WSDS Listservs
Special Program: Shared Reading Video Outreach Project
NEW! Spring Family Weekend
NEW! Role Model Connection
Funding for Hearing Aids
Website Favorites
State and National Agencies and Programs
We maintain several free email listservs for family members and professionals to share information, ask questions, and discuss concerns. To subscribe to any of these, email Carol Carrothers at: carolc@cwu.edu or call her at: (509) 963-1131 and tell her which one you’d like to join.
Listservs on deaf/hard of hearing topics include:
The Shared Reading Video Outreach Project is a statewide reading enhancement program of Washington School for the Deaf. Services are delivered via live interactive videoconferencing to schools and ESDs.
For more information, visit the SRVOP website or contact MaryClare Litzen at: (425) 917-7847 or Heather Abraham at: 800-613-4228 x 4292
WSDS, in cooperation with Washington School for the Deaf, Office of Deaf/Hard of Hearing Services, Department of Health, and Child Hearing League, sponsors an annual weekend for families with children and teens who are deaf/hard of hearing. Families stay in cabins at the Lazy F Ranch outside of Ellensburg, attend workshops, and have a great time.
For information on our next family weekend scheduled for May 2-4, 2008 contact Carol Carrothers at carolc@cwu.edu (or) (509) 963-1131 or
Nancy Graham at grahamnan@cwu.edu (or) (509) 963-1670
Download your application packet here (8 pages).
The purpose of Role Model Connection is to provide models of
American Sign Language for young deaf students, in order to
improve their receptive and expressive ASL skills. Deaf adults
who have completed a training will spend time in a classroom
each week visiting with deaf and hard of hearing students.
Each child will be asked to sign a story about something that
happened to him or her. The Deaf adult will then re-sign the
student's story, modeling grammatical ASL.
Deaf Adults: Interested in becoming an ASL Role Model?
See our flier.
Parents/Teachers: Want to learn how to get a child involved
in this project? Contact one of us for more information:
Carol Carrothers (Washington Sensory Disabilities Services)
carolc@cwu.edu
(509) 963-1131
IP 198.104.102.66
Heather Abraham (Washington School for the Deaf)
heather.abraham@wsd.wa.gov
(360) 418-4292
IP 169.204.199.211
Finding funds to pay for hearing aids can be a challenge. Few insurance providers cover the cost of hearing aids. For infants and toddlers under age 3, families should contact their lead county Family Resources Coordinator for assistance in looking for funding.
These are just a few of our favorites. We’ll add to this list as we come across new websites that we like.
For unbiased information and support, especially for families with babies newly diagnosed with hearing loss:
Other good websites for educators and families include:
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Clerc Center at Gallaudet University
National Center for Hearing Assesment and Management: Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)
This website (www.infanthearing.org) contains up-to-date comprehensive information on newborn hearing screening and great resources for parents and service providers—including videos for use with families and professionals.
For educational interpreters:
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
For fun! Learn some Kenyan Sign Language
Hearing Loss of Washington
(formerly Self Help for the Hard of Hearing)
Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH)
(360) 902-800 Voice/TTY
(800) 422-7930 Voice/TTY
email address: odhh@dshs.wa.gov
Washington School for the Deaf (WSD)
611 Grand Blvd.
Vancouver, WA 98661
(360) 696-6525
National Association of State Directors of Special Education, Inc. (NASDSE)
Just published! Meeting the Needs of Students Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: Educational Service Guidelines.
This new book describes essential program elements and features that must be considered when designing appropriate services for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, including those students with multiple disabilities. A full continuum of options is included. The guidelines represent “best practices” from the field and the book is an outstanding resource for communication and coordination among organizations on behalf of students who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. Download a copy of the order form to fax or mail in, or go to the NASDSE home page. Cost: $25 (including shipping and handling)