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Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. W isconsin E ducational S ervices P rogram for the D eaf and H ard of H earing (WESP-DHH) Outreach Program. The Dreaming…. “It takes a village…” 1998 - Facilitated identification of needs with DHH teachers – conducted regionally
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Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WESP-DHH) Outreach Program
The Dreaming… “It takes a village…” • 1998 - Facilitated identification of needs with DHH teachers – conducted regionally • 1999 - “Needs” shared with Stakeholder groups including parents and people both urban and rural areas
Evolution of WESP-DHH • 2000 • Mission / Vision was developed by stakeholders • Strategic Plan drafted byAdvisory Committee • Proposal to the DPI Superintendent and legislature • 2001 • Bill passed with funds to support a newly designed Wisconsin Educational Services Program-Deaf and Hard of Hearing; WSD and Outreach Program. • 2003 • Outreach Director hired … a new beginning…
The Wisconsin Design Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Special Education Team Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WESP-DHH) WESP-DHH Wisconsin School Outreach Program for the Deaf
WESP-DHH Outreach Mission…. The Outreach Program supports children who are deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind by providing a broad array of services to families and educational programs. Services and supports are determined based on the child’s needs.
Consultant Staff Can assess and consult in a variety of areas: • Educational achievement • Speech development • Language development • Auditory development • Sign communication development • Social/emotional development • Deafblindness • Communication access
Consultant Staff • Services Provided to School Districts and Birth to 3 Programs: • Assessment and Evaluation • Consultation • Written Evaluations and Recommendations • Participation in the IFSP / IEP team meeting • Staff in-service and training
Unique Programs… • Guide-By-Your-Side • Deaf Mentor Project • Parent Conference • Deafblind Services • Captioned Media • ASL Distance Learning
Guide-By-Your-Side A Parent-to-Parent Program • Guides are parents of children who are deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind. • Service is free-of-charge. • Bilingual guides are available. • Provide in-home support to parents of a newly identified child
Deaf Mentor Project • Provides a Deaf Mentor to any family with a child who is deaf or hard of hearing and under the age of 6 to: • Teach the family American Sign Language • Model interactions with the child • Share aspects of Deaf Culture • Modeled after the Deaf Mentor project from SKI*HI in Utah
Annual Statewide Parent Conference • Over 120 families at this year’s conference • Led by parents • Deaf and hard of hearing role models • Variety of activities • Latino family outreach efforts
Distance Learning Opportunities Currently: • Broadcast from WS DAmerican Sign Language as a world language to high school students Future Plans: • ASL classes for parents statewide • Staff courses
DeafblindServices • Collaborative Workgroup currently meeting to vision and develop a collaborative statewide plan, including: • Deafblind Coordinator, WESPDHH • State Consultants, DHH and VI, Dept. of Public Instruction • WI Center for Blind and Visually Impaired • Federal Deafblind Project (WDE) • Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing • Division of Vocational Rehabilitation • Helen Keller Regional Resource Center
Professional Development & Supports • Year round conferences and workshops • Networking and Professional Support: • DHH teachers, Educational Audiologists, Educational Interpreters, etc. • Professional Library & Clearinghouse of materials • Presentations for School Administrators
Future dreaming… • Use of technology-distance learning-sign language for parents • Pen Pals program • Shared Reading Program • Latino Family Focus • Literacy-based Summer Programming for kids • In-home Auditory Training for parents (similar to Deaf Mentor Project) • Chat rooms for professionals
Collaborative partners for change… • WI Department of Public Instruction State Consultants • Wisconsin School for the Deaf • Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired • Division of Vocational Rehabilitation • Federal Deafblind Project • Department of Health and Family Services • Wisconsin Sound Beginnings (EHDI program) • Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing • Wisconsin Birth to Three Program • Wisconsin Personnel Development Project • Wisconsin Families for Hands and Voices • Stakeholders
Together it Works! Parents and Families Schools National Organizations & Resources State Health Agency State Education Agency Birth to 3 Programs Communities
Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WESPDHH) For more information, contact Marcy Dicker Dropkin Outreach Director 262-787-9540 v/tty marcy.dropkin@wesp-dhh.wi.gov Or visit our website: www.wesp-dhh.wi.gov