SKI-HI Update

Newly trained SKI-HI parent advisors are now available in selected Indiana areas! SKI-HI is a unbiased, comprehensive, family-centered, early intervention model for families of infants and children who are deaf/hh. The curriculum provides information about all communication options and a wealth of other information as well. Parent advisors are required to be unbiased and use all parts of the curriculum. Currently, parent advisors are credentialed First Steps providers who are anxious to begin sharing with families. Twenty-five participants completed the SKI-HI training but many are currently waiting to be credentialed into the First Steps system. To find out who is currently available in your area or for more information, contact the Parent Infant Program at 1-800-724-9550.

Indiana Hands & Voices

It is official! Indiana has been added to the National Hands & Voices growing state chapter listing! This Indiana Chapter has formulated an advisory board which is being co-chaired by Lisa Kovacs and Jodee Crace. Lisa is a hearing mother of a 4 year old Hard of Hearing son who attends a local oral preschool. Lisa also has three other girls who are hearing. Jodee is a Deaf mother of a totally blind and hard of hearing son and 3 Deaf sons. These Deaf sons attend the Indiana School for the Deaf while the oldest blind son attends the Indiana School for the Blind. We think it’s a great team approach.

Currently, the Indiana Hands & Voices board is establishing by-laws, updating/revising the Family Resource Guide, and helping prepare this summer’s Family Conference for Newly-Identified Babies/Toddlers. In the meantime, we are going to be recruiting as many parents as possible to become members of Hands & Voices. Welcome the Hoosierland to the Hands & Voices!

Summer Trainings at Gallaudet

Several valuable workshops and classes are being offered at Gallaudet University in the Summer of 2005. Included are trainings on the Shared Reading Project (SRP), a program that promotes literacy in young deaf/hh children, the GLOBE program, which trains science and math teachers of the deaf, and a series of workshops that have been combined to create the Summer Literacy Institute. These programs are all valuable tools for teachers in any program and would greatly benefit any educator who chooses to participate. For more information, check out http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/tpd/workshops.html and click on the workshops

Hands ALIVE!

The HANDSALIVE! Young Deaf Arts Festival is proud to announce the 5th annual Student Talent Show. The show is a formal talent show in which ISD students demonstrate their talents by expressing their creativity and originality in the following areas: ASL poetry, ASL storytelling, skits, ASL-song interpretation & dance. The public is invited to the Community Show on March 23^rd at 7pm. This is a great way for mainstream students to meet peers who attend ISD and for others who want a chance to interact with Deaf individuals and improve their signing skills. School groups are invited to attend dress rehearsals or the elementary, middle, or high school talent shows on March 21^st at 9 am, & 12:15pm and March 22^nd at 9am respectively. Come on out! This is something you don’t want to miss! For tickets contact Linda Hines at LHines@isfd.state.in.us

Outreach Mission: To identify needs and find the resources to meet the needs of deaf and hard of hearing children and their families throughout the state of Indiana.

Outreach Services for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Children in the State of Indiana

1200 E. 42^nd St.

Indianapolis, IN 46205

317-920-6311

www.deaf-kids.com

February ‘05 edition Page two   Located at the Indiana School for the Deaf