Family Resource Group September '26

Welcome Back! We hope you are off to a great start and excited for a new year of learning and growth.

As always, if you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact me at any time. We also invite the teachers, therapists and school staff who work with your child to register to receive a copy of the newsletter as well. There is a question on the registration page for professionals so that we can contact them. Please pass this on to everyone that supports your child.

Erin Campion

Family Resource Group (FRG) Editor

ecampion@pattan.net

This three-part webinar series with Dr. Carol Flexer, gives practical, evidence-based strategies to support children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH) whose families have chosen listening and spoken language outcomes. Participants will explore auditory brain development, strategies to improve auditory

access, assistive technology, and the development of self-advocacy, executive functioning, and social-communication skills. Each session also highlights connections to secondary transition by focusing on the skills students need for success in postsecondary education, employment, and community life.

🎧 DHH Hour with the Expert Series

Dates:

• October 6, 2026 | 4:00–5:00 p.m. Auditory Brain Development as the Foundation for Listening, Language, and Literacy This webinar looks at brain development as the foundation for listening, spoken language, and literacy, family-friendly descriptions of ear-to-brain connection and includes practical strategies for coaching and partnering throughout routines of daily living.
• November 20, 2026 | 4:00–5:00 p.m. Optimizing Classroom and Home Acoustics: Featuring Practical Use of Remote Microphone Technology This webinar examines how acoustic environments impact listening, learning, and brain function. Participants will explore the effects of distance, noise, and reverberation and learn how remote microphone technology can improve communication and support language, literacy, and social development.
• December 8, 2026 | 4:00–5:00 p.m. Executive Function and Theory of Mind: Supporting Academic, Social, and Future Workplace Success This webinar examines the role of executive function (EF) and Theory of Mind (ToM) in learning, social development, independence, and workplace success across the lifespan.

Target Audience: Teachers of Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH), Educational Audiologists, Families, and Secondary Transition Partners

Join us for the DHH Hour with the Expert series, an opportunity to learn directly from experts and gain practical insights related to supporting students who are deaf or hard of hearing across educational and transition settings.

Registration for Hour with the Expert Series

Your voice is one of your most powerful tools for self-advocacy! In Mic Check: Using Your Voice for Self-Advocacy, participants will hear directly from PaTTAN Youth Engagement Specialists as they share their personal disability journeys, experiences with self-advocacy, and how they learned to use their voices to communicate what they need, want, and value.

🎤 Mic Check

November 18, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Target Audience: Students and Families

Mic Check is an opportunity designed specifically for students and families, providing an engaging space to learn, connect, and explore topics that can support students as they prepare for life after high school.

Registration for Mic Check

Youth will explore:

• What self-advocacy means and why it matters,
• Practical strategies for developing self-advocacy skills in school, work, relationships, and everyday life,
• Real-life stories, open discussion, and opportunities for reflection, and
• Ways to communicate needs and identify strengths to become more confident advocates for themselves

Professionals are also welcome to attend. Please note that professional participants will not receive continuing education credit for this session.

Q&A with Dr. David Chi and Jessica LeDonne, AuD

Join Children's Hospital staff for a free and educational event to learn about hearing loss and

implantable solutions for your child.

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm (EST)

During this time, they will:

• Provide tips to support your child through each part of their hearing journey

• Learn about the features and benefits of the Nucleus® Nexa™ Implant System

• Hear from special guest: Dr. Chi and Jessica LeDonne, AuD of the Children's

Hospital of Pittsburgh

How do I join the virtual meeting? Follow these simple steps:

1. Visit www.cochlear.com/us/events or scan the QR code on the flyer below

2. Click on the event name and complete registration

3. Once registered, you will receive an email with instructions for how to join the

meeting online!

Questions? Contact Beth Villanyi at 267 887 5872 or bvillanyi@cochlear.com for more details.

Is your child:

• between 7-12 years old
• have a permanent sensorineural hearing loss (non - genetic syndrome, non- atresia, non- microtia) in one ear
• in good general health
• an English speaker?

There is a research study starting to look at how cognitive and language processing is represented by the brain. We are interested in knowing how these skills change with unilateral hearing loss. They are set up at Pitt to see participants and are flexible with respect to appointments. They can accommodate afternoons, evenings, and weekends for study visits. They can accept a few participants as soon as possible and then would also be happy to schedule families beyond October. Participants will be compensated for their time. Contact Brainlanglab@pitt.ed or 412-710-6028

The newly launched AG Bell Advocacy page brings together resources designed to meet you where you are and grow with you through every age and stage. Whether you are a parent, professional, self-advocate, or educator, you will find what you need to support advocacy development from early childhood through adulthood.

Explore the new Advocacy Toolkit, built to support self-advocacy at every stage of life, and discover how to leverage these resources for personal growth and community impact.

Join the next Parent Chat on October 8 where they will discuss how parents can support the transition of their children from high school to college.

High school students (hearing and/or deaf, hard of hearing) across Pennsylvania can study American Sign Language (ASL) and fulfill their World Language requirement through the World of Learning Institute at Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8.

Enroll students now for the 2026—2027 school year! ASL I–IV courses are offered as live, online classes taught in ASL by qualified instructors. These immersive experiences build expressive and receptive signing skills while introducing students to the rich culture and communication norms of the Deaf community.

Courses are offered at a reduced rate through the Attract-Prepare-Retain Project. For questions or enrollment information, contact Olivia Grugan: ogrugan@iu08.org.

"Everyone’s hearing loss story is different. That’s why we’re excited to expand our Hearing Loss 101 Toolkit with a family-focused component to support children with hearing loss and their parents.

This new resource encourages kids to express their feelings about hearing loss through five simple questions. Whether they’re relieved, worried, curious or confident, children will appreciate having control of their story.

We’ve also included guidance for how grownups can facilitate the conversation and share what they learn with other supporting figures in a child's life. Share the Hearing Loss 101 Toolkit with any families you know!"

This PaTTAN essential guide empowers educators to thoughtfully consider and document assistive technology (AT) in Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), ensuring students with disabilities access and benefit from the general curriculum.

It clarifies AT devices and services—from low-tech tools to complex software—and outlines the IEP team's collaborative role in assessing needs, selecting tools, and providing training. The guide offers practical checklists and clear strategies for embedding AT across IEP sections, supporting student success and independence.

By integrating AT effectively, teachers can personalize instruction, enhance participation, and help students achieve their goals confidently. Empower your teaching—make AT an integral part of your IEP planning today!