Hello!
The weeks of autumn have flown past, and the leaves have landed to nurture the soil for next year’s growth. We are here to nurture growth, too. Find a new resource and staff news, below.
New Resources – With Familiar Faces!
Two new modules are now available from the National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB) series “Teaching Children Who are Deafblind: Professional Development for Educators.”
These two modules are designed for practitioners who want to improve their knowledge of deafblindness and gain practical information they can use in the home or classroom.
- Module 1: “The Impact of Deafblindness on Learning and Development” Foundational information that’s essential for working with children who are deafblind. (Watch the Module 1 Trailer)
- Module 2: “Early Intervention for Children Who Are Deafblind” Strategies for encouraging communication, concept development, and more for infants and toddlers who are deafblind. (Watch the Module 2 Trailer)
Fun Fact: The trailers for these two modules include children whose families live in our state!
How do I get a consult or meet with someone from the Washington DeafBlind Program?
Reach out for consultation by using the “Request Support” button on our website:
Staff News
Many of you know Khanh Huhtala’s name. She has been our key administrative support person with the DeafBlind Program since 2014. Whether by email, phone or in person, Khanh connected with people at multiple agencies and school districts with the intent to support stellar services for families and children. She coordinated the annual DeafBlind Child Count, as well as registration and clock hours for professional development and family scholarships to conferences. Over nine years, Khanh also digitized our forms, designed websites and created processes for remote services as we serve all corners of the state. At the end of September, Khanh left WSSB for a new job where she is excited to bring her knowledge of accessibility. We are very grateful for her years of dedication to the WA DeafBlind Program.
In the middle of October, I had a major health scare that landed me in the hospital for brain aneurysm surgery. The prognosis is good, but I am on intermittent leave to support my recovery. Brains mend with time. . .and movement, apparently, so I am doing my exercises! The WSSB Outreach Team and DeafBlind Team have graciously taken on aspects of our work; I am working limited hours on essential program tasks. I hope to be back to a predictable schedule soon.
In the meantime, technical assistance and professional development continue, with the help of WSSB staff, Emma Packard and Sarah Godwin, and consultants Nancy Hatfield and Kathee Scoggin. We hope you explore new resources, such as the ones above, and take good care.
~ Katie Humes, Associate Director, WA DeafBlind Program/WSSB Outreach
