37. Putting It All Together: The Deaf-Blind Resource Teams Training Process

Speakers: Melissa Kenderes, Kimberly Uccenllini, MA, CCC-A, Kelsey Sprenkle, Daniel Currie, Kelly Lauer

Session Descriptions:
Providing high-quality instruction and support services to students with combined vision and hearing needs requires thoughtful collaboration between many professionals with a variety of different backgrounds. School teams often require technical assistance in order to expand their knowledge and skills surrounding this unique population of learners. One approach to providing this needed technical assistance is through the development of Deaf-Blind Resource Teams (DBRTs). In this session, attendees will learn about the Deaf-Blind Resource Team Training Process from some of its original participants. Members of the IU 3 and IU 23 DBRTs will share their experiences in the DBRT training process, lessons learned, and some implications for future practice.

Credits: Act 48, ACVREP, ASHA, Psych
Audience: Special Education Teachers, Teachers who work with students who are blind or visually impaired, Teachers who work with students with hearing loss, Teachers who work with students who are Deaf-Blind, Teachers/other professionals who work with students who have sustained a traumatic brain injury, Speech therapists, General Education Teachers, Supervisors/Administrators, Assistive Technology Specialists, Occupational Therapists and/or Physical Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, School Counselors and/or School Psychologists, Parents, Guardians, Family Members, Paraprofessionals, Anyone working with a student in special education

Speaker Bios:
Melissa Kenderes has been a Teacher of the Visually Impaired and Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit for 7 years.  She has a M.A. through Western Michigan University and her undergrad is in Special Education with a minor in Deafness and Hearing Studies from Penn State University. She is part of the Deaf Blind Resource Team at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.  She worked as an intervenor before becoming a TVI/COMS.

Email: melissa.kenderes@aiu3.net
 



Kim Uccellini, MA, CCC-A has spent 28 years as an Audiologist, 14 as a clinical audiologist with UPMC and the Craniofacial Center and 14 as an Educational Audiologist with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. Her passion is educating the various stakeholders about hearing loss in all ages, how impactful hearing loss can be in both an educational as well as work setting and how amazing it is to offer rehabilitation solutions to those with hearing loss.
Email: kimberly.uccellini@aiu3.net
 


Kelsey Sprenkle is a Speech & Language Pathologist with Montgomery County Intermediate Unit 23.
Email: ksprenkle@mciu.org



Dan Currie has served in public education for the past 26 years. He strongly believes that all children, regardless of disability, can learn. As a special education teacher, a district supervisor of special education, and assistant director of special education at the county level, he has focused on ensuring all students get what they need. While Dan’s position covers a broad array of matters, he has a focus on low incidence disabilities. Additionally, he has served as an adjunct professor for Cabrini University in their undergraduate education program. Dan is currently pursuing his Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership through Immaculata University.

Email: dcurrie@mciu.org
 




Kelly Lauer is the Teacher of Students who are Visually Impaired (TVI), Vision Technology Specialist, and co-chair of the Deaf-Blind Resource Team at Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU) in PA.  Kelly has been teaching students with visual impairments for over 20 years, the last twelve specializing in assistive/adaptive technology and has a passion for working with assistive technology for students with visual impairments as well as students who are Deaf-Blind. She attended Kutztown University's TVI program, earned a Master’s in Educational Learning Differences and PreK-12 Special Education certification from Cabrini University, an Assistive Technology Certification from California State University Northridge (CSUN), and is currently working on her doctorate and supervisory certification in Special Education Leadership from Gwynedd Mercy University. Email: klauer@mciu.org