Family Resource Group- May '25

There are some new and exciting things happening, and we want to keep you up to date! Enjoy this last full month of school. Congratulations to you, your child, and your school team for another wonderful school year!

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

The end of the school year is a perfect time for reflecting and reminiscing on the year gone by, while also looking forward to the year ahead. It can be a way to remember all of their achievements from the year. This is also a time for kids to think about what they are proud of, what targets they have accomplished, their success, and what they want to focus on moving forwards.

From Teaching Expertise

A team of volunteers, through our Literacy Initiative, took on a huge task and cataloged 700+ books that feature characters with hearing loss.

This resource is categorized by age, device, and mode of communication.This is a comprehensive list of books that feature a character(s) with hearing loss. The list typically does not include titles published before 1990 or books considered New Adult or Adult Fiction. Titles on this list include representation somewhere in the book whether in the main character or in a supporting or background character.

The contents of the books do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh or any of the individuals associated with the Hearing Center. Additionally, the contents of each book have not been reviewed. Parents and teachers are encouraged to review content warnings when selecting titles.

This list was entirely volunteer created and thus may not be perfect or complete.

Have a title we should add? Contact us: TheHearingCenter.CHP@gmail.com

On behalf of the PA DeafBlind Project, we are pleased to announce that the Family Learning Conference (FLC) 2025 registration is now open!

Please consider attending our upcoming Family Learning Conference June 20-21, 2025, at the Penn Stater Hotel Conference Center. Due to the content of this year’s FLC, it will only be offered as an in-person event this year.

You may access the agenda and registration link either by the Smore newsletter or the FLC webpage. *Registration to close May 15, 2025* Once we receive your registration, you will receive a confirmation email from the Project with the next steps.

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

• If your child has both a vision and hearing loss, your family (parents/guardians, siblings, and child with deafblindness) is welcome to join us for our family learning conference!

WHY ATTEND?

• Come experience sharing, caring, and learning together with staff from the Pennsylvania DeafBlind Project, PaTTAN, and other families living with deafblindness.

AI: Artificial Intelligence

ASL: American Sign Language

CNN: Cable News Network

Nvidia launching AI platform to make learning sign language easier

By Clare Duffy, CNN
February 20, 2025

New YorkCNN —

Imagine a language tutor who is always on, available anytime to teach new vocabulary or check up on a student’s progress.

On Thursday, Nvidia launched a language learning platform using artificial intelligence that promises to do just that for American Sign Language learners, in partnership with the American Society for Deaf Children and creative agency Hello Monday.

The platform, called Signs, features a 3-D avatar to demonstrate signs. Users keep their video cameras on while interacting with the platform and an AI tool provides feedback as they practice the signs. At launch, the platform features 100 distinct signs, but Nvidia hopes to grow that to 1,000.

Interested in learning mor about sign language? Consider attending the free interpreting academy at Mount Aloysius. The ASL/EI Summer Academy will be held on June 17 & 18 and provide students with an introduction to American Sign Language, as well as the Deaf culture and interpreting field.

WHO: Students in grades 10-12
WHAT: Two-Day ASL/English Interpreting Summer Academy
WHERE: Mount Aloysius College (8 am - 5 pm each day)
WHEN: June 18 & 19

The Endeavor will be published three to four times yearly and available online only via our website. Our focus will be on varied topics such as the importance of inclusive and diverse language development, resources to support your child’s education journey, helping your child with life transitions, highlighting Deaf culture and community, along with regular reports of ASDC’s activities, editorials, national news, calendars of upcoming events, stories of family experiences and so much more.

Introducing a new, exciting professional development and networking opportunity for schools, families, youth, and community partners. This comprehensive event highlights best practices, research, and practical application of strategies for autism, sensory and other low incidence disabilities, and secondary transition.

• This conference will bring together Pennsylvania’s educators, community partners, families, and youth to explore the latest insights, strategies, and tools that bridge the gap between knowledge and practical application.
• Sessions will have a specific focus on autism, sensory disabilities, secondary transition, and students with complex instructional needs.
• Participants will gain tangible strategies to enhance teaching practices, drive student success, and adapt to the evolving demands of today’s classrooms.

Location: The Penn Stater Conference Center State College, PA

Dates: July 28-31, 2025

Youth Transition Summit

Youth ages 14-21 are invited to attend the Youth Transition Summit at the Bridging Knowledge to Know How Conference! At the Summit youth will build important skills like leading their IEP team meeting, advocating for themselves, and planning for their future. The Youth Summit will be available on all four days of the conference. On Tuesday, July 29 and Wednesday July 30, youth can attend the Transition Summit in the morning. In the afternoon, they can choose to continue attending conference sessions or participate in Camp insPirAtion.

See the attached flyer for sharing purposes.

Click here to register

Camp Inspiration (formerly known as the Children's Institute) is a fun and free camp-like environment open to everyone ages 4-22 whose caregivers are attending the conference. (July 28-31, 2025) Open to anyone with autism, sensory needs, secondary transition, anyone with complex instructional needs and siblings are welcome to attend for 4 days of sun, fun, and games! APPLICATION AVABILABLE SOON For more information visit the PaTTAN website or message CampInspiration@pattan.net

Seeking works by student artists to display at The Penn Stater Conference Center, State College, during Bridging Knowledge to Know-How: Empowering Pennsylvania Educators and Partners July 28th-31st, 2025. A gallery exhibition will recognize and promote the creative work of students across Pennsylvania. Please submit artworks along with the information on the form by May 31, 2025. Questions and digital submission can be sent to ArtOfExpression@pattan.net