Northwest Outreach Center

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2001 CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

WEDNESDAY, April 4, 2001

The opening day of the 2001 Conference provided 3 concurrent day-long speciality workshops. These workshops provide an opportunity for a more in-depth discussion of each topic.

1) Facilitating Successful Outcomes for Individuals who are Deaf-Blind: Accommodations, strategies, & resources

Dorothy Walt, Helen Keller National Center, Seattle; Cathy Kirscher, Helen Keller National Center, San Diego; Michael Brennan, Alliant University; John Reiman, Ph.D., DB Link

2) ACCESS: How best to serve postsecondary students who are hard of hearing
Pat Billies, Northeast Technical Assistance Center, NTID & Joan Marcoux, NH Vocational Rehabilitation Services, SHHH

PowerPoint Slides (includes speaker's notes)

3) Serving Individuals in the Deaf Native American Community
Eugene Edwin, Alan Cartwright, Mark Azure, Tupper Dunbar, John Evans, Carleen Anderson, Dick Corbridge

Unedited transcript of workshop

THURSDAY, APRIL 5

Exhibit Day

9:00 - 10:15 Concurrent Sessions

Tactile, Sequential Communication Strategies / A Hands On Participatory Workshop

Jennifer White, Able Opportunities Vocational Counsulting

People with dual sensory losses combined with developmental disabilities often have minimal language skills. This is a low incidence population and consequently is commonly underserved due to a lack of professionals educated about communication strategies. This workshop provides information about developing communication tools and systems for individuals who use physical prompts, gestures, objects and a variety of alternative communication methodologies. We will explore informal assessment tools, hands on activities and exercises to rethink communication, step by step instructions for building communication systems, information about orienting individuals to a work environment, tactile task analysis for teaching new tasks and reinforcement systems for work.

Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Health Sciences Programs

Martha Smith, Center on Self Determination, Oregon Health Sciences University

Since the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the institution in the Southeastern Community College v. Davis case (the case involved a student with a severe hearing loss who wanted to enter the college's nursing program. The student was denied access.) Many health sciences programs and disability professionals have taken the view that deaf or hard of hearing students can't succeed in health sciences programs. The truth is professionals who are deaf and hard of hearing have been and continue be successful in a wide range of health science programs. It is time for those of us in the field of education and rehabilitation to realize the negative assumptions we carry regarding the ability of deaf and hard of hearing students to be successful nurses, doctors and dentists. Health Science Students with Disabilities: Faculty Education Project is a three-year federal grant project located at Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU). Using information gathered from this grant I will present a more positive prospective on how students who are deaf and hard of hearing can be successful in health sciences programs. I will include the viewing of videotape interviews we have done of health science professionals who experience being deaf or hard of hearing.

Seven Steps to Reasonable Accommodation

John Evans, Washington State Department of Personnel

This session will focus on the covered entities responsibility to conduct an individualized assessment and interactive process when providing reasonable accommodation to applicants and employees with disabilities. The presenter will define seven key steps an employer often implements to ensure compliance with the Employment Provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Seven key steps to be covered are: Posting Notification, Requesting Reasonable Accommodations, Maintaining Confidential Medical Files, Analyzing A Job Involved To Determine Essential Functions, Consulting the Individual with Disability to Identify Employment Barriers, Collaborating Solutions To Employment Barriers and Testing Recommendations for Feasibility.

10:45 - 12:00 Concurrent Sessions

Weaving Resources Interstate to Establish a Deaf Inpatient Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center

Jackie Hyman, Northwest Deaf Addiction Center

Washington and Oregon states have established a Deaf inpatient Chemical Dependency treatment center, Northwest Deaf Addiction Center, in Vancouver, Washington. This session will trace the history, discuss the process, and give current information on the progress of this interstate project.

College Choice and Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students: Understanding the Process

Terri Goldstein, California State University, Northridge

More students who are deaf and hard of hearing are entering college than ever before. Nonetheless, hearing student attendance is increasing at a faster rate than deaf students. When do deaf and hard-of-hearing students start thinking about college? When should they? Where do students draw information about college and what would they like to know? How are decisions of which institutions to attend based? The results of an online survey of deaf and hard-of-hearing college students will be presented, including how schools, postsecondary institutions and rehabilitation counselors can support or hinder students in the college choice process.

Deafness, Communication, and Isolation: Issues in service provision

BJ Crossland & Libby Stanley, NW Human Services Connection Program

This workshop will explore the communication experiences of Deaf children and how these experiences impact adult reactions, behaviors and coping mechanisms. Participants will: understand the range of communication styles in families of Deaf children, gain insight into the effects of family communication on adult communication styles, have increased knowledge of the challenges and accommodations in the workplace, and better recognize the range of emotional and social challenges Deaf individuals may encounter.

2:30 - 3:45 Concurrent Sessions

Interveners and Support Service Providers: the concepts, philosophies and use of these services

Dorothy Walt, Helen Keller National Center, Seattle, WA & Nancy Sommer, Deaf-Blind Service Center, Seattle WA

Many individuals who are deaf-blind need access to the world around them in order to make informed decisions and/or to better understand their environment. Communication, visual information and sighted guide assistance are the key factors involved. This workshop will explain the concept and roles for two different type of service providers and how they can be used to enhance information and independence for individuals who are deaf-blind.

Project CBCN: Computer-based Collaborative Notetaking for Post-secondary Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Bo Adan, Center for Electronic Study, University of Oregon

Presenters will engage participants in discussion of in-class learning needs for secondary and post-secondary students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Presenters will identify differences and similarities between these student populations, and will discuss available current technologies that meet or partially meet these needs. Presenters will demonstrate computer-based collaborative notetaking (CBCN), distinguishing between communication access and notetaking support, and illustrating how computer-based collaborative notetaking fits into this range of needs.

Hot Topics in Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Annette Reichman, Chief, Deafness and Communicative Disorders Branch, RSA, US Dept of Ed

Come hear the Chief of RSAs Deafness and Communicative Disorders Branch take on the hot topics facing Vocational Rehabilitation today, including decreasing resources, increasing need, retaining trained/qualified staff, and the need for a coordinated state effort to blend services and avoid duplication.

Friday, April 6

8:30 - 9:45 Concurrent Sessions

The Incidence of Otitis Media, Hearing Loss, Speech and Language Delay and the Impact on Employment in Native Americans

James Dixon, Rehabilitation Consultant

As a result of poor health conditions on American Indian Reservations, delayed diagnosis and treatment of otitis media results in an extremely high incidence of hearing loss among American Indians. Prolonged middle ear infections impacts on the normal acquisition of speech and language. Significant delay in the development of speech and language is reflected in lower academic achievement, development of social skills and self esteem. As the American Indian child grows and develops under these conditions they are extremely limited in their ability to secure and retain employment. Recommendations to address this serious health and employment crisis will be presented.

Technology Advances for Overcoming the Communication Barrier

Jay Thurman, Hearing Resources

Technology is opening up communication with the deaf, late deafened and the hard-of-hearing. This seminar will introduce the attendees to some of the newer assistive equipment now available including small and extremely portable FM systems designed for use in noisy environments or the workplace. New advances in computer added speech to text that also incorporates text to ASL is now available. Uses for this technology will be explored for access were a sign-language interpreter is not immediately available. New advances in the field of amplification for use in the classroom, training facility or conference rooms that improve communication will be explored.

One Client, Many Provider Roles: Dual relationships and other ethical issues in clinical and other human services settings

Debra Guthman, California School for the Deaf, Fremont

How should professionals deal with the number of dual relationship and other ethical issues that arise on a regular basis? This workshop will examine the implications and explore possible consequences and strategies when working with clients and faced with dual relationsip and other ethical issues. This session will include interactive activities that the participants will be involved with as well as lecture and discussion.

10:00 - 11:15 Concurrent Sessions

Snail Tails (Tales)

PowerPoint Presentation

Edited Transcript

Sharaine Rawlinson, Midwest Center for Postsecondary Outreach

What is it like to go to bed a totally hearing person and awaken totally deaf the next morning? What is it like to be totally deaf for 23 years and then derive benefit from a cochlear implant? This presentation describes cochlear implant technology and who can benefit from cochlear implants. Points covered will include social and psychological implications of implantation. Information on what services and factors that Disability Support Services and Vocational Rehabilitation providers need to be aware of when serving a student with a cochlear implant will be covered.

Effectively Dealing with Literacy and Communication in College Courses

Linda Marie Allington, Rocky Mountain Connections Center

RMCC assists postsecondary programs and higher education institutions in Utah, Wyoming, Nevada and Montana in attracting and serving deaf and hard of hearing students. English reading & writing preparation for college English is a passion at RMCC. Take teaching strategies from this session to your instructors that will benefit their teaching style and their students!

15 Rules for Satisfied Hearing Aid Users

Ron Leavitt, Oregon Association for Better Hearing & Dean Booster, Oregon State University

This presentation will summarize 12 years of research by the Western United State's largest consumer test group for hearing aids. This research has been condensed down to 15 principles that foster successful hearing aid use. Embedded in these 15 rules are recommended principles for client preparation, hearing testing, hearing aid testing, hearing aid adaptation, hearing aid option selection, and hearing aid maintenance. A recently released book entitled "Fifteen Rules for Satisfied Hearing Aid Users" will be available to interested conference participants to purchase.

Direct suggestions, comments, and questions about this page to:

Cheryl D. Davis, Ph.D., Coordinator
Northwest Outreach Center
Regional Resource Center on Deafness
Western Oregon University
Monmouth OR 97361
503-838-8642 (v/tty)
503-838-8228 (fax)
http://www.wou.edu/nwoc
nwoc@wou.edu

Last modified on 09AUG01