NCELSSP-HI Newsletter
Summer 2017
North Carolina Early Learning Sensory Support Program for Children With Hearing Impairments
Department of Public Instruction
Office of Early Learning
RUTH ANNE EVERETT, Director
Each child will be honored, respected, and empowered to achieve success in school and life.
Office of Early Learning Mission Statement
Contents
Cute Corner
Summer Birthdays
Something To Think About
ELSSP-HI Shirt Order
ELSSP-HI Teachers Present at Spring Camp Cheerio
Staff Development and Save the Dates
7th Annual CARE Project Gala Fundraiser
Resources and Opportunities for Families
Student Spotlights
Where Are They Now?
Director's Spotlight
Kristen's Korner
Cute Corner
Talen
Neena Malosky, teacher
Emma
Andrea Cagle, teacher
Louis
Playing with his mom :)
Heather Conway, teacher
Yeniel
Yeniel on a listening walk with his mother and sister.
Lucia Sumner, teacher
Parker
Parker playing with her teacher.
Sara Gibson, teacher
Henry and Parker
Making friends. Henry and Parker (and families), meeting for the first time.
Sara Gibson, teacher
July
3 - Jen Dunn
24 - Wanda Pendergrass
August
7 - Mandy Hice
29 - Alison McKown
September
3 - Ruth Anne Everett
6 - Lucia Sumner
10 - Mary Lou Wright
19 - Heather Conway
24 - Jenni Campagna
30 - Amanda Cagle
Something to Think About
"Listen earnestly to anything your children want to tell you, no matter what. If you don’t listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they won’t tell you the big stuff when they are big, because to them all of it has always been big stuff.” Catherine M. Wallace
ELSSP-HI Shirt Order
If you would like to order a shirt, you can place your orders until July 19th. They can be mailed to your home, or they can be distributed at the August staff meeting.
Follow this link to order:
ELSSP-HI Teachers Present at Spring Camp Cheerio
Submitted by Chris Czajkowski
Spring Camp Cheerio takes place every year the weekend after Mother’s Day. It is organized by the NC Cued Speech Association and NC AG Bell and it supports deaf and hard of hearing children and their families. This year, Neena Malosky and I, were asked to present on “Increasing Executive Functioning in Children with Hearing Loss”. We were honored to be asked and the experience was beyond our expectations. Our presentation was well received, but what really left an impression on us was the camp itself. It is so well organized and provides such an amazing opportunity for children with hearing loss and their families to come together, have fun, build relationships, and gain new information and insight. There are families that have been attending since their children were very young and now they are young adults. That just attests to the quality of the camp, and the experience and comradery they gain from it year after year. There is so much for the children to do including rock climbing, swimming, hiking, crafts, games, amazing food, and so much more! Oh, and the views! They are truly breathtaking and can only be fully appreciated by witnessing them yourself.
We feel so fortunate to have been a part of Spring Camp Cheerio this year and we would highly encourage all families to attend. There are scholarships available each year. We also highly encourage professionals to volunteer if possible. We had some amazing volunteers from ELSSP-HI this year. Thank you Jenni Campagna, Meg Locklear, and Nancy Collado! I know your time and talent is so greatly appreciated year after year!
Hope to see you next year at Spring Camp Cheerio!
Staff Development and Save The Dates
Opening Convocation
August 10-11, 2017
Holiday Inn Downtown Raleigh
Additional Information to Follow!
Hear 'N Now Conference
October 13, 2017
8am-5pm
519 Church & Conference Center
https://www.med.unc.edu/earandhearing/events/2011-nc-ag-bell-and-cccdp-hear-n-now-fall-conference
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Free Continuing Professional Development Opportunities
The title has been linked to the document and it can also be located at beearly.nc.gov on our Certification & Renewal webpage. The following trainings have been added:
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Toddler Initiative (University of NC-Chapel Hill)
Military Families Learning Network:
· Webinar One: March 9, 2017 (archived) "1-2-3 Play with Me! Recognizing and Valuing the Power of Play” https://learn.extension.org/events/2940
· Webinar Two: June 22, 2017 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. EST “Have A Seat! Learning What Children Know Through Play” https://learn.extension.org/events/2941
· Webinar Three: Oct. 19, 2017 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. EST “When Play is More than Just ‘Playing’: Delivering Intentional Instruction through Daily Interactions” https://learn.extension.org/events/2942
· Webinar Four: Dec. 7, 2017 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. EST “Beyond the Shape Sorter: Playful Interactions that Promote Strong Academic and Social-Emotional Skills” https://learn.extension.org/events/2943
“NEW Maryland Infants & Toddlers Program”
· Module 1: Social Emotional Development, Universal Practices, Family Partnerships
· Module 2: Targeted Social Strategies
· Module 3: Intensive Interventions
Technology Solutions for Early Childhood...The Future is NOW Symposium (Center on Technology and Disability & US Department of Education)
Getting to the Bottom Line of Family Engagement (Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute)
Did you know that state employees receive a 15% discount on train tickets?
Riding the train is a great way to save money on summer travel and, with free Wi-Fi service, you can be productive while traveling between Raleigh and Charlotte.
Paul Worley, Director of the NC Rail Division, encourages state employees to utilize the state’s passenger rail system, NC By Train. It provides six daily passenger trains that serve nine cities in the Piedmont I-85/40 corridor between Raleigh and Charlotte.
State employees should click here to obtain a 15% fare discount when making reservations and purchasing tickets. Train tickets for business travel can be turned in on your expense voucher.
For information about routes, schedules and fares, visit...
or call
1-800-BY-TRAIN
7th Annual CARE Project Gala Fundraiser
Submitted by Neena Malosky
The CARE Project has been very busy this year and plans for the 7th Annual Gala are underway.
The CARE Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing hope to families who have children and/or adults with hearing challenges. The CARE Project provides emotional support through the use of counseling tools, family retreats and advocacy experiences aimed at the processing of the emotional stages of grief with the ultimate goal being acceptance and advocating for the best life possible.
The CARE Project has the potential to more than double its services to families this year!
The Gala is scheduled for Saturday, September 23, 2017 at the beautiful Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, NC. The Proximity Hotel (www.theproximityhotel.com) is the official host hotel and is also signed on as a signature partner for the Gala. The chefs at the Proximity will prepare an amazing variety of delicious foods which are included in the ticket price as well as 2 complimentary drinks.
As I continue my career in Early Intervention working with families who have young deaf and/or hard of hearing children, I clearly see the need for the CARE Project. Everyday I have the honor of working with families, most of whom are just finding out their child has a hearing loss. It is such a blessing that I am able to offer the CARE Project services to families.
Tickets are available for purchase through
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-7th-annual-care-project-gala-the-art-of-hearing-tickets-34292353352
Please contact Neena Malosky or Jen Dunn for sponsorship information or if you would like to volunteer your time.
nmalosky@gmail.com
336-430-8041
336-953-4180
Resources and Opportunities For Families
Charlotte Hitch-up
will be holding a private event at Discovery Place Huntersville
(105 Gilead Rd, Huntersville 28078)
on August 27, 2017 from 10am-12pm.
Free admission for children with hearing loss. $8 for others
It is important that you RSVP for this event! RSVP with # in group at
http://evite.me/Hp7cS7zpva
Come and join in the fun!!
https://kids.discoveryplace.org/huntersville/
SC AG Bell Fall Conference at DoubleTree Resort, Myrtle Beach
Saturday, September 30 at 8 AM - 4 PM
DoubleTree by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront
3200 S Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
The guest speaker will be Lydia Denworth. She is the author of I Can Hear You Whisper, which the New York Review of Books called “rigorous” and “enthralling.” When her youngest son, Alex, was identified with significant hearing loss, Ms. Denworth thought she needed to understand everything about ears and ending up exploring the brain. I Can Hear You Whisper is the story of Ms. Denworth’s investigation into the science of sound, language acquisition, brain plasticity, and Deaf culture.
More information and tickets can be found at:
American Sign Language Online Class
If your family has enjoyed Signing Time and you’re ready to learn more, this new American Sign Language online class is for you.
With SignIt ASL, you’ll learn American Sign Language vocabulary, sentences, fingerspelling, grammar, conversation, and more!
Find out more at:
https://www.signingtime.com/signit-asl/
Charlotte Association of the Deaf
Kannapolis Cook-Out
Saturday, August 5, 2017
3:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Shelter B at Village Park
700 W C Street
Kannapolis, NC 28081
Admission: $5.00 per person with food
$8.00 per person without food
$3.00 per school age child
FREE for age 0 to 3
Charlotte Association of the Deaf will provide hamburgers, hot dogs, buns bottle water and sweet tea. PLEASE CALL US to RSVP. To help us count how many people to buy enough meats.
Games: Water balloons Games, Corn Hole Games, Play and more.
Door Prizes will be announced at 7 PM.
Rides at Village Park cost $1.50 each:
SPLASH Water Park
Rotary Express Train Rides
Merry-Go-Round Carousel
Contact: LeAnne King 704-702-0257
Linda Wilson – 704-246-5599
Donna McCord Smolik – 704-5677
Brenda Freeman – 704-918-1018
REACH
University of North Carolina Tele-Participation Program
Tele-Therapy
Individualized intervention for families across NC
Tele-Coaching
Through the Coaching Collaborative at UNC
Our Mission:
Providing a quality listening and spoken language program for children with hearing loss; empowering parents as primary teachers and advocates; training and coaching specialists in listening and spoken language.
For more information on participating in tele-coaching or tele-therapy please contact
Lillian Henderson: Lillian.Henderson@unchealth.unc.edu
919-419-1428
Hear 'N Now Conference
October 13, 2017
8am-5pm
519 Church & Conference Center
https://www.med.unc.edu/earandhearing/events/2011-nc-ag-bell-and-cccdp-hear-n-now-fall-conference
Student Spotlights
Aidyn Jones
Aidyn is a 2-year 8-month old who resides in Fayetteville, NC. He lives with his mother, grandparents and aunt. Aidyn's cochlear implant age is 4 1/2 months.
Aidyn LOVES the outdoors and is a wonderful athlete! He shoots hoops, plays golf and baseball, drives his electric car, enjoys playing musical instruments, and singing. He keeps his family members busy with his activities! Aidyn also enjoys looking at books, puzzles and figuring out how things work.
Maddie
Christmas is my absolute favorite time of the year; I start listening to Christmas music in October! I love the lights, the decorations and all of the excitement that leads up to celebrating the birth of our Lord. So it was only fitting that after some struggles, our little Christmas miracle arrived on December 24, 2014. Madelyn Grace entered the world bright and early that morning weighing in at 6lbs 13oz with the most precious face you have ever seen! Ok, I may be a little biased, but we were instantly in love. She had a little trouble breathing though and was quickly rushed to the nursery; Jami following close behind. While I lay in recovery waiting to see my baby and worrying about the unknown and what could be wrong, the one thing that never crossed my mind was that she wouldn’t be able to hear. She was finally brought to my room and shortly thereafter we received a visit from the doctor who would deliver the news that she had failed her first newborn hearing screening. Of course with a c-section delivery you hear that it is probably just fluid, but on the second day, we were told that she passed in one ear, but not the other, and finally on the day we were to go home, the doctor told us she failed once again. We scheduled a follow up test a few weeks later and left still hoping and praying that it was just fluid. I will never forget that next appointment, holding my tiny baby as she was hooked up to all these electrodes and wires, ultimately to be told that we were being referred to an ENT at UNC for further testing. I sat in my car and just sobbed. The next few days and weeks were a blur. I was bombarded with phone calls and e-mails from professionals offering assistance, but I just shut down, completely overwhelmed. I needed a little time to process the information before I could move full steam ahead. I was advised that if I waited too long, they would stop calling. That was the kick I needed to jump start the process and from that point on, there was no looking back. We immediately started Early Intervention with Emily Orman who has been a life saver to our family. Little did she know when she started working with us that she would be as much of a therapist to me as she has been to Maddie, answering all of my endless questions with patience and understanding. We scheduled our appointments with the ENT and audiologists and after reviewing her ABR, Maddie was fitted for her first set of hearing aids. During this time we looked for every sign that she was hearing anything, banging pots and pans, yelling her name, and clapping loudly in her ears, but we were simply grasping at straws. The truth was she was profoundly deaf in both ears and thus we began the waiting game. She was scheduled for surgery to receive bilateral cochlear implants in October at just 9 months old. Once again, I sobbed as I left my tiny baby in the care of Dr. Brown and his staff during the five hour surgery. I remember walking though the hospital after they took her back to the operating room and seeing all of the sick children, reminding myself that this is not a life threatening condition. With the medical team that we had in our corner, the therapists, teachers, and friends and family, Maddie has a bright future and the opportunity to live a completely normal life. We couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. Dr. Brown warned us that at activation you will get one of three responses; of course every parent wants that precious smile as their baby hears their voice for the first time, it could be a cry, or there may be no reaction at all. When Holly (Teagle) turned Maddie on, she looked up at us in shock and then burst into tears. The happiest tears any of us have ever shed as we knew she had heard our voices! We began more intense therapy with Emily working diligently and I had to remind myself that it is a process and not overnight success. I try to remember not to compare Maddie to other children, that while this may not have been the path we planned, this is her story. We have learned to celebrate every milestone and appreciate the little victories. Maddie has come such a long way and has made up much of the time that she went without hearing. Like most 2 year olds, she is talking up a storm. She knows most of her colors, can sing her ABC’s and says please & thank you regularly. Each day brings something new, some challenges and some successes but we take each as they come. We are just beginning the process of making the transition from Early Intervention to the school system and building her IEP. I must say that this process terrifies me, but we are devoted to making sure that Maddie has all the tools she needs to be successful. We are very thankful that Maddie was diagnosed at such an early age which allowed her to be implanted so young and gave her access to language before her first birthday. We will forever be grateful to all of the members of Maddie’s support team; you have forever changed a little girl’s life!
Where Are They Now?
Davina
Submitted by Niki Minervini
Davina was our introduction into the world of hearing loss and what a journey it has been! She was born right on her due date and as the 4th baby of the family, she was the easiest labor and delivery. Everything seemed so perfect; we were overjoyed to welcome our second beautiful baby girl into our family. She came into this world crying loudly; my bold, wild spirited little girl. Although she came in making quite a racket, to her, the world was silent. When the doctors came in the next day to go over everything for our discharge, they mentioned that she failed her newborn hearing screening. They brushed it off as if it was nothing, and said for us to go see an audiologist on an outpatient basis in a week. They set us up with an appointment and that was that. Being that we have never dealt with a hearing impaired newborn before, we really didn’t understand any of it. We felt, if the doctors did not seem concerned, then we would not worry either. A week went by and we went for an outpatient OAE test, which she failed. They said it is still kind of early and asked us to come back in 3 more weeks. Now it was starting to become a concern to us. We cried and prayed and went home that day feeling let down in a way. After 3 weeks, we went back. She passed the OAE this time. We were told that she can hear and everything was fine. So we went about our business raising and enjoying our new baby girl. About 10 months later, we relocated from Pennsylvania to North Carolina. It was not until Davina was about 1 and still not speaking anything besides grunts that I insisted I bring her back for more testing.
We began her audiological care in NC, where we would go every month for booth testing. Month after month I would insist that she couldn't hear, but they said she just isn’t talking because her siblings did everything for her without her having to talk. We had tubes put in to drain fluid and help the ear infection battles that she dealt with and they said that is why she is having issues hearing. It was a whole year of let downs and disappointments because we could never really get a clear answer. Her booth testing was not reliable and she did not understand what we wanted from her. It was tiring and frustrating for not only her, but us as a family. We could literally stand behind her and scream, as loud as we could, and she would not budge. Still unsure about their answers, we accepted them, for a while. In October of 2014, I gave birth to Davina’s little brother Dante. He too, failed his newborn hearing screening test. After that, we decided to figure this out. It was time for some REAL answers. We transferred their care to a new audiologist and they were both given sedated ABR’s to definitively diagnose their hearing loss. She was finally properly diagnosed in December of 2014 with EVAS causing progressive hearing loss. Her MRI proved she was a good candidate for cochlear implants, so we decided we would get the implant after she wore hearing aids for 4 months and testing revealed that her hearing aids set at maximum amplification were doing nothing for her. It was at this time, at 30 months of age that Davina began services with ELSSP-HI, the same time as her 3-month brother.
In April of 2015, she was implanted on her left side, with the right side to follow a few months later. We immediately began to see changes in her behavior with noises. She loved to hear. We would walk around outside and just listen to things! It was amazing to watch her learn how to hear and grow so much. Every new thing she learned just made our hearts fill with happiness.
Shortly after her first surgery, she began the HI Pre-K program at Frazier Elementary through Guilford County Schools. She was 3 at this point and still completely non-verbal with the exception of “mama” and grunts or noises she would make. The HI Pre-K team and the family, along with the early intervention team we had, worked diligently to improve her receptive and verbal communication. Half way through the school year, she had already blossomed to speaking 1-2 word utterances, and being able to understand 1 step directions (with some visual cues). She had taken off! She has made so much progress in her two years at the HI Pre-K program, that this past year, we are proud to say that she has graduated that program and is right on target with her IEP goals! She is about to head off to the HI program kindergarten class at Hunter Elementary in the fall. She does so well in school. She loves to draw pictures and tell stories about them. She even won an award last year at her Pre-K graduation for her great pictures and stories! She loves animals and has a huge caring heart. Although she went through a lot early on, she has never lost her drive, and continues to just blow our minds daily. There is so much passion built up in that little one.
Davina’s first few years may have been silent for her, but that hasn’t stopped this bright, energetic little girl from progressing and exceeding expectations! She now can understand almost everything we say to her and she speaks…… that’s right, SHE SPEAKS! I will never forget the first time she said “I love you” to me. We had wondered if she would ever be able to hear us say that, let alone say it back. Yes, she still has a delay, but she started out with a 2.5 year delay, and now she is only behind her peers by about 1, 1.5 years. Not only does she speak, but she LOVES music. Her favorite band is the Chainsmokers. She will break out in song and sing her little heart out every time their songs come on the radio! Every time she does, it brings me right back to that day she was born. She came into this world, loud and proud, I don’t think anything will ever get in this little girls way.
Director's Spotlight
By Ruth Anne Everett
Terry Smith
Hi. I am Terry Smith. Working for the State of North Carolina and the Early Learning Sensory Support Program for Children With Hearing Impairments has allowed me to be a daily service provider for our program, our parents and ultimately the children. As assistant to the teachers, support staff and administrator, my job consists of general office duties; most of the time on-site, but it does provide opportunities to assist outside of the office. Being able to do this keeps me connected to the staff in a way that only enhances my love for what I do. My real joy is always found in being of service to others whether it is with my family, in my church or at my job. Overall I am a truly blessed woman!!
Kristen's Corner
Hi Everyone! Welcome to Kristen’s Korner! A place where I hope you will find some tricks and tips I have found to be useful for me and my personal training clients. I was beyond flattered when I was asked to contribute to the newsletter, and so happy to do so. Over the years, I have had conversations with many of you regarding exercise, diet, and overall well-being. And you may remember that I probably asked a lot of questions specific to you. I call this “Find your Fit!” We all know there is no one size fits all, magic pill or drink, or exercise “prescription” that will work for everyone. “Finding your Fit” is a lot like what we are asking of our families now in regards to using Reflective questions and Coaching. Essentially, when I begin with new clients, I ask them questions to see what their goals or concerns are, find out what they’ve already tried, what has worked, what hasn’t, what injuries or limitations they may have, and most importantly, what do they LIKE to do? What do they like or don’t like to eat? Are they open to trying new foods? Any dietary restrictions? And the list can go on and on depending on the client. Sound a little familiar to what we all do every day in our home visits? Think about the families you serve and think about some of the changes we have been asked to do as a teacher and the changes, or the different service delivery model we have presented to families. These are the types of questions and changes I ask of clients when deciding how I can best serve them. Whether it’s our families, my clients, or ourselves, the questions are the same. When we are trying something new, it’s important to reflect on what it is that we are trying to accomplish and develop a plan to get there. We are experts in this in our job, but what about our own lives, bodies, and the nutrients we consume (or don’t consume) everyday? So are you at a loss of where to start? Are you currently active but have lost motivation? Are you currently not active and want to be? What kinds of things do you enjoy to do? What are you willing to try? Do you want to lose weight? What kinds of changes are you willing to make and implement to reach your goals? This is where we start- a goal, some reflection, a plan of action, support as you make changes, and a maintenance plan for a healthier life. Need an extra push or someone to help keep you accountable? I want to offer my help to each and every one of you. I’ll be submitting to the newsletter, but you can also reach out to me at any time for a consult!! If you prefer to do things on your own, re read some of the questions above and answer them as honestly as you can. Develop a plan, Pick a start day, and Begin! Next time we’ll talk about keeping your goals SMART and SIMPLE. Until then, enjoy Finding Your Fit!
Newsletter Committee
Chris Czajkowski
Donna Snipes
Jen Dunn
Contributor:
Jenni Campagna