Moving Forward

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Briefly highli ght your

Moving Forward

The Annual Report published by Delaware Statewide Programs for

Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind students

October, 2012

Annual Report

Moving Forward

Dear Statewide Programs community:

In the last three years, many things have changed through-

out our state: we have seen the passage of a bill of rights for deaf/

hard of hearing children, we have undertaken the task of strengthen-

ing early intervention and identification processes, we have wit-

nessed the creation of educational programs in Delaware that focus

on the specific language needs of students with hearing loss.

The year 2011-2012 was not without monumental change in

itself. Not only did we rediscover what works for deaf/hh students,

we built programs to meet the needs of those families, we have es-

sentially moved deaf education forward in Delaware. The FACES

program initiated by Statewide formally recognized the unique needs

of families who have babies/toddlers with hearing loss and supported

them in the northern and southern regions by specialists in their local

areas. Furthermore, the database for the deaf-blind program contin-

ued to show child change through building capacity in local education

agencies. As a result of explicit planning for transition for students

who are over the age of 16, 3 students were able to participate in the

Rochester Institute of Technology and University of Delaware for

summer programs, and students have benefited from partnerships

with Vocational Rehabilitations TARGET program. Using language

planning and language allocation via the ASL/ELA framework, stu-

dents throughout all elementary and middle school grades are as-

sessed and tracked and their programs continue to adapt to students’

evolving needs.

As we continue on to 2012-2013, we are completely com-

mitted to furthering our vision “To support and enhance the commu-

nicative, cognitive and social emotional skills of all students who are

deaf, hard of hearing or deaf-blind in Delaware”. In fact we say that

we are “All In”- anything less than that is simply unacceptable.

Sincerely,

Della W Thomas, Ed. D., Director

Letter from the Director

Goals for 2012-2013

Support the literacy development of all students who attend the Delaware School for the Deaf in the are-as of English/Language Arts, ASL and Mathematics

Provide statewide family advocacy and child educa-

tional supports through family education, language specialization, and center-based preschool experi-ences

Develop the local capacity of those serving students

with deaf-blindness and creating child change in in-dividual 0-21 with deaf-blindness through training, direct and consultative services.

Compile a library of assessments as well as instruc-

tional goals and materials for all hearing specialists who work statewide with deaf/hard of hearing stu-dents

Provide extended educational opportunities for stu-

dents in the areas of social skills, physical develop-ment, intellectual capacity, communicative compe-tence and emotional intelligences

Moving Forward

Thank you –

Delaware Statewide Programs Association In the 2011-2012 school year, the Delaware Statewide Programs

Association was created to serve as a “booster club” to support

the mission and vision of Statewide Programs. DSPA holds a

very similar mission to Statewide Programs in that its goal is to

support all children with hearing loss in Delaware.

Primary fundraising events for DSPA include: professional devel-

opment workshops and training, cultural events and community

happenings.

Funding priorities over the next few years

include: equipment for the playground,

sponsoring movies as well as other cultural

events

Creative Mentors

Thank you to Barbara Jo and the members of Creative Mentoring

who altogether volunteered over 480 hours with students at DSD.

Tom Stevenson Karen Miller

Stephanie Jaylord Al Schymna

Robert Andrzejewski Kimberly Best

Mary Hicks David Crossan

Michelle Goleburn Joe D’Occhip

Jeff Thomas Pam D’Occhio

Debbie Fry Arthur Bond

Mike Bove Eldon Lingg

Erin Barthel Katrina Wooten

A generous grant from

Cab Calloway Summer

School for the Performing

Arts along with

Statewide’s highly quali-

fied interpreters has made

student participation in the

Cab program possible!

Thank you –

Volunteers and Community Partners

Donations

Thank you to the individuals/groups listed below whom

made donations to DSD/Statewide Programs this year:

The family of Edwin Park Ms. Willa Greene In honor of DSD Alumni Daniel Foster Kirks Florist Bernard & Virginia Jenson In honor of Robert Hanrahan The Charter School of Wilmington JP Morgan Chase Quota Intl of Wilmington Brookside Lions Club Dave & Patsy Ziegler University of Delaware Scholarships in honor of: Pat Fernandes Richard Lewis Kaye Grant Nancy Doak/ FMC Mini-Grant Al Schyman David Brown Jim Lewis Kelly Wilson Two Stones Pub Kim Fresconi

Moving Forward

Ended the school year with 38 students enrolled in the FACES program.

Brought students to story hour at the local library on a weekly basis

Approximately 20 field trips to enhance students’ experi-ential knowledge

Created a pilot Spoken English preschool classroom for students where Spoken English was the language of instruction

Held three successful parent centered workshops through the Child Development Watch in Milford

Adopted district/state supported Early Childhood curricu-lum “Building Blocks and Doors to Discovery”

Hosted ASL/English Bilingual Training, a national confer-ence sharing research and best practices

Built relationships and consequently integrated students, with the Christina Early Education Center

Hosted family events in the North – holiday celebrations, child appreciation celebration.

Family Education team members collaborated with vari-ous agencies and school districts around the state, in-cluding CDW, Easter Seals, and Nemours SLPs

Attended many professional conferences, including Help Me Grow Delaware, Making A Difference Early Child-hood Education Conference, and Summit III: Path to Bilingualism ASL-English Bilingual Education Summit.

FACES Highlights

Program-Wide Initiatives

75 people took Community ASL Classes. Competed in the Academic Bowl at Gallaudet The Boys Basketball Team placed second at the

ESDAA Tourney. The Girls Volleyball and Basket-ball teams placed third in both competitions.

We hosted the four schools for the Girls ESDAA

Tournament. The prom was at the Waterfall Banquet Hall in Wil-

mington. A limo bus transported students to the site.

The middle school students played organized soc-

cer, volleyball, and basketball. First annual K-12 School Wide Field Day. All stu-

dents and staff participated. First annual ASL and Writing Competitions. Win-

ners from all 3 departments were selected. School-wide discipline referrals decreased 25%

from the 2010-2011 school year. Grace Walker, ISS Counselor, was awarded a

grant from Lowe's for a school wide garden. Established cross content PLC meetings for all K-

12 Teachers.

Moving Forward

Family Events– Holiday dinner, Open House Dinner DSD Thanksgiving with Students and Staff Sponsored Elementary and Middle School Hallow-

een Party, Winter party, Student’s Monthly Birthday Party, Christmas Breakfast Party in the residence hall

Community working with our Residential Hall stu-dents – Pioneers (egg dyeing and decoration) and Children with Challenges (fishing event)

Various Field Trips to aid in concept development – YMCA, Bowling, monthly movie night, Delaware Children Museum, trip to library, hayride and White Clay State Park.

Residence staff participated in read aloud activities with elementary students

Ate out at various local restaurants, toured Califor-nia Pizza Kitchen in the Christiana Mall

Completed chores after dinner to contribute to their dorm family environment.

ASL story/skits for the school ribbon cutting Two students signed the Pledge of Allegiance in

front of the Christina School Board. Empowered students to organize activities for the

residence hall such as games, cooking and craft activities

Residential Program Highlights

The Deaf-Blind Family Learn-

ing Weekend as provided an

educational , fun opportunity

for Delawareans for 30 years!

During the 2011 – 2012 School Year the Deaf-Blind

Program:

Provided 3031 hours of service 1643 site visits 81 site visits for children birth to 3 209 home visits for students with medical is-

sues 43 home visits for children birth to 3 52 visits towards assessment 136 hours of material prep attended 67 IEPs and 4 IFSPs support 50 IEP planning sessions and 3 IFSP

planning session other services included support via email,

phone calls and planning 456 schedule sessions were cancelled due to

student illness and school cancella-tions

Hosted 15 workshops Census count of individuals birth to 21 identified

with deaf-blindness is 79 20 new students were identified with deaf-

blindness

Statewide Programs for the Deaf-Blind

Moving Forward

Statewide Programs for the D/HH K-12 Visited and shadowed Itinerant Teachers in two southern districts

and provided feedback

Educational interpreters supported language access for 20+ dually

placed students at five different Local Education Agency sites

Facilitated monthly meetings for statewide Itinerant Teachers –

focus was on developing common language used in IEP’s to de-

scribe services and accommodations.

Became a test-site for the Educational Interpreter Performance

Assessment (both written and performance)

Along with Educational Interpreters, developed and implemented

Dual Placement procedures for students attending both DSD and

a local LEA.

Added an Itinerant Teacher to help with dually placed students.

Participated on the DOE Access to General Education Committee

(AGEC)

Participated on the AGEC task force looking at high Least Restric-

tive Environment achievement

Supported two professional development opportunities in partner-

ship with Indian River School District for educa- tional interpret-

ers

Performed language assessments for

deaf/hard of hearing students

Educational Interpreters attended state workshop on Visual Ges-tural Language provided by Mike Canfield

Supported students at summer

camps such as Cab Calloway and the University of Delaware

Did you know?

Since it opened in

January 2012, the

DSD/Sterck muse-

um has had over

200 visitors !

Participation in the General Ed Curriculum

Progress Toward IEP Goals 2011-2012

2009- 2010- 2011-

Total Students Test- 66 51 46

DCAS participants 52

41 39

DCAS-Alt participants 14 10 7 2009- 2010- 2011-

Standard Diploma 5 4 7 Certificate of Attend- 1 1 3

Total Graduates 6 5 10

Moving Forward

ASL Proficiency/Reading Proficiency

Enrollment 2007-

2008

2008-

2009

2009

2010

2010-

2011

2011-

2012

ECE

Elem

70 74 82 65 (ECE)

FACES

38

MS 16 20 17 23 Elem 27

HS 23 36 35 31 MS 28

Total 109 120 134 119 HS 35

TOTAL 128

Ended the year with 25 students enrolled in the Ele-mentary Department

Implemented a new math program - Math Connects Implemented Reading A to Z Program. Angela Bowers, Kindergarten Teacher, was selected

DSD's Teacher of the Year Contracted with Delaware VSA (Vision, Strength and

Artistic Expression) to provide weekly art classes Christy Myhren, 4th grade Teacher, was involved in

the statewide Democracy Project Offered a one week ASL Immersion Camp during the

summer Students sold baked goods to earn money for their

end of the year trip to Dutch Wonderland. 19 of 23 families attended two or more family events

on campus. Staff planned a Holiday

Lunch for families in which almost all families of students were in at-tendance.

DSD Elementary Highlights

Moving Forward

Ended the year with 27 students enrolled in the Middle

School Department. Contracted with VSA to provide weekly art classes for

one marking period. Some students went camping at one of Maryland's State

Parks. A group of students participated in the Math Counts Com-

petition at NTID. Transition classes were offered to the students. The Eighth Grade Class planned their own graduation as

part of Transition Class. Trips included a play in Philadelphia and at Cab Calloway

School for the Performing Arts and an outing to the Baltimore Aquarium.

85% percent of the families attended 2 or more events.

DSD Middle School Highlights

DSD High School Highlights

Ended the year with 32 students enrolled in the High School Department.

The department added a 5th block everyday for enrich-

ment activities. Students, as part of their Transition Classes were re-

quired to serve at least 15 community service hours. Student raised $239 for the Helen Graham Breast Cancer

Center. One student earned third place honors and another won

Honorable Mention in the Boeing Writing Contest. A group of students participated in the RIT Science Fair

Competition. Jeanine Pollard, Science Teacher, was awarded a FMC

Biopolyner Grant for tech equipment for her room. The senior class donated $1,000 to Duchenne Muscular

Dystrophy. Darius Weems of Darius Goes West per-formed at DSD.

All the students and staff

traveled to New York City to view the WTC Memorial.

Did you know ?

Most DSD graduates who go

to college attend RIT

(Rochester Institute of Tech-

nology), Gallaudet University

or Howard College!