Training
Workshop Series
The Workshop Training Series are designed for use by educational teams involved in meeting the needs of children who are deafblind. The series utilizes a combination of face-to-face and on-line training experiences. The links below are to be used in conjunction with The Project workshop. See below for information on requestion training.
After completing this tutorial participants will:
- have an understanding of the definition and categories of deafblindness, its causes and characteristics
- have the knowledge and skills to complete a future planning process for children with deafblindness
- have resources to gain a deeper understanding of deafblindness
After completing this tutorial participants will have knowledge to:
- assess a child's current level of communication,
- develop goals and objectives,
- design and implement developmentally appropriate activities,
- measure a child's progress, and
- make program decisions based on the child's progress.
Observation and Identification
After completing this tutorial participants will have knowledge of:
- the use of observation in identifying children who are deafblind,
- the methods and tools for conducting an observation,
- observing and interpreting a child's behavior.
After completing this tutorial participants will have knowledge of:
- Level one instruction for learners who are deafblind and significantly cognitively and physically impaired.
- Level two instruction for learners who are deafblind and are ambulatory or are expected to become ambulatory.
After completing this tutorial participants will have knowledge of:
- Know the types and purposes of calendar systems in the education of students who are deafblind.
- Know how to set up and use an appropriate calendar system for teaching your student.
- Know how calendar use increases time management skills.
- Know how to effectively provide opportunities for your student to anticipate.
- Know how to effectively provide additional information when transitioning your student between activities
Process for Requesting Training
The Oregon Deafblind Project, housed at Western Oregon University (the Teaching Research Institute - TRI), provides team training on a first-come-first-served basis. The project is set up to do 3-6 team trainings each year. The training involves commitment to a year-long series of face-to-face classes and activities. Some dollars from the grant will be available to pay for the participation of the Instructional Aide (IA) - the paraprofessional (one-on-one person or intervener) on the child's team. NOTE: If the district will be claiming reimbursement from the project for the unpaid hours of attendance for the child's IA, please inform Lyn Ayer or this, and indicate the name/contact information of the district person who is responsible for sending an invoice to the project at the end of the training. The usual process will be as follows:
- Working with your Regional Deafblind Consultant (see attachment), make contact with the project director, Lyn Ayer: (503) 838-8328 or e-mail: ayerl@wou.edu
- Request training for a specific child's team (include parents on the team). IMPORTANT: The child must be registered with the project. Your Regional Consultants will be able to verify this - or help you to fill out the child registry form if the child is new.
- With your Regional Consultant and Lyn, determine the following:
- Looking at the child's current IEP, which modules/topics are relevant for this child's needs, and the sequence in which these would be most beneficial to the team
- (The frequency and duration of each session - including selecting dates and times
- Any child-specific aspects you would like included in the training (e.g., a brief overview of the child's etiology/functioning)
- Meet with your administrators to ensure their support (include your building Principal in this meeting if training sessions are to be held in the building). Your Regional Consultant could be involved in this meeting if needed.
- Lyn will draw up an agreement - including the schedule. See sample agreement/schedule attached. This agreement must be signed by the child's parent, your administrator(s), and the Regional Consulting teacher or lead teacher.
- Lyn will provide the Project's fiscal office with information regarding reimbursement of the child's IA.
- At the conclusion of the training, ALL participants will receive certificates of participation - which will contain a documentation of the number of hours spent in training. The Regional Consultant will ensure the district office sends in an invoice for reimbursement for the IA's unpaid time.
- Your Regional Consultant and/or Lyn will be responsible for materials for the training.
- Part of the training includes collection of child and team member outcome data - to ensure that the training is going in the right direction and having an impact. Your Regional Consultant and/or Lyn will be a part of this data-collection effort.
Click for more information about requesting and receiving training or for our Training Brochure.
