NC ELSSP-VI Newsletter
December 2019
Each child will be honored, respected, and empowered to achieve success in school and life.
North Carolina Early Learning Sensory Support Program for Children with Visual Impairments
Exceptional Children Division
Email: bethany.mayo@dpi.nc.gov
Website: www.ncelssp.com
Location: 6371 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699
Phone: (984) 292-3063
Raameek
Enjoying a rolling tube of bells
Teacher: Hitty
Wyatt
Painting a turkey with grandmother helping
Teacher: Andi
Wyatt
Exploring with food
Teacher: Andi
Contents
Amazing Kids - Staff
ECC Corner - Karen Beijer
What's Been Going on with ELSSP-VI - Nancy Kirby-Sauls, Vanessa Bishop, Heather Lister,
Bethany Mayo
Professional Development Opportunities - Lin Causey
Items of Interest - Marigail Matthijs
Staff Birthdays for December
Photo/Video Credits
ECC Corner
This is Michelle and her mom Fannie. We met at a local park to give Michelle the opportunity to play outside. I hadn’t observed her outdoors yet, and with her photophobia and her new mobility skills I wanted to get outdoors before it turned too cold. Getting outside the home for visits is crucial to see what the child’s vision looks like in unfamiliar settings and different lighting situations. It can give us the chance to assess if there are depth perception issues, how they navigate different changes on the ground i.e. from the grass to the pathway, and if shade is an important necessity. Sometimes we get stuck with our old ideas of needing to be in the home for our visits, but thinking outside the box sometimes can give us even more information into the child and family’s world. When focusing on the Extended Core Curriculum and the 9 standards we deal with, going to a park could fall under several areas including social interaction, orientation and mobility, recreation and leisure, sensory efficiency, as well as self-determination. I encourage you all to find a little park nearby and allow for some exploration of leaves and acorns, some tactile play in the sandbox, or some vestibular activities on the swing set. Happy fall y’all!
What's Been Going on with ELSSP-VI
Field Trips in the East
The horse and barrel train were at our pumpkin patch trip! We would like to give a shout out to Naylor Farms of Fuquay Varina for allowing our group to attend FREE!! They all loved the barrel
train, touching the animals, hayride and picking out pumpkins!! We will probably attend this pumpkin patch trip next year so please let us know if you are interested! All teachers and children are welcome to join us!
We went to the Aquarium at Emerald Isle and they got to see the turtles up close.
They graciously allowed our group to come FREE! So we are planning a trip for
the spring and would also like to take the children on the beach. This field trip is
open to all teachers and children across the state. Please share your interest with
Vanessa or Nancy so we may start working on planning for this Spring Event.
Vanessa Bishop Representing ELSSP-VI
In November, Vanessa Bishop represented the Early Learning Sensory Support Program at University of NC at Wilmington and at the 69th Conference on Exceptional Children.
First, she was invited to be a guest speaker by Dr. Amelia Moody, Associate Professor at UNCW. Vanessa spoke to a class of pre-service early childhood teachers in a class called “Adapting the curriculum for young children with disabilities.” She explained what the teachers of the ELSSP do, how we can support families at home, and how we can support teachers in class. She provided a number of hearing and visual impairment simulations to better help the students understand what it is like to have a sensory impairment.
Next, Vanessa was invited by Ann Hughes, an Adapted PE teacher (New Hanover County Schools) to be a part of a panel on collaboration at the 69th Conference on Exceptional Children held in Greensboro, NC. Vanessa served in the role of teacher for the visually impaired and former special educator. This panel was made up of EC professionals of all levels, including: Administrator, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Vision Specialist and former Special Educator, General High/Middle School Physical Educator, a STEM teacher, Adapted Physical Educator, University professor, Para Educator, and a student representative.
As a part of this panel, Vanessa shared how she collaborates with Adapted Physical Educators/Physical Educators and classroom teachers within the school districts she serves. She took this opportunity to educate the audience on the importance of including an Orientation and Mobility Specialist when appropriate for early learners. Members of the panel shared a little about themselves then answered questions from the audience.
We are proud of Vanessa for representing ELSSP-VI at UNCW and the Conference on Exceptional Children!
69th Conference on Exceptional Children
Professional Development Opportunities
Early Intervention Training Program-College of Education at Illinois 2019 Winter Webinar Series
Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute
Session 1: Getting to the Bottom Line of Family Engagement
Session 3: Infusing Partnership Principles and Practices
Session 4: More on Infusing Partnership Principles and Practices into Family Engagement Activities
Virginia Early Intervention Professional Development Center
2019 Talks on Tuesdays Recordings -
Foundations of Social Emotional Development: Attachment - Part I & 2
Neurotypical Brain Development: "How Different Is It from Autism, ADHD, Language Delay, etc.?"
University of Maryland: School of Social Work
Maryland's Online Family Engagement Provider Module
Pyramid Model for EI Providers
Pyramid Model Training for Infant & Toddler Classrooms
Trauma Informed Pyramid Model Training
Pyramid Model Training for Leadership - The Leadership module supports administrators and members of Pyramid Model leadership teams working to implement the program.
Items of Interest
The link below has some great suggestions for holiday gifts for children with CVI.
Photo/Video Credits
NC ELSSP-VI Staff