California Deafblind Services

Our current and former CDBS staff (including David Brown, Gloria Rodrguez-Gil, and Jackie Kenley) were so happy to congratulate and celebrate two amazing recipients of the Perkins International Anne Sullivan Medal at the the final day of the #txdbsympo2021. Maurice Belote, our wonderful project coordinator, and his long-time comrade and friend from Texas, the incomparable Robbie Blaha were each given this distinctive honor. Both are so deserving for the countless contributio...ns they have made to the deafblind field and to the children, families, educational teams they've served and teachers and interveners they have trained. CONGRATULATIONS, MAURICE AND ROBBIE!! The first photo below is a screenshot of the surprise Zoom Meeting earlier this month when Maurice received his award from Marianne Riggio, the coordinator of the Perkins International Programs. The second photo is of Maurice and Robbie in 2011 when Robbie visited SFSU and presented at our our very first Deafblind Symposium, which is now an annual event. The third photo is a group shot of the teachers she connected with and inspired that day. Robbie is on the far right. Maurice is in the second row, second from the left. #annesullivanmedal #PerkinsInternational #txdbsympo2021 Image descriptions: First photo: Screenshot from a Zoom meeting of several people smiling and celebrating. Second photo: A woman in green shirt and dark pants and a man in dark shirt and light pants lean against a table as they talk to people across the room. Third photo: A group of approximately 25 people pose standing and smiling towards the camera.

This week's Zoom Tuesday Mini-Training will be led by our SoCal Educational Specialist and super signer, Kayla Coburn, and the topic is "How to implement new signs, total communication, and family signs". This session will be offered in English from 3:30-4:15 and then a Spanish session will follow from 4:15-5:00. Here is the link to register and receive Zoom Room Link: https://sfsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1ERzhTN2SLLKx1j ... If you've joined us for other Tuesday Trainings, the same link will get you into our room. A list of upcoming sessions or find recordings and resources from our past sessions can be found on our website under the "Weekly Trainings Activities 2021" tab. We hope you can join us for this fun, interactive session Image description: A woman in grey sweatshirt is grinning and touching her temple with the letter P shape hand shape to communicate the sign for "Politics".

The topic for tomorrow's Zoom Tuesday Mini-Training from 3:30-4:15 is "Total Communication Approach" and will be led by our family engagement, Myrna Medina. Here is the link to register and receive Zoom Room Link: https://sfsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1ERzhTN2SLLKx1j ... If you've joined us for other Tuesday Trainings, the same link will get you into our room. A list of upcoming sessions or find recordings and resources from our past sessions can be found on our website under the "Weekly Trainings Activities 2021" tab. We hope you can join us.

The topic for tomorrow's Zoom Tuesday Mini-Training from 3:30-4:15 is "Shared Reading and Writing". We will look at ways to engage and support learners of any age with meaningful, shared literacy activities at school and home. Here is the link to register and receive Zoom Room Link: https://sfsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1ERzhTN2SLLKx1j ... If you've joined us for other Tuesday Trainings, the same link will get you into our room. A list of upcoming sessions or find recordings and resources from our past sessions can be found on our website under the "Weekly Trainings Activities 2021" tab. We hope you can join us. Image description: A children's board book titled "Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?" with a painting of a polar bear on its cover. The book has a panel of buttons attached that emit sounds through a small speaker. On each button is texture to help a reader identify animal associated with each sound.

Our Tuesday Mini-Trainings return tomorrow March 9th from 3:30-4:15. Our topic this week is "Active Learning" and we're excited to share some easy and fun ways to use active learning approaches at home or in the classroom. Here is the link to register and receive Zoom Room Link: https://sfsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1ERzhTN2SLLKx1j... If you've joined us for other Tuesday Trainings, the same link will get you into our room. We hope you can join us. Recordings of our past sessions can be found on our website under the "Weekly Trainings Activities 2021" tab. Image description: A child is lying on his side and using his hands to explore a musical toy. The toy is a colorful array of metal bells attached to a circular frame that spins on central pole.

The virtual 2021 Texas Symposium for Deafblind Education kicked off with a deep dive exploration and discussion about the important and irreplaceable role of the Teacher of the Deafblind (TDB). Do you know a teacher "bitten by by the deafblind bug" and who just has that "IT" factor in terms of connecting with and meeting the unique needs of students who are deafblind? That's a teacher of the deafblind! We know many self-identifying TDBs in California and we'll continue to ad...vocate and elevate this important role and their amazing work. #TXDBSympo2021 #teacherofthedeafblind #deafblindeducation *********************************** Image description: A photo of a Zoom screen with 8 people each in a separate Zoom space. One member of the group is an ASL interpreter.

We think this is one the BEST deafblind focused organizations to join! Membership is open to everyone and a very reasonable fee. Hope you join us in supporting the wonderful advocacy work of National Family Association for Deaf-Blind!

California Deafblind Services is continuing our weekly Tuesday Mini-Trainings on issues related to deafblindness and intervention during distance learning during the pandemic. Each session is from 3:30-4:15 and includes a half hour presentation followed by 15 minutes of discussion. To register for upcoming trainings and receive the Zoom Room link: https://sfsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1ERzhTN2SLLKx1j ... Here are the upcoming topics: Tuesday, 11/10: Making literacy personal with experience books Tuesday, 11/17: Making your own modifications and accommodations during virtual learning Tuesday, 12/1: Promoting literacy skill building at home Tuesday, 12/8: How to maintain social connections Hope to see you there. Photo description: A yellow paper with leaves and twigs glued on it and the words, "I saw a tree with leaves." Photo credit: MaryAnne Demchak, Paths to Literacy website

Our annual Fall Symposium in Deafblindness went virtual this year and dozens of dedicated teachers across our state are joining us every Saturday morning in October to learn from the some of our country's best leaders in deafblind education. Happy we held onto to this tradition somehow! #teachersofthedeafblind #learningneverstops #VirtualSymposium... #2020cantstopus See more

Happy White Cane Day! Want to learn more about how use of a white cane leads to exploration and independence for individuals with visual impairments and how to approach and interact with a person using a white cane? Check out https://whitecaneday.org:

NFADB cordially invites all our members, families and friends to our 4th annual evening of Deaf-Blind Experience, on Thursday October 22, 2020 7:00 - 8:30pm EST...; being held virtually this year. The theme is My Family’s Journey: Advocacy, Self-Care, and Resiliency. People’s United Bank has once again graciously agreed to sponsor it. A virtual webinar version will be a first for NFADB. This webinar is free of charge to all family members and caregivers. Space is limited to 50 families on a first-come-first-serve basis. Information and registration is now available at https://www.nfadb.org/fundraisers We are looking forward to you joining us from the safety of your home.

The National Center On Deaf-Blindness hosts their next FREE webinar in the Professional Development Series on Deaf-Blind Strategies tomorrow, November 4th at 12pm PST. This week's topic is "Accessing Grade-level Curriculum". This is open to all professionals and families. For more details check out the link below... https://www.nationaldb.org//ncdb-professional-development/ #NCDBProfessionalDevelopmentSpotlight

TUESDAY TRAINING UPDATE: You won't want to miss this Tuesday's Mini-Training from 3:30-4:15. Our family engagement specialist, Myrna Medina, will be speaking to a parent panel about distance learning for families of children who are deafblind. You can register for the training to get the Zoom Room link here: https://sfsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1ERzhTN2SLLKx1j Check out the tab "Weekly Training Activities 2020" on our website to find recordings and materials from our previous trainings.

One of our favorite family partners, National Family Association for Deaf-Blind , is holding their 4th Annual Deaf-Blind Experience virtually this year on Oct. 22nd. Registration closes on Friday, Oct. 16th. See details below.

ANUNCIO: El Viaje de mi Familia: Abogacía, Cuidados Personales y Resilencia La Organización National Family Associacion for Deaf-Blind, invita a todas las fami...lias y proveedores de cuidado de personas sordo-ciegas al siguiente seminario gratuito por la plataforma zoom (Zoom Webinar) de 90-minutos, el día Jueves 22 de Octubre del 2020 a las 7:00pm Hora del Este. El tema es El Viaje de mi Familia: Abogacía, Cuidados Personales y Resilencia, y contará con 3 oradores miembros de familia, dinámicos y experimentados durante los primeros 30 minutos. Luego, ingresaremos a las salas de chat por 60 minutos de conversación de familia a familia, aprendizaje, apoyo y tiempo para socializar. Una sala de chat será exclusiva para Español para aquellos que elijan la opción Español: La inscripción se cierra el Viernes 16 de Octubre a las 5:00pm hora del Este. https://www.nfadb.org/event-3971104

If you haven't seen The Feeling Through Experience yet, you shouldn't miss this free screening opportunity on Sunday, October 25th. We highly recommend it!

Tomorrow we have another Tuesday Mini-Training planned from 3:30-4:15. This week the focus is on behavior. Behavior in the time of COVID: We’ll share a model of behavior assessment that focuses as much on you as it does on the child/student. It may give you a new perspective on what’s really important and what you can let go of.... To register and get Zoom Room link: https://sfsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1ERzhTN2SLLKx1j Hope to see you!

California families and professionals please join us tomorrow, Oct. 6th, when Maurice Belote will lead this week's Tuesday Mini-Training from 3:30-4:15. The topic this week is Assessment: *************************************************** Assessment made simple in the time of COVID Four basic questions, using just 16 words, will change the way... you think about assessment. We'll give you an easy way to determine your child's/student's strengths and interests. *************************************************** To receive the Zoom meeting link to any of the online trainings, please use the link below to enter your email address for the link to be sent to: https://sfsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1ERzhTN2SLLKx1j Hope to see you!

Tomorrow, 9/29, CDBS is hosting our second Tuesday Mini-Training for families and professionals from 3:30-4:15. Topic: What's happening today? Using object cues and calendar during distance learning. Whether learning at school or home it's important provide add structure and order and teach calendar-related concepts. You'll learn how to use object cues and easy-to-make calendar systems teach valuable both communication skills and concepts related to time and specific daily and weekly activities. To register for training: https://sfsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1ERzhTN2SLLKx1j

Our weekly mini-trainings for families and professionals in CA start tomorrow, Tuesday 9/22 at 3:30. We'll hold 45 minute trainings almost every Tuesday until Dec. 8th. Tomorrow's topic is: Learning from home during COVID: Let's start with routines. We'll highlight ways families and educators can identify and prioritize potential home routines and activities and create meaningful, family-friendly instructional plans and guides to support this instruction. Information on registration and Zoom meeting information can be found here: https://sfsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1ERzhTN2SLLKx1j

Sharing this update on a post from last week. National Center On Deaf-Blindness's planned webinar for Wed. 9/16 has been rescheduled to Wed. 9/30. Message from National Center On Deaf-Blindness: Due to unforeseen circumstances, NCDB has had to reschedule the webinar "Meeting the Needs of Proficient Communicators." Originally planned for September 16, it has now been moved to September 30. We apologize for any inconvenience. The updated webinar announcement is below. https://www.nationaldb.org//ncdb-professional-development/

Next week CDBS will begin our free weekly virtual training series for families and professionals. We hope to see many of you on Tuesdays afternoons from 3:30-4:15. We'll cover many key deafblind topics as they relate to distance learning and living through a pandemic and save time for questions and comments. Topics include: routines, calendars, assessment, behavior, social connections, literacy, and more. Registration can be found on CDBS website under CDBS Weekly Training Activities Tab. Contact any CDBS staff member for more information.

Next Wednesday, 9/16 is the second National Center On Deaf-Blindness webinar in their Professional Development Series: Deafblind Strategies. The topic is "Meeting the Needs of Proficient Communicators". We're very excited to learn more and hope you can make it too! These webinars are FREE and open to everyone--professionals and families. 12pm PST so might fit right into a lunchtime break from distance teaching or learning.

On this this wonderful Wednesday we’d like to welcome and introduce you to the newest member of CDBS family. Our educational specialist, Kayla, and her husband, Josh, brought sweet Marlo into the world just one week ago today...How’s that for some much needed good news?! Congratulations to Kayla and Josh and welcome to the world, Marlo! Image description: Baby’s feet.