Professional Development
2025 Winter Seminar – Foundational Knowledge in Deafblindness
Our 2025 Winter Seminar is split into two workshops and facilitated by Dr. Susan Bruce. Dr. Bruce’s prolific career has focused on how students with multiple disabilities-particularly those who are congenitally deafblind develop communication and language. Her action, descriptive, and intervention research has spanned assessment, communication intervention, literacy, rare syndromes, action research, and teacher preparation.
Seminar Overview
In order to help students learn, teachers and related service personnel should support students to build their knowledge by integrating new skills and concepts into their experiences and understanding. The fields of neuroscience, psychology, and education have demonstrated that information becomes a long-term memory after ample opportunity to practice using the information in expected as well as new situations. In this two-day seminar, Foundational Knowledge in Deafblindness, participants will learn strategies that emphasize the importance of consistent and deliberate teaching for deafblind learners.
To extend learning beyond the seminar, participants will receive follow-up consultation, and/or access to a web source of high-quality practices and innovative examples.
Participants will build core knowledge in practical and proven educational strategies they can implement immediately with their students.
By the end of the two-day seminar, participants will develop an implementation plan that incorporates one or more strategies.
January 31, 2025
Developing Communication Dictionaries and Holistic Communication Profiles – Session 1
Time: 3:00 to 5:00 PM EST
Participants will learn about how to develop receptive and expressive Communication
Dictionaries and the Holistic Communication Profile. Participants will understand the
importance of these individualized dictionaries to improve the responsiveness of
communication partners. They will also understand the role that the profile has in assessment and as a guide to instruction. Participants will be asked to begin the development of a specific dictionary and/or profile on one child or youth who is deafblind. Family engagement will be encouraged. Teams are welcome to attend this workshop session.
*Registration closed
February 13, 2025
Developing Communication Dictionaries and Holistic Communication Profiles – Session 2
Time: 3:00 to 4:30 PM EST
Participants will come to this session with a partially completed Communication Dictionary and/or a Holistic Communication Profile. The purpose of this second session will be to clarify concepts and to respond to questions that support participants to complete these documents on the communication of one or more children or youth who are deafblind. In this session, we will also share ideas to apply content from the dictionaries and profiles to instruction. Teams are welcome to attend this workshop session.
Introduction to Deafblindness 2024
Overview
A 10-hour course (online) designed for paraprofessionals and new staff, the Introduction to Deafblindness series provides basic knowledge about working with students who have vision and hearing differences (deafblindness), and information regarding high-quality practices. This training serves as a valuable starting point for those new to the field, laying the groundwork for understanding and supporting deafblind learners and those with complex support needs.
Certificates of Completion will be provided to participants who attend the series in its entirety and complete a brief survey.
Session 1
September 19
Time: 4:00 to 5:30 PM EST
Location: Virtual
*Registration Closed
Session 2
October 10
Time: 4:00 to 5:30 PM EST
Location: Virtual
*Registration Closed
Session 3
October 24
Time: 4:00 to 5:30 PM EST
Location: Virtual
*Registration Closed
Session 4
November 7
Time: 4:00 to 5:30 PM EST
Location: Virtual
*Registration closed
Session 5
November 21
Topic: Communications and Routines
Time: 4:00 to 5:30 PM EST
Location: Virtual
*Registration Closed
Session 6
December 12
Topic: Calendars and Experience Books
Time: 4:00 to 5:30 PM EST
Location: Virtual
*Registration closed
Foundations for Deafblindness 2024
Foundations in Deafblindness is a year-long program comprising two courses (online) totaling 50 hours. This training delves deeper into the complexities of deafblindness, providing paraprofessionals with practical strategies and a thorough understanding of intervener practices. It is particularly beneficial for those looking to expand their knowledge and skills in this area.
Target Audience:
*Note – This training program is for individuals working directly with a deafblind student(s) in the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont.
- Paraprofessional
- Ed Tech
- Teacher Assistant/Classroom Aide
- 1:1 Personnel (i.e., parent, nursing, interpreter, home health aide, respite provider, babysitter/nanny)
Modules are hosted by a Facilitator and participants will be provided support and feedback during engagement in each module. The modules can be completed at a time most convenient for you and at your own pace.
Fall Cohort
Foundations in Deafblindness Fall Course
Class begins on October 1st.
Certificates offered.
Cost: $300
*Registration closed
Graduate Certificate in Deafblindness
The Graduate Certificate in Deafblindness is currently in the approval process with UMass Boston, and the first cohort will begin this fall. Designed for working professionals, this graduate certificate is comprised of five courses, with one course per semester for a total of five continuous semesters. Courses provide an in-depth overview of deafblindness, psychosocial implications, multicultural perspectives, communication strategies, literacy, instruction and assessment, high-quality practices, and assistive technology. Courses are online with some field experiences incorporated as part of the assignments.
Cost: Each course is three graduate credits with tuition costs of $1050 plus some one-time fees, total program cost of $5,250 plus fees. Students accepted for the fall cohort may be eligible for grant funding to reduce tuition costs.
REGISTRATION: For more information, contact [email protected]
Family Events and Resources
A variety of virtual and in-person networking for the families of children registered with NEC. Learn about various topics and connect with other parents.
Bike Day
Northeast Passage will provide adapted bikes, helmets for parents and kids, extra straps and foams for the bicycle. This is a great opportunity to meet NEC staff and other families.
Date: October 20 Time: 11:00 to 3:00 pm EST
Location: Windham New Hampshire
*Registration closed
NEC Family Storytime
You’re invited to join family story time, an online space for story time and crafts!
Storytime is FREE and you will receive a box with all of the needed craft supplies. The program will be recorded and can be viewed at a different time once you are registered with the group.
Location: Virtual Zoom meeting
Family Connections
Mindfulness & Parenting Tips
We offer opportunities for our families to engage in fun community events and meet other families who have a child who is deafblind.
Date: TBD