Non-Traditional Deaf Education Certification Program: Application NOW Open!
The Non-Traditional Deaf Education Certification Program is currently accepting applicants!
- Are you interested in becoming a certified Teacher of the Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing?
- Do you know someone interested in becoming a certified Teacher of the Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing?
Applicant requirements:
- Currently certified in one or more areas of education
- Must have three or more years of teaching experience
- Must have a functional computer and Internet access
Additional Information and Online Application
Application Deadline: March 23, 2021 @ 11:59 p.m.
HB 548 Language Acquisition for Deaf/HH Children (Ages 0-8)
"The 86th Texas Legislature finds that children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing are often at risk for language delay or deprivation. The purpose of HB 548 is to generate and monitor data on the language acquisition of children eight years of age or younger who are deaf or hard of hearing."
Helpful links:
- House Bill 548
- TEA Guidance: HB 548 Language Acquisition for Deaf/HH Children Ages 0-8
- HB 548 List of Assessments
- TEA Website: Sensory Impairments Page
- HB 548 Webinar (Video)
- TSDS SELA New User Training (Part 1)
- Common Steps for Core Collection Training (Part 2)
- Model Consent Form Letter
- Model Consent Form (PDF)
- Model Consent Form (Word)
- Model Consent Form (in Spanish)
- Model Consent Form (in Vietnamese)
NEW on the TEA Sensory Impairments Page:
- Nothing new has been posted since the January Engage newsletter was published.
As LEAs begin implementing HB 548, questions arise and new information becomes available. Please continue to ask questions, and please pay attention. This portion of the Engage newsletter will be updated monthly.
Questions?
- Submit your questions by completing this FAQ HB 548 Google Form.
- This FAQ document will be available soon.
- Contact Emily Robinson, D/HH Program Administrator & State Director of RDSPDs, or Susie Tiggs, State Lead for Deaf Education.
Helpful Information from the Texas Education Agency
Are you looking for some new ideas and/or strategies for working with D/HH students?
Mental Health Symposium for Deaf and DeafBlind Youth
April 23, 2021; 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Virtual Symposium via Zoom
Cost: $25
Hosted by the Texas Mental Health Initiative for Deaf Youth, this is the first Symposium that will address mental health issues, concerns, and needs of youth who are deaf or deafblind. This event will be two half-days of presentations, group discussion, and networking. Mental Health professionals, educators, community service providers, families, and consumers are welcome to attend. This event will be virtual, and interested persons from across the state are encouraged to participate.
Registration closes on March 21, 2021.
Limited parent scholarships are available upon request. Contact Edgenie Bellah.
For questions, please contact Trish Grooms.
Imagine Deaf Arts #All In
The theme for this year's Imagination Texas is #All In. The Imagination Texas Planning Committee aims for 100% participation of all RDSPDs in Texas and even beyond. This year, Imagination Texas can be accessed via a virtual format in a classroom or from home.
There is no cost to participate; however, a free account with ConnectToTexas is required.
IMPORTANT ESC Region 11 Registration Information about D/HH Sessions
2020-2021 ESC REGION 11 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR PERSONS WORKING WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE D/HH
DEADLINES: Registration for all virtual learning opportunities will close the day before the session, so please register sooner rather than later!
DEMAND: Because virtual and online sessions can be accessed far beyond the North Texas area, workshops are filling up quicker than they have in the past. Again, please register sooner rather than later!
ACCOMMODATIONS: If accommodations such as a sign language interpreter or captioning are needed, please email Anne Darr at least FIVE DAYS BEFORE the session to make that request.
DeafBlind Graduate Certificate Initiative through Texas Tech University
"The DeafBlind Graduate Certificate Initiative will provide funding assistance to qualified candidates through a grant from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to cover tuition and fees for online courses needed for the DeafBlind Graduate Certificate."
For questions about the TTU DeafBlind Program, contact Dr. Phoebe Okungu.
For Administrators...
North Texas Virtual Meetings:
Spring 2021 RDSPD Supervisor Virtual Networking MeetingsPlease email Anne Darr to request the registration password.
Bi-Monthly Watercooler Chats:
Registration is required.
To register:
- Log into the TxSSN Community of Practice: https://txdhh.matrixlms.com/
- Go to "Groups"
- Go to "RDSPD Supervisors"
- Click on the calendar icon in the top menu bar
- Click on the link in the calendar to register
For Audiologists...
HEARING FIRST: POWERING POTENTIAL
FREE learning opportunities
CEUs are available through the American Academy of Audiology.
For Parent Advisors...
FOUNDATIONS IN EARLY INTERVENTION
Foundations in Early Intervention is back online and ready for registration! This online, self-paced, asynchronous course has been developed to support Teachers of the Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing who serve infants/toddlers and their families. Topics include every aspect of early intervention service delivery from newborn hearing screenings through transition services at age three, and participants can choose the modules that best meet their needs. Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours are available for participants who complete one or more modules.
Questions? Contact Mari Hubig, Mari.Hubig@tsd.state.tx.us
2020-2021 D/HH PARENT ADVISOR VIRTUAL NETWORKING MEETINGS:
Have you joined the D/HH Parent Advisor Online Networking Group?
Parent Advisors from all over Texas meet online several times each semester to discuss topics, troubleshoot issues, answer questions, share successes, and receive updates. To participate in these meetings, please email Mari Hubig and ask to be added to the distribution group.
Upcoming Zoom Meetings (click on the date to register):
- February 8, 2021; 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
- April 16, 2021; 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
- May 20, 2021; 10:00 a.m. - Noon
Due to circumstances out of our control, we have been thrown into providing tele-intervention with little or no training! Join us as we explore the concept of tele-intervention, coaching parents, and other strategies necessary to provide services to families of infants and toddlers who are deaf/hard of hearing, blind/visually impaired, or deafblind.
For Teachers...
Pre-K/K Teachers of the D/HH Learning Community Group
- Do you work with the youngest D/HH students in a school setting?
- Would you like to network with other Teachers of the D/HH who are also working with this population?
- Do you have questions to ask, ideas and strategies to share, and/or situations to troubleshoot?
If so, please join this group!
- Go to https://txdhh.matrixlms.com/
- Click on "Groups"
- Find the "Pre-K/K Teachers of the Deaf" Group and join it!
NEW TODHH VIRTUAL SNACK AND SHARE
Are you a new Teacher of the Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing (TODHH) in Texas?
Have you been a TODHH for less than three years?
Would you like an opportunity to network with other new Teachers of the D/HH?
If so, please make plans to attend the New TODHH Virtual Snack and Share sessions. Participants will meet virtually to discuss topics, troubleshoot issues, answer questions, share successes, receive updates, and network with professional peers. (Note: Snacks not provided.)
First Wednesday of each month, Noon - 1:00 p.m.
- February 3, 2021
- March 3, 2021
- April 7, 2021
- May 5, 2021
Password: TODHH2020
NEW! ITINERANT TEACHERS OF THE D/HH PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY
October 2020 through June 2021
Are you serving D/HH students on a cluster campus or through itinerant services? This online professional learning community will provide an opportunity to network with professional peers from across the state. Participants will have access to discussion boards, helpful resources, and tips and tricks to use as an itinerant teacher.
Password: TODHH2020
ITINERANT TODHH VIRTUAL NETWORKING GROUP
Itinerant teachers from all over Texas meet online several times each semester to discuss topics, troubleshoot issues, answer questions, share successes, and receive updates. To participate in these meetings, please register using the links below. For more information, contact Anne Darr. Click on the links below to register.
2020-2021 Dates for Itinerant Zoom Meetings:
LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION FOCUSED IEPs
The key components of an appropriate and effective Individualized Educational Program (IEP) are the integration of language and communication impact statements into the academic standards and the instructional delivery system. Each component is vital to the IEP process:
- presenting a clear picture of the student's fluency in language compared to his or her peers,
- the mode of communication used by the student both at home and school,
- the optimal instructional language system, and
- the optimal social language system.
A team of parents and professionals worked collaboratively to develop the “Language and Communication-Focused IEPs for Learners who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: A Discussion Guide.” This guide will assist IEP teams with developing a plan that fits the needs of their individual learner. The guide includes a list of guiding questions and evidence-based resources to meet the legal mandates of IDEA, ADA/504 and Title II.
The IEP Mini-Lessons are intended to prepare educators and school administrators on how to use the IEP Discussion Guide in the best way possible. Each mini-lesson covers a chapter in the IEP Discussion Guide.
DHHS Certificate of Deafness for Tuition Waiver Program
Updates from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Office of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Services (DHHS) regarding the Certificate of Deafness for Tuition Waiver:
- The processing time for CODTW applications is now 30 days (previously 14 business days.) Students are encouraged to submit applications sooner rather than later.
- DHHS has a NEW email address for tuition waivers: dhhs.tuitionwaivers@hhsc.state.tx.us. This email address can be used to submit a waiver application, ask questions about the program, check on the status of a submitted waiver, and request copies. (There was a typo in the November Engage newsletter. THIS is the correct email address.)
- For more information, please refer to the Texas HHSC Tuition Waiver website.
National Technical Institute for the Deaf: Virtual Science Fair for Students who are D/HH
RIT/NTID is proud to present a new series of virtual events for middle school deaf and hard-of-hearing students. The Virtual Science Fair is a competition that will test your scientific knowledge, creativity, and hands-on skills in a variety of topics. Are you a deaf or hard-of-hearing student interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)? Do you like getting creative, trying out new things, and learning how to conduct your own experiments? If so, these events are perfect for you!
Competitions in January and March 2021
Texas Hands & Voices: Guide By Your Side
Texas Guide By Your Side (GBYS) is a family support program that embodies the mission of Hands & Voices, which is to provide support in an unbiased manner to parents/guardians with children who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing from birth-21.
Guide By Your Side (GBYS) does this through specially trained parents of children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. These parents work as “Guides” directly with families who have just learned of their child’s hearing condition, or who have older children and are in need of the unique support that comes from someone else who has walked this same path and can share his or her direct experiences and wisdom. GBYS programs can also include an option for Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Guides (D/HH Guides) who are deaf or hard-of-hearing adults and specially trained to provide support to families.
HOW DO I ENROLL?
- Enrolling in the Guide By Your Side program is easy, confidential, and free of charge!
- Parents and family members can request services in English or Spanish.
- With faxed consent, professionals can also request services for staff or families they serve.
Enroll in Español
If ever there were a time to be a member of the TxSSN Community of Practice, THIS IS IT!
- Do you serve infants, toddlers, and/or students who are deaf/hard of hearing?
- Do you ever wish it were easier to connect with others in your field?
- Do you learn best in a formal setting, or do you prefer to learn in a comfortable setting of your choice?
- Are you looking for guidance documents, rules and regulations, and best-practice articles?
- Are you willing to share lesson plans, mileage forms, and other resources with other deaf educators?
- Do you prefer to learn and network while in your pajamas?
If you answered "YES!" to any of the questions above,
the TxSSN Community of Practice is for YOU.
PLEASE JOIN!
Have you joined these Facebook groups?
Navigating Life with Hearing Loss Teachers
What? You haven't joined? Then do it NOW!
ESC Region 11 Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Services
817-740-3698
Susie Tiggs, Statewide Lead, D/HH Services
817-740-7580
Twyla Loftin, Educational Consultant, D/HH Services
817-740-7566
Danielle Battle, Early Intervention Sensory Impairment Specialist
817-740-7530
Hillary Keys, Consultant for DeafBlind Services
(817)740-3683
Education Service Center Region 11
1451 South Cherry Lane
White Settlement, TX 76108
ESC Region 11 Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Services:
https://www.esc11.net/domain/118
Statewide Outreach Center @ TSD (formerly the Crossroads Website):