Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind Introductions: Paula Mason- Director of Outreach and Brian Darcy - Administrator.

IESDB vs. ISDB IBESDB---IESDB---ISDB Central office – Gooding IESDB encompasses the entire Idaho Educational Services Statewide including our residential program in Gooding and all of our Outreach Services. IESDB budget is a line item under the State Department of Education. The Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind, became a governmental entity with the “IDAHO BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR THE DEAF AND THE BLIND ACT OF 2009” ; As a Governmental entity, it operates as an amalgam of school district and state agency features. This allows IESDB to operate both at a state-wide level and as a school district. Today’s presentation will briefly discuss some of the unique services of the IESDB and how it’s design is the best of both worlds. IESDB vs. ISDB

Continuum of Services 33-3403 -“The goal of the Idaho bureau of educational services for the deaf and the blind is to assist school districts and state agencies in providing accessibility, quality and equity to students in the state with sensory impairments through a continuum of service and placement options.” OUTREACH CAMPUS As established by state statute, The goal of the Idaho bureau of educational services for the deaf and the blind is to assist school districts and state agencies in providing accessibility, quality and equity to students in the state with sensory impairments through a continuum of service and placement options: which is determined by the child’s individual educational need - not by level of hearing or vision loss. Generally, this continuum is directly served through two separate departments “Outreach” and “Campus”, while Administrative, Maintenance, IT, and Media services provide support to these departments. Monitor Consultative Direct Service ISDB Campus Administrative / Media / Maintenance / IT

Demographics Birth 3 years old - 143 Birth 3 years old - 59 Deaf/Hard of Hearing School age - 1170 Birth 3 years old - 143 Blind/Visually Impaired School age - 380 Birth 3 years old - 59 Deaf/Blind 26 Transition 90 Campus 93 (data collected 09/11/15) These are our totals across the continuum. Will discuss trends further in the presentation Serving 1900 students across the continuum compared to just 1100 six years ago. Demographics

Supt. of Public Instruction Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind (IESDB) IESDB Board Members Kathy Crowley Steven Stubbs Diana Collins Established in 2009 our board is made up of 8 member stakeholders – the Superintendent of public instruction is always the Chairman of our board. Our Board represents various stakeholders including representation from the Blind and Deaf communities as well as Special Education Directors. (the two without pictures are recent additions and haven’t sat still long enough to get a picture) We are funded as a line item “block” budget under the State Department of Education Budget. We do not get any monies based on the numbers we serve or anyone's attendance. Bill Russell Ramona Lee Michael Graham Sherri Ybarra Supt. of Public Instruction Cathi Pierson

Children birth to 26 with hearing and/or vision loss Who Qualifies? Children birth to 26 with hearing and/or vision loss Children birth to 26 with hearing and/or vision loss *AS defined by our STATUTE 33-3402* Students DO NOT have to have an IEP to able to qualify for services

OUTREACH (by Geographic location) Region 1 Coeur d’Alene Region 2 Lewiston Region 3 Caldwell Region 7 Idaho Falls Region 4 Meridian Region 6 Pocatello Region 5 Gooding

Outreach

IESDB Specialist - Collaboration across the continuum

Role of the IESDB Ed. Specialist Trained Certified Teachers – With Specialization - Collaboration Local School Districts Agencies, including, but not limited to: Infant/Toddler, ICBVI, ICAT, Deaf/Blind Project, VR Service Coordination Agencies Families Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Audiologists & related physicians Parent Education: Birth – age 21 Knowledge of Curriculum: B-3, Academic, D/B & MI Assessment – Functional Vision & Learning Media IESDB Educational Specialist are certified teachers of the deaf/hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired. Educational Specialist as early interventionist work directly with families in their natural environment serving their children from birth to 3 years. We consult with school districts that provide educational services to students who are between the ages of 3-21 years with hearing or vision loss. Post Secondary Transition Supports to students who are 14-26 years old. We are pleased to coordinate services and supports with parents, service providers, educators, local school districts, and other stakeholders. Role of the IESDB Ed. Specialist

Training of district staff & paraprofessionals Compensatory Skills Expanded Core Curriculum Techniques unique to working with students with sensory loss including deaf/blindness Intra-staff communication & collaboration Paperwork – data, IESDB Reports, Med. Records Transition – Birth to Three & Post-Secondary Participation in Professional Development Opportunities. And MORE….. Consultant roles change: from Birth to Three – focus on the child/family Three to 21 – focus on role as consultant to the district 14-26 Post secondary transition (Deaf / HoH only) focus on role is employment Role of Ed. Specialist . . .

For children birth to three years of age, our Educational Specialist partners with the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare’s Infant Toddler Program to provide direct services in the child’s natural environments. The Infant Toddler Program has recently implemented an evidence-based practice using coaching and natural learning activities throughout the State of Idaho. Our Educational Specialists take great pride in being a member of all coaching teams throughout the state. The IFSP team includes parents and creates outcomes that will promote their child’s full development. Our primary vision is to support these outcomes and build the capacity of families to promote their child’s learning and development. Home visits provide opportunities for families to learn to use new tools; building blocks they will use for the rest of their lives. These resources are derived from specialized materials that were developed for children who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired or deaf/blind. Our Outreach Program services continue to support the child and family through their transition from the Infant Toddler Program and into their next step in the educational process. Early Intervention

School based services Resource Knowledge base Accommodations Specific to Vision/Hearing Assistive technology IEP/504 partner Specialized materials Evaluations Trainings (group or individual) Teacher to Teacher discussions Expanded Core information Bonners Ferry to Glenns Ferry… from Twin Falls to Idaho Falls… throughout the state of Idaho, our Educational Specialists are available to assist educators in a variety of settings. We provide a wealth of information related to accommodations, assistive technology, and strategies for the specific needs for the individual child . Our Educational Specialist can be found providing trainings with educators as well as observing in a student’s classes so to provide priceless insights as a member of a child’s educational team. For students with a vision loss, materials needed in Braille, large print and audio format are provided by an Educational Specialist through the Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind Transcription Center, Media Center and American Printing House for the Blind. Specialized assessments and evaluations are conducted to determine a student’s specific learning mode and visual functioning. Once the this is determined, direct instruction Braille can be provided by an Educational Specialist for those students who are Braille readers. Assessments Media through Library loan School based services

Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind Post Secondary Transition Program supports students as they transition from high school to college, training programs, work and life. Our transition specialists serve as a guide-on-the-side with families, educators, agencies and, most closely, with young adults as they begin to chart and navigate their individual journey beyond high school. We work with each young person individually to identify needed resources, common hazards, typical routes young adults take toward personal and career goals. Our staff steps-up to investigate questions and roadblocks as youth and their circles of support set-out to reach post-secondary goals. When needed, Transition Specialists can step in as liaisons with instructors, employers and transition professionals. When the situation calls for expertise related to the unique challenges faced by our youth as they learn in coursework or perform on the job, a Transition Specialist can be just the ticket. And when our youth, find themselves in uncharted territory uncertain of the next step, our transition specialists serve as cheerleader and navigator, guiding youth back on their charted path. All deaf and hard of hearing or blind and visually impaired youth across our state, between 14 and 26 years of age who are clients of Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation or the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired are eligible to partner with our Transition Specialists. Connect with us! Our specialists are ready to step up when your request comes in. Transition services

THE ISDB operates as a residential school and as a day school for students who live in the surrounding Magic Valley. There is no cost to the student of the school district for attendance. Transportation from designated pick up points across the state is provided by the ISDB. The Academic program provides a preschool through twelfth grade program that is developmental and sequential in nature. The program is designed to lead the student through the acquisition of basic skills and knowledge, and to help the student apply these skills in practical life, as well as build a foundation for lifelong learning. ISDB follows the Idaho Content Standards for each subject area. Students graduating from ISDB meet the State of Idaho and ISDB graduation requirements. A wide range of scholastic and athletic programs are offered including: Student Council, Basketball, Volleyball and Track. In situations where a student wishes to participate in a class not offered at ISDB, the student may participate in mainstream programming offered in cooperation with the Gooding School District. For those students who attend as part of the residential program, evening activities, family style meals, social support, and a safe, comfortable place to live exists in each of our cottages. Campus

Campus

NOT a “one size fits all” education

Media/Library Services In the 2014-2015 school year, 55,779 Braille pages were produced by scanning, decrypting, and translating from text books and sent to students throughout the state. At NO CHARGE Our Copy Center enlarges print titles for fiction books as well as textbooks.  Our Braille Center creates Braille copies, embossing and tactile graphics from print books. In this school year 55,779 Braille pages were produced by scanning, decrypting, and translating from text books, worksheets and tests (literary, tactile graphics, Nemeth) That is the first edition of War and Peace produced page by page -45 times – Large print document center 109,387 pages of text books / worksheets all FREE OF CHARGE to the local school districts, students, and families. We also house a large lending library for our students use. Titles include books you would find in any school library. Many however, also include descriptive or closed captioning, large print, or include an ASL video library interpretation. Through a lending alliance, students throughout the state may check out titles through their local school library. Some of the formats include:  signed videos, captioned media, large print, Braille, descriptive videos and audio books. Media/Library Services

AdvancED Standards 3.67 4.0 3.67 In the Spring of 2013, the ISDB went through the Accreditation Review Process through AdvancEd/Northwest Accreditation Commission. The evaluation and scores are the based on the same criteria as any other public school in the State of Idaho. “The standards are the heart of accreditation process. The AdvancED standards are crafted in a way that provides a roadmap toward excellence. The standards are defined in detail by over 30 indicators, each of which is even further defined by 4 performance levels.” “Our External Review team has examined collected, reviewed, and evaluated evidence to arrive at ratings for each indicator related to the five AdvancED standards. The averages of the External Review team’s ratings on all the indicators are reported for each standard on a scale of 1 (which indicates minimal performance on the standard) to 4 (which indicates outstanding performance). All accredited institutions fall somewhere on this scale, with most fall toward the middle (the 2 to 3 range).” (AdvancED/Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) external review report Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind February 27-28/2013) This is a the overall category score after the visit to ISDB. 3.29 3.2 © 2012 AdvancED

Education is about Experiences

Statewide Activities: Ready! Set! Go! (to work!)

Summer Enrichment Camp

Paraprofessional training Provide 2 weeks of “Orientation to Visual Impairments” training for individuals who work with or who will be working with blind and/or visually impaired students throughout the state of Idaho in a school setting. Focus on “basic” skill development and familiarization with Braille, Orientation and Mobility and Life Skills training. Offer the training program for 2 credits through College of Southern Idaho (CSI) as an option to participants. No cost to School District / Participants outside of Mileage and Some Meals Open to parents who would like to learn to help their children at home. Paraprofessional training

Activities 2015-16 Lion’s Winter Camp Weekend- February - Sun Valley Braille Challenge – held every February Tools for Life - March Summer BVI Enrichment Camp-June, ISDB Campus - Gooding Ready! Set! Go! Work Readiness Camp, (Blind VI) June - Campus College Days with ICBVI SWEP- Summer Work Experience Program - July- Aug Boise Youth Leadership Forum, Boise Deaf / HoH Summer Camp for Middle School students in Stanley. UEB – Braille Code Changes Forum – Phase III Educational Interpreter’s Conference - June B/VI ADL Groups (Pilot) ASL Enrichment (Pilot) Activities 2015-16

Partnerships Assistive Technology Partnership with ICBVI Idaho State Department of Education Idaho Vocational Rehabilitation School Districts Statewide Idaho Infant Toddler/Department of Health and Welfare Idaho Department of Labor Idaho Assistive Technology Project Idaho Center for Assistive Technology Idaho Project for Children & Youth w/Deaf-Blindness PEPNet, NFB, AFB, AER Families Partnerships

Interpreter Training/Certification 33-1301. "Idaho Educational Interpreter Act.“ 33-1304. QUALIFICATION OF EDUCATIONAL INTERPRETERS. (1) Except as provided in this section, no person shall act as an educational interpreter in an Idaho public school unless the person has been qualified to do so. The person shall be qualified if the person: (a)  Has achieved a score of 3.5 or higher on the educational interpreter performance assessment or has achieved a comparable score on an equivalent test as determined by the bureau; or (b)  Is currently certified by: (i)   The registry of interpreters for the deaf; (ii)  The national association of the deaf at a level of III or higher; (iii) The registry of interpreters for the deaf, oral transliteration for oral transliterators; or (iv)  The testing, evaluation, and certification unit for cued language transliterators. Questions? Interpreter Education Coordinator Joelynne Ball , M.S, CI and CT joelynne.ball@iesdb.org Cell Phone:208-901-1308

THANK YOU! Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind 1450 Main St. Gooding, ID 83330 ph. (208) 934-4457 - Fax: (208) 934-8352 gretchen.spooner@iesdb.org - paula.mason@iesdb.org THANK YOU!