Superintendent's Memo #038-09

COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Department of Education

February 20, 2009

TO: Division Superintendents

FROM: Patricia I. Wright, Superintendent of Public Instruction

SUBJECT: Professional Development Opportunities for Educators Working with Students Who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing

As part of the Virginia Department of Education’s ongoing effort to meet the educational needs of students who are deaf or hard of hearing, professional development opportunities are being offered in collaboration with the Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University and Radford University. These training events are open to teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing, speech-language pathologists, administrators, related service providers and other educators working with students with hearing impairments.

Training events will be conducted as follows:

• Optimizing Auditory Learning for Students with Hearing Aids and/or Cochlear Implants
  April 3-4, 2009
  Stonewall Jackson Hotel & Conference Center
  Staunton, VA 24401
  Grant funds are available for reimbursement of some travel and lodging expenses, as detailed at http://www.vcu.edu/partnership/
  calendar_prof_prov.html
• Understanding the Principles of Neuropsychological Assessment with Students Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: Using Scores for Educational Planning
  June 26-27, 2009
  Radford University
• Development of Auditory Function/Auditory-Verbal Techniques
  July 17-18, 2009
  Radford University
• Annual Statewide Conference for Service Providers of Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
  August 4, 2009, Roanoke, VA
  August 11, 2009, Richmond, VA
  Offered this year in two repeated one-day sessions, this training event will focus on development of language and communication skills, self-determination, and transition of students who are deaf or hard of hearing who use any of the communication methodologies.

Registration information will be made available at www.ttaconline.org as each of these events approaches.

If you have questions about these training events, please contact Dr. Debbie Pfeiffer, specialist for deaf/hard of hearing, at the Virginia Department of Education, at (804) 371-4059 or at Debbie.Pfeiffer@doe.virginia.gov ; Ann Hughes, specialist for deaf/hard of hearing, at the Partnership for People with Disabilities, VCU, at (804)828-1342 or at awhughes@vcu.edu; or Ellen Austin, Radford University, faculty in Deaf Education program, at (540) 831-5549 or ebaustin@radford.edu .

PIW/DLP/bw