on Deafblind Education, February 27-March 1, 2025, at the Austin Marriott North. Registration will be posted in the fall.

To better serve parents, OCDBE Updates are sent to all parents, including information, upcoming events and training, resources, and professional development opportunities that may interest parents, educators, and those who serve children with combined vision and hearing loss. If you have suggestions, thoughts, or ideas that you would like to see included, please let us know by contacting Jodi Dowell at dowelljr@ucmail.uc.edu.