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Overview
Regional Consultant Services
Regional Consultant Services
Coordinator - Terry Keegan
802-254-3929 (v/tty/vp)
Email: tkeegan@vcdhh.org
Vermont Center Regional Consultants provide an array of specialized services to deaf and hard of hearing students from birth through age 21, enrolled in publicly supported programs regardless of their educational placement. This program is supported by a grant from the Vermont Department of Education and funds from local school districts.
Consultants work with other professionals within the field of deaf education to promote the early identification of hearing loss. Once a child is identified, consultants may serve as liaisons between families, schools and medical and audiological personnel. Consultants provide current information concerning the child's education, including language choice, communication methods and the continuum of educational placements available.
Throughout a child's educational career, consultants work as members of the educational team to ensure the use and maintenance of appropriate hearing devices and implementation of classroom accommodations. Consultants assist teachers, educational assistants, tutors, interpreters and other school professionals in the modification of curriculum and the implementation of teaching strategies and classroom accommodations designed to best serve the individual deaf or hard of hearing student. Technical assistance regarding the use of hearing aids, cochlear implants, FM systems, and sound field systems may be provided. Direct service may be provided in the areas of language and literacy, speech instruction and the development and assessment of auditory skills.
Consultants provide families with ongoing support and school staff with in-service training. Outside agencies may be accessed as needed and consultants support all those involved in effective collaborations. The goal at all times is the assurance of an appropriate education and the success of the deaf or hard of hearing student in the classroom, the family and the community.
For a list of Regional Consultants in your area, please click on the "FORMS" tab at the top of this page.
Click on any of the links listed below for more information about various program initiatives:
Adventure Day 2010- click on the Testimonial Link at the top of this page.
2009 Learning Celebration - Accessibility at School and in the Community - click on the "Forms" tab at the top of this page for conference handouts
A Hearing Aid and FM Simulation link under the "Video" tab on the top of this page
Hard of Hearing (HOH) Mentor Project. - click on the Testimonial Link at the top of this page and scroll down the page.
Classroom Acoustics Project - click on the Testimonial Link at the top of this page and scroll down the page.
Consultant Direct Service Consultant Classroom Support
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faq
Answer: Click for here for the Consultant list
Question: What services are available from the Consultants
Answer: Click here for a description of consultant services
testimonials
Regional Consultant Program
Adventure Day - May 19, 2010
The weather gods and goddesses were not with us this year but the rain did not for one minute dampen the spirits of the 58 students who joined us once again for our annual Adventure Day at Lotus Lake Discover Center in Williamstown, VT. This field day organized by the Vermont Center's consultants is for students who are hard of hearing and designed to give these students a chance to connect and bond with peers. The consultants work out all the logistics of getting students from all over Vermont to Lotus Lake, then the Lotus Lake staff provide them a full day of activities that include environmental exploration, group games and problem solving initiatives.
More than one participant said things like, "I can't wait till next year. This is awesome. We should have a camp for a week. I love Adventure Day!!! It was very fun. Keep it going! I love meeting hard of hearing friends. We invite some former hard of hearing students and adults who work as mentors to some of our students. You can click on testimonial link to read what one of the mentors had to say about the day.
This event is offered at no cost to participants, thanks to VT Department of Education grant funds and Vermont Center fundraising efforts. If you know of a student with a hearing loss who you believe would benefit from this event please be in touch with the VT Center consultant who covers your area. For a list of the consultants, contact Terry Keegan at 254 3929 or tkeegan@vcdhh.org
Testimonial from Robin
Adventure Day - May 19, 2010
Hi All,
Hooray for Adventure Day being a success!! :) I think the kids really do get a lot out of coming each year and like I've always said, I wish we had something like that when I was in middle/high school! I got a chance to hear several different discussions among the kiddos about what it's like to have a hearing loss....seems like a lot more this year than last year! I hung out mainly with the middle school crowd and was really impressed with how several of them felt comfortable talking to each other about their hearing loss! There were discussions about:
--- how some kids have forgotten, or almost forgot, to take out their hearing aids off when taking a shower
--- what approaches to take when one or both hearings aids stop working
--- where to store hearing aid batteries
--- where to buy hearing aid batteries
--annoyances with baseball and football helmets
---becoming more comfortable about sticking up for yourself in situations where you might not hear what people are saying (one girl said she was very shy around her peers, but I think she thought it was neat that the other hard of hearing kids are able to get a good response from their peers once they DO say something)
Some of these discussions were initiated by the kids themselves as we were doing the walking in the woods. Some of them were initiated by me during "Fabulous Flags" as I wanted to get the kids asking me questions....which really did take off! :)
I also had a discussion with a high school girl about the one on one mentoring I've done. She thought that was great and thought it would be cool (as a high school-er) to mentor a younger kid. She wished she had that when she was in middle school as it was when she first started wearing hearing aids and it was a pretty confusing time for her. Another girl told me she wished that there were more chances to see everyone. She was happy about how well everyone gets along. Me too! :) I
I hope you all have recovered from the chaos...those kids have a LOT of energy! I slept well that night! :) I hope you all have a wonderful summer!
~~Robin Miller
Mentor
Robin is a former recipient of Vermont Center Consultant services and now shares her experiences and offers supports as a mentor to students who are hard of hearing.
Mini-Adventure Day in Central VT
On Friday May, 28th 2010 four of the Vermont Center consultants planned a field trip for students from kindergarten to third grade who are hard of hearing and live in Central Vermont. They went to Montpelier's North Branch Nature Center, formally known as the Vermont Institute for Natural Science (VINS). The group participated in a one and a half hour science program called Nature Detectives. They learned about box turtles, salamanders and ball snakes and were allowed to touch and hold them. The day ended with a picnic lunch on the beautiful grounds of the Nature Center. We had six students attend the field trip this year, several parents and in addition we invited a few middle school students to join us as mentors. You can tell by their smiling faces they all enjoyed the event.
Classroom Acoustics Project
Classroom Acoustics Project
Testimony from Liane Carter:
"I just wanted to drop in to let you know that I appreciate your website. I came across your article on your classroom acoustics project and found it very helpful. I am a student at the Academy of Art University and the client I am working for has a deaf child in the family. I was doing research on how I could design a living room that would suit her needs because I know that some surfaces can be painful or very annoying to her because of the sound reverberations. The info provided in your classroom acoustics project helped me understand a little better what would be most helpful to her. Thanks again and take care. God Bless!"
At the Hartland COOP Nursery School, the emphasis IS on COOPeration. In an effort to best meet the needs of one of her students, as well as improve conditions for her class as a whole, lead teacher Harriet Dumas garnered the support of the local Boy Scout troop to physically modify her classroom. And the results speak for themselves!
It began following a visit from the Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Regional Consultant Jim Bombicino, who provides regular on site support and technical assistance for one of Harriet's students, 4 year old Nora Peeler.
The Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has provided consultation and support services for all children with hearing loss throughout the state since 1986 through 12 regional consultants. This support usually takes the form of on site observation, training, and technical support for those students who require certain accommodations and/or special education to compensate for their hearing loss. Nora and her family first experienced the helping hand of the Vermont Center through the Parent Infant Program which provided weekly home visits from parent educator Tami Trowell until she was 3. Now that she attends the Hartland Coop 2 mornings a week, Jim visits monthly to monitor her educational program and provide technical support related to her hearing aids and personal FM system with a wireless teacher worn microphone and transmitter.
One of the goals of the program is to make recommendations that will improve our students' education and life experience. In keeping with this we look at the acoustical environment where learning takes place. Often we find that certain physical modifications in a classroom can have a profound effect on improving a hard of hearing student's ability to hear and discriminate speech by reducing background noise and reverberation; two factors which can drastically reduce comprehension. In fact, research has shown that these factors can inhibit learning for all children, not just those with hearing loss. Attention and comprehension can suffer in the presence of noise which is loud enough to compete with the teacher's voice. This is particularly true for preschool and early elementary children, whose central auditory pathways and neurological systems have not yet matured.
In preparation of the 2008-09 school year, Jim met with Harriet and viewed the layout and contents of her nursery school class where Nora would be attending. A well equipped, colorful and inviting space, the room was judged to have marginally acceptable acoustics; slight reverberation was noted as the result of sound reflecting surfaces in the room, such as hard wood flooring, formica work tables, sheetrock walls and ceiling, and three large windows. Options they discussed were adding carpeting, draperies, and sound absorbing ceiling or wall panels.
Harriet brought up the idea of acoustic panels at a school board meeting, and the parent of a cub scout suggested contacting the local Boy Scout Troop with the notion of designing and fabricating their own panels. Scoutmaster Tom Ramsey recommended Micah Heaney, a Life Ranked Boy Scout and freshman in high school, to take on the project. Micah researched acoustic panels, downloaded plans, and figured a cost estimate for the materials list provided on the website: www.instructables.com.
Harriet's husband John teamed up with Micah to build a prototype, and the community project was in full swing. Following a fund raising effort and the purchase of materials, local boy scouts from troop 235 were on the scene and building during April vacation (Click on the Video link at the top of the page to view pictures).
By the end of the week the six panels were hung on the wall in the locations which Jim had recommended. To evaluate the affect of the panels, Jim measured reverberation and background noise levels before and after installation with equipment supplied by the Vermont Center. Jim was able to document an average reduction in reverberation time (the amount of time for a 60dB sound to drop to 0) throughout the classroom.
The Coop's effort was successful on many levels. Nora and her friends will be better able to distinguish speech during groups. The local boy scouts learned new skills and applied them to improving their community. The nursery school board members were sensitized to the notion of a good listening environment. Coop members were spared costly renovation, and the end product will be versatile and portable if needed elsewhere in the coming years.
In fact, anyone who visits the Hartland Coop Nursery School can see the spirit of cooperation in action!
Mentor Services for Hard of Hearing Students
Mentor Services for Students who are Hard of Hearing
The Vermont Center Regional Consultant Program is pleased to announce the completion of the Hard of Hearing Mentor pilot program. Thanks to the vision and commitment of several consultants and financial support from the Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council, VCDHH has formulated a program which can offer mentoring support to students who are hard of hearing.
Fashioned after the Deaf Mentor Program which pairs children who are deaf and their families with a Deaf adult whose job is to teach American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf Culture and encourage participation in Deaf Community events, the goal of the Hard of Hearing Mentor Program is to connect children who are hard of hearing and/or their families with a successful adult role model. Through mentoring services children and their families are able to establish relationships with an adult who is "just like me/my child". As a result of these meetings, students have the opportunity to develop a positive attitude and a better understanding of what it means to be hard of hearing. Often a hard of hearing child is the only student in his/her school with hearing loss. This can lead to isolation and feelings of low self esteem. A connection with a mentor provides an opportunity for a hard of hearing student to meet an adult who can share their life experiences and can promote a positive self-image.
A committee of VCDHH consultants met over the course of several months to identify and delineate components of the program; considering issues such as student needs, possible mentor services, potential mentors and the hiring process, training and supervision of the mentors, fees, documentation, etc. A comprehensive manual which includes information and structure on the previously mentioned issues was developed and funds to provide the services were secured from the Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council.
During the fall of 2008 the pilot program offered mentor services to two Vermont students. By all accounts the pilot was a success. Mentor and mentee evaluations of their experiences were positive and upbeat. The committee members were pleased and satisfied with the outcomes of the pilot, both for the mentor and mentee and for the potential offering to others. Recognizing the academic, social and communication challenges faced by students who are hard of hearing, we hope that the success of this endeavor will encourage schools to consider adding this support to a student's educational plan when needed and appropriate. For more information about or to make a referral for these services please be in touch with the Vermont Center consultant who covers your area. For a list of the consultants, contact Terry Keegan at 254 3929 or tkeegan@vcdhh.org.
