Coursework in Deaf-Blindness - PD Hours and Financial Support Available!

"Learning Styles" by dsselof is licensed under CC BY 2.0

EDUCATIONAL STAFF: 

An exciting opportunity is being offered by the University of South Dakota for all certified educators serving children and young adults, birth to 21!

Four 3-credit professional development courses will be offered:​

• An Introduction to Deaf-Blindness (Fall 2021)
• Deaf-Blindness: Communication Strategies (Spring 2022)
• Deaf-Blindness: Assessment and Instructional Planning (Fall 2021)
• Life Planning for Success: Deaf-Blind Strategies (Spring 2022)

Each course consists of a 15-week semester, approximately 3 hours of online work per week, and synchronous online meetings. The cost is $200 per 3-credit course for continuing education credits (or $320 to receive 3 graduate credits). Registration is now open for Fall 2021 courses.

For more information see the Professional Development Series Flyer.

In addition, Project Reach will offer a $200 honorarium to educators who successfully complete coursework.  A total of FIVE honorarium are available,.Priority for consideration of the honorarium is given to

• Educational staff currently serving a student on the Project Reach Deaf-Blind Child Count, OR
• Educational staff who have, in the past served a student on the Project Reach Deaf-Blind Child Count or serve groups likely to include students eligible for the Project Reach Deaf-Blind Child Count.
• Those who have not yet recevied an honorarium, and
• Those who complete the applications first.

  REGISTRATION CLOSES August 16 for the Fall semester.; To apply for an honorarium download this application. 

Feel free to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions.    

Virtual Family Meetup: Discovering Our Connections

Saturday, May 16  9 am - 12 noon Central time

In collaboration, the GFPD and Project Reach Illinois Deaf-Blind Services, are proud to present this free event for families who have a child with deafblindness.  

Save your seat by registering here

During this event you will have the opportunity to connect with others and discover ways to encourage and connect your child with the world around them.

Join our event to discover:

• Active Learning: Ways to encourage independent exploration
• Active Learning Spaces: Learn how to create your own!
• How you can make a difference in your community
• Connecting with other families who “get it!”
• Available Resources

Looking for general information about where to get help for your family for meals, childcare, immigration, or other issues?  Links to information on these topics and others related to COVD 19 are on this flyer from ISBE called "COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) FAQ for Illinois Families WHERE TO GET HELP"

MOVING FORWARD

Beginning May 1, 2020 Project Reach will be posting Illinois specific information below.  Previously posted information regarding initial COVID 19 posts, posts from March 2020 and from April 2020 have been archived and can be accessed by clicking these links:  COVID 19 link, March 2020 link, April 2020 link.  More resources regarding distance learning for students who are DeafBlind can be found at the National Center on Deaf-Blindness  (NCDB) Distance Learning for Proficient Communicators page.  There is a special section of resources for families related to COVID 19 in the NCDB Key Topics for Familes page.

Illinois specific information is below for SCHOOL PERSONNEL and FAMILIES:

SCHOOL PERSONNEL

FREE  PARAPROFESSIONAL TRAINING: Paraprofessionals!  Do you want to learn more about supporting students with combined vision-hearing loss? You are invited to register for online classes called Open Hands, Open Access (OHOA) Deaf-Blind Intervener Training!  The training is free, on an accessible online platform called Moodle, and provdes you with certificates of completion. Information about this online training program is here, and the registration form is here. 

FAMILIES

FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES:

Support for Food for Children:  Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) SNAP Benefits

 Please take us up on our invitation to call 630-790-2474 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.