Assistive Technology Training

Assistive Technology Program will be conducting a Parent Training. The training is an OVERVIEW of the assistive technology that promotes access to the curriculum!

LOCATION: School of Business and Public Administration Building

Multi-Purpose Room

University of Guam

TIME: 5:30pm to 7:30pm

TOPIC/DATE:

SOLO Suite Program November 13 (Tuesday)

iPad Applications November 27 (Tuesday)

Bookshare Program December 11 (Tuesday)

Please call or email to register for the training at 300-1322 or lktaisipic@gdoe.net

For more information and special accommodations contact Parent Services @ 300-1322 or sped@gdoe.net.

Early Childhood Conference on Oct. 13

The Early Childhood Conference: Supporting Language Development for ALL Young Children is on Saturday, October 13, 2012.

Seats are limited, so please REGISTER NOW!!!!

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Laura Taisipic at 300-1322 or lktaisipic@gdoe.net.

Training: Effective Service Delivery for Communication and Language Development in Routines and Natural Settings

Verna Chinen CCC-SLP, an off-island consultant from Hawaii will be conducting her second series of trainings for the related service personnel for the Division. During this visit we have invited her to meet with parents and the advisory panel. The focus of the session will be on Effective Service Delivery for Communication and Language Development in Routines and Natural Settings. 

When:  October 3, 2012 (Wednesday), 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Where:  University of Guam, School of Business and Public Administration (SBPA) Building
Multipurpose Room, 1st floor
Giveaways will be provided.
If you have any questions, please contact Laura Taisipic at 300-1322 or lktaisipic@gdoe.net

Parent Cafe - Sept. 15

Parent Cafe
Date:  September 15, 2012
Time:  Morning Cafe:  8:00am - 12:00pm; Afternoon Cafe: 1:00pm - 5:00pmWhere:  Marriott Resort & Spa
PAX:  25 for both morning and afternoon sessions.
Who are invited:  Parents.
Topics:  Questions on the protective factors.  

Partner Cafe - Sept. 13

Partner Cafe
Date: September 13, 2012
Time:  8:00am - 12:00pm
Where:  Marriott Resort & Spa
PAX:  25
Who are invited:  Providers and other Early Childhood Staff that did not get a chance to attend on July 16. 
Topics:  This cafe will be an overview on the Strengthening Families Movement and the Protective Factors and a short Cafe on Parent Engagement will also take place.

Parent Training: Social Behavior in the Community

Exciting News!! Parent Training: Social Behavior in the Community.  Off-Island Consultant will be conducting the training.  Please try and attend.

Wednesday, September 12
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Tamuning Elementary
Mini Auditorium

For more information please call Parent Services at 300-1322 or sped@gdoe.net

Guam ICC Holds Quarterly Meeting

The Guam Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) held its quarterly meeting on August 9, 2012 at the Guam Marriott Hotel and Resort.  Various topics were discussed, including the budget, goals, objectives, state plan changes, ICC advertorial, parent awareness, interagency memorandum of agreement, Part C, Part B, and other important announcements.

Members of the Guam Interagency Coordinating Council during their quarterly meeting held August 9, 2012.

Guam Delegation Attends OSEP Conference in Washington, D.C.

OSEP Conference: Representatives from Guam attended the 2012 OSEP IDEA Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. The conference provided participants with additional knowledge of special education priorities and initiatives within the U.S. Department of Education and efforts to align requirements, foster achievement, and increase collaboration among States, constituencies, and agencies.

Pictured L-R: Charles Kniseley; OSEP TA; Yolanda Gabriel: Assistant Superintendent, Special Education; Matilda Naputi Rivera, Vice-Chair. Guam Interagency Coordinating Council; Patricia Mantanona, GEIS Program Coordinator; June Quitugua, Guam CEDDERS; Laura Taisipic, Special Education SPC, SpEd Parent Services Coordinator; June De Leon, Guam CEDDERS; Evelyn Claros, GAPSD representative; Catherine Tydingco, SpEd,SPC, GEIS/PreSch Programs Coordinator; Terese Crisostomo, SpEd, Special Projects Coordinator; and Jonas Dorego, DOE SpEd Compliance Officer.

Strengthening Families Cafe Training

The Strengthening Families Cafe, which focused on essential protective factors, was successfully coordinated by Kathy Goetz Wolf and Coach Daria on July 17 & 18, 2012 at the Guam Marriott Resort and Spa.  The cafe training empowered the parents, service providers, and agencies that attended the training.  Enjoy the following snapshots taken during the event!

Cafe Participants

Kathy Goetz Wolf introduces the cafe concept.

Coach Daria explains the importance of the cafe.

Sample of the liberation cafe theme.

Person Centered Planning

Please take advantage of this GREAT training.....

Topic:  Person Centered Planning

When:  Thursday, May 31, 2012

                  6:00pm - 8:00pm

Where:  Former PIRC - Parent Information Resource Center

                         Agana across Paradise Fitness

eSchool News: Six Resources that Aim to Help Special-Education Stakeholders

It’s sometimes challenging finding useful information on special education, especially when it comes to technology-related activities.  The following are 6 resources compiled by Meris Stansbury, editor of eSchoolNews.  You'll find them to be resourceful in various issues that concern children with disabilities.


1. AbilityHub Assistive Technology Solutions
An index, and description, of assistive technology for people with a disability who find operating a computer difficult, maybe even impossible. This website will direct you to adaptive equipment and alternative methods available for accessing computers.

2. Apps for Children with Special Needs
Gary James at A4CWSN.com maintains a large list of educational apps for children with special needs. James reviews the apps and posts demonstration videos so that users can see what each one is all about before spending money to purchase them. By producing these videos, James demonstrates how products designed to educate children and build their life skills really work from a user perspective.

3. CAST (Center for Applied Special Technology) Learning Tools
CAST is a nonprofit research and development organization that works to expand learning opportunities for all individuals, especially those with disabilities, through Universal Design for Learning. UDL free multimedia learning tools are designed for students, teachers, and parents.

4. DREAMMS (Developmental Research for the Effective Advancement of Memory and Motor Skills) for Kids
An assistive technology information clearinghouse and search facility, DREAMMS was founded in 1988 by the parents of a child with Down syndrome. DREAMMS is committed to increasing the use of computers, high-quality instructional technology, and assistive technology for children with special needs in schools, homes, and the workplace.

5. SERGE (Special Education Resources for General Educators)
Designed by the Council of Chief State School Officers and sponsored by the MetLife Foundation, SERGE was created to give general classroom educators quick access to information and professional development about addressing the special-ed needs of students who have disabilities.

6. Technology in Special Education
This is a website to collect and share tools, hardware, and applications available for the enhancement of technology in education with an emphasis on special education. The site has been collecting material over the last seven years in an attempt to compile all information in a categorized format so parents, educators, and other professionals who work with kids with special needs can benefit from the knowledge acquired. The reviews are thorough and well-written, and the site organizes events where developers offer special deals to their readers.

Source:  eSchoolNews.com

Guam ICC Meetings - March 6 & 13

The Guam ICC held meetings on March 6 & 13 to discuss the amendment of by-laws, suggestion of new members, parent training, public awareness activities, primary referral source training, state plan changes - new regulations, OSEP Leadership Conference - July/August 2012, letter from chairperson to SPED Deputy Superintendent, Part B and Part C reports, ICC budget, and updates to IDEA Part C - Regulations 2011: Guam Early Intervention System: Public Hearing. The following are just a few of the snapshots taken during the meeting. Enjoy!