Shelley Ardis Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind Outreach Services: 30 Years of Successful Services

Outreach Services Complimentary projects funded with state and federal IDEA and state General Revenue funds Purpose: – Service and support to professionals serving students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Families Goal: – Increase success for all students in any learning environment

Outreach Agencies Resource Materials & Technology Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (RMTC: D/HH) FSDB Outreach – Small & Rural Districts (SRD) FSDB Parent Infant Program (PIP) Collaboration with other state Discretionary Projects and agencies

Other State Agencies Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS) oversees the following projects [also]: – Critical Initiatives in Visual Impairments – Educational Interpreters Project (EIP) – Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired (FIMC) – Learning through Listening (Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic)

More state systems/agencies Clearinghouse Information Center (CIC) Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) Florida Division of Blind Services – Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services Florida Outreach Project for Children and Young Adults Who are Deaf-Blind (FOP) Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Deaf Service Centers Centers for Independent Living

RMTC: D/HH The RMTC is a statewide, specialized FDLRS center located on the campus of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. RMTC serves as the coordinating unit for accessible materials including captioned and signed videos and books and other reference materials. RMTC staff provide on-site training and technical assistance to all school districts, families, and discretionary projects. Primarily K-12 Legislative Support – Established in 1978 and still today in Florida Statute

RMTC: D/HH Services include: – Videos and books for interpreters and others learning Sign Language. – Captioned and signed videos and materials for classroom teachers – Presentations on Accessible materials & Accommodations Students with hearing loss in general education settings Visual learning strategies to enhance access and classroom participation Other special topics – Support, training and networking opportunities – Information and referral services

RMTC: D/HH Partnerships Florida Diagnostic Learning and Resources System (FDLRS) – Workgroups and Advisory Committees Florida Deaf-Blind Outreach Project Florida Instructional Media Center for the Blind/Visually Impaired FSDB Grants and Special Projects National Deaf Agenda Leadership Team PEPNet

FSDB Outreach – Small & Rural Districts The Small and Rural District Support Program (SRD) provides assistance to small, mid-sized, and rural school districts across the state of Florida. These services assist district staff serving deaf/hh or blind/VI students. SRD also provides related parent support services to the districts and parent groups. Program services are no cost to the requesting district or organization. Established in Partnership Activities – Closely aligned with RMTC services – Advisory and Workgroup Committees

FSDB Small & Rural Districts Services Include: – Onsite observation and consultation – Expert onsite advice and support – Recommendations on accommodations, modifications, and teaching strategies – Classroom considerations – Training and workshops for district staff, parents and other professionals – Orientation and Mobility Evaluations – Functional Vision Assessments – Information and referral services – Directory of local and state services

FSDB Parent Infant Program The Parent-Infant Program (PIP) provides: – Home-based early intervention for families with infants and young children who are deaf/hard-of- hearing and/or blind/visually impaired. – Early Learning Program for children who are deaf/hard of hearing ages months. – Training for qualified professionals who work with the families of these young children. Partnerships – State-wide Conference “Florida Summit on Childhood Deafness” – Florida Department of Health

Projects’ Guidance Direction of projects are guided by: – Needs Assessments – Focus Groups – Past Experiences – Technology Advances – Research on Teaching and Learning – Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Exceptional Education Student Services State Performance Plan Indicators Other state initiatives and law

Impact on Students Accessible captioned and signed content Increased advocacy and social skills Enhanced learning activities as teachers have appropriate strategies for serving students in their classrooms Access to software that scaffolds learning and allows students to demonstrate understanding Awareness of tools that facilitate communication and classroom participation

Impact on Parents Support from groups that understand their needs and concerns Access to other parents Access to materials that help them learn about deafness, sign language, etc. Access to workshops and presentations that assist them in working with schools Learn advocacy skills and IDEA Referrals to other resources

Impact on Professionals Learn strategies for teaching and supporting students who are deaf/hh Learn about accommodations and other technologies that scaffold learning Access to captioned and signed materials to use in the classroom Awareness of technologies, peripherals, software and websites to enhance learning Referral to other support service agencies

Impact on Other Service Providers State Agency/Project Staff (FDLRS) District Support Personnel Local Assistive Technology Specialists Interpreters, SLPs, etc. District Administrators Deaf Service Centers Lighthouse for the Blind/Visually Impaired

Next Steps On-going learning new practices from others around the nation & world Fully utilizing distance learning technologies to support and enhance service delivery Working to share & collaborate more and reduce duplication of resources

Thank You!! Contact Information: – Shelley Ardis – Executive Director of Technology Services – – ShelleyPA (on Skype, Twitter, Delicious) –