Dr. Angie Mister, Public School System audiologist, said the retreat was an ideal example of parents and professionals working together to support children to reach their greatest potential.
The retreat was hosted by the Public School System Special Education, Early Childhood, and Early Intervention Services Programs in collaboration with the Division of Public Health’s Newborn Hearing Screening Program which is working to identify infants with hearing loss early and support families along the journey.
“Family support is a key component in assisting families of DHH children in strengthening outcomes,” Mister said.
This year’s focus was on literacy, language development, and the value of school and home partnerships.
The event kicked off on Friday evening where the participants got a glimpse of the Motherread/Fatherread program from Viola Deleon Guerrero and Brian Manabat.
The program’s goal is to increase positive experiences between parents and children with books and to strengthen family communication and relationship through reading.
On Saturday, the participants had a full day of activities including workshops for the parents where they learned about the Shared Reading Project presented by Roy Balantac, sign language instructor from Kapiolani Community College and the Deaf Blind School in Hawaii and Carlisle Robinson, a student intern from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. who are both on Saipan for a short time.
“The Shared Reading Project is designed to teach parents and caregivers how to read to their deaf and hard of hearing children using sign language,” Mister said.
Oleai Elementary School teacher Melisha San Nicholas shared her homemade sign language DVD program that shows students demonstrating reading and using sign language skills in the classroom.
“With classroom lessons and activities on DVD, the student can then take it home and practice together with their families reviewing the new classroom language lessons,” Mister said.
She added that this not only allows the child to share their work, but provides parents the opportunity to have access to the new signs learned by their child(ren), and allows parents to support the teacher’s daily lessons at home.
While the parents were having their workshop, the children enjoyed fun activities and entertainment with a generous group of volunteers and the PIC Clubmates.
On Saturday afternoon, the PSS Language Academy participants presented their language learning games before the parents and teachers.
Mister said 30 teachers met every other Saturday during the entire school year to learn how to facilitate language development and meet the unique instructional needs of children with language-learning difficulties.
“The culmination of their year’s work was showcased in games and activities they developed for the students at their schools,” Mister said. She added that the games and activities were highly motivating, allowing parents and children to learn about language and have fun while doing so, and were enjoyed by all.
The two-day event was capped by having parents discussing and working to form a Hands & Voices chapter in the Pacific.
“In partnership with families from Guam and extending into the Pacific, parents have started joining together with professionals to support parents with children who are deaf or hard of hearing,” Mister said.
Hands & Voices, nationally and locally, is parent-driven, parent/professional collaborative group that is unbiased towards communication modes and methods.
“They are striving toward their goal of helping all children with hearing loss reach their highest potential in life. For more information on the Hands and Voices of the Pacific chapter, contact Lolaine Williams at [email protected].
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