OSDE - SES - March 2, 2023 - External

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Announcement

Oklahoma Deaf-Blind Technical Assistance Program Information

OKDBTAP

The Oklahoma Deaf-Blind Technical Assistance Project is a service targeting children and youth who have a loss in both vision and hearing.  The child does not have to be completely deaf and completely blind to qualify – they must have a loss in vision and a loss in hearing.  The project services are free.  Below is detailed information about our services.  If you are serving a child or if you are aware of a child with losses in vision and hearing, please refer them to the Oklahoma Deaf-Blind TA Project. 

Why is it important to refer children to the Oklahoma Deaf-Blind TA Project:

  • Early identification is crucial for later success.
  • Children with losses in vision and in hearing have unique characteristics that require special strategies and techniques.
  • This project is the only entity devoted to serving children with deaf-blindness.
  • Maintain statewide census of children with deaf-blindness to improve services. See letter from US Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services attached.

Here is what the Oklahoma Deaf-Blind Project can offer you at no cost:

  • Information individualized for the child
  • 1:1 support from project staff
  • State and national resources
  • Visits to the child’s home or school
  • Notifications of free professional development opportunities

How to refer:

  • Share the project brochure with the family.
  • Complete the referral form OR call the project to complete by phone.
  • Have parents/family member sign the release of information.
  • Mail or email the form to the project.

Please contact us at okdeafbind@ou.edu or 405-325-0441 if you have questions.   


Microsoft Scholarship – High School Students in Technology Careers

This scholarship will be awarded to promising high school seniors with disabilities who plan to attend a vocational or academic college and aspire to have a career in the technology industry. The scholarships are renewable – each winner who continues to meet the criteria is eligible to receive an annual award of $5,000 for up to four (4) consecutive years for a potential total $20,000 scholarship. A total of eight (8) scholarships will be awarded in 2023.The Microsoft Disability Scholarship seeks to empower students with disabilities to achieve more through access to education leading to a career in technology.

Deadline for applications will be March 15, 2023!

data

**NEW** End of Year (Virtual)

The Data Team is hosting two virtual training sessions for the end of year data collection. 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

“Open door” sessions will be released at a later time. Questions can be directed to Travis Thompson

Trainings/Webinars

**NEW** Special Education Services & Management Training

In reviewing the registrants for this training, several of those enrolled are currently in administrative positions. This training is a general training that reviews SpEd legal history, basic behavior information, meaning of learning styles and accommodations and modifications, etc. It is largely designed for those somewhat new to SpEd, such as novice teachers or paras.

If you fall into either category, use the registration link below to sign up for your preferred location. Space is limited to 50 attendees at both locations. 


Early Child Outcomes Webinar

Improve your understanding of the Early Childhood Outcomes process and learn how outcomes data collection supports early childhood special education program in meeting the needs of students.

Questions can be directed to Megan Withers


The Spring AT Workshop Series

Assistive technology (AT) enables children with disabilities to participate more fully in all aspects of life (home, school, and community) and helps them access their right to a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. The IEP team must determine whether an individual child needs an assistive technology device or service, and if so, the nature and extent to be provided.

Hundreds of IEP team members attend ABLE Tech’s AT Workshop Series every year to learn how to help students find and acquire needed AT solutions. If you haven’t attended the training series before, or if you have but need a refresher, hope you’ll make time to attend!

Dates have been set for the Spring 2023 AT Workshop Series:

  • Part 3 – March 23 – AT in the IEP and Implementation

These workshops will take place via Zoom on their designated dates. Visit the Oklahoma ABLE Tech AT Support Team Workshops webpage to register!


**NEW** Supporting Students with Behavioral & Emotional Difficulties

Feel like you have tried everything to change your student or child’s behavior? Frustrated with their difficulty in learning academic content because they struggle to regulate their behavior and emotions?
Come learn about the science of behavior and how it links to a comprehensive toolbox of strategies for supporting student behaviors. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how student behavior works, as well as practical solutions to PREVENT inappropriate behaviors, TEACH and REINFORCE appropriate behaviors, and RESPOND to inappropriate behaviors.

March 31, 2023 at High Plains Technology Center - Register Now

For more information, please see the OSU Bridge Center Behavior Training Flyer


**NEW** OK IPSE Alliance

OK IPSE Alliance is excited to announce the FIRST Inclusive Post Secondary Education (IPSE) Summit in Oklahoma that will bring together representatives from IPSE programs in Oklahoma and Texas to share about their programs as well as representatives with Think College to share the national perspective.  A student panel will also take place in the afternoon, which is a great opportunity for current K-12 students to hear from students attending IPSE programs.  Vendors are welcome and space is limited, so please register early to be part of this event!

The Summit is a one-day event on Friday, April 14th at MetroTech Springlake Conference Center in OKC.

For more information please see the Summit Flyer in English or Spanish for your convenience. 


**NEW** Wisdom Wednesdays with SERC

Web Wednesday

Dr. Rob Keiter
SERC Program Coordinator

Implementation of the IDEA requires collaboration between, families, educators, other professionals, and community resources.  In the ideal environment, IEP team members listen to each member’s point of view and work together to develop a high-quality IEP. We’ve all been in IEP meetings where it didn’t take long to realize that the biggest Issue in the meeting wasn’t the “issues” that were being discussed, but rather the interpersonal dynamics and interactions between the team members. When using technology, sometimes we need to do a “reset” to get things to work again. Is it possible to reset a team when it’s stuck? The goal of this presentation will be to start a conversation around how we might go about resetting team relationships when and where collaboration is being sabotaged by the interactions between team members. The conversation begins by considering a strategic intervention that would include practical techniques leading to improved relationships and results on the IEP team.  The training is designed for parents, school personnel, and individuals that work with organizations serving children with disabilities.  Some of the things we’ll be talking about include: What is an IEP Team Relationship Reset? How do we know it’s needed? What does it look like? and Where to begin?

Register for April 19th!

Staffing

**NEW** Boot Camp Opportunities

Boot Camp is one of the alternative pathways special education teacher certification offers for candidates interested in obtaining a non-traditional certification in the state of Oklahoma.

  • OSU - Oklahoma State University
  • SNU - Southern Nazarene University
  • NSU - Northeastern State University
  • SWOSU - Southwestern Oklahoma State University

**NEW** SAVE the DATE!

Save

Unraveling the Rope: Intensive Literacy Practices Conference

For all K-3 Educators on August 1, 2023

Metro Technology Center -Springlake 

*STAY TUNED*

For more information, please reach out to Alexa Hudak

Professional Development

**NEW** OKCEC Conference

The Oklahoma Council for Exceptional Children will be hosting their annual conference on April 1, 2023 at the Bethany Children's Health Center. The conference will feature keynote speakers Josh and Gretchen Trimble. 

Information about the conference and how to register can be found on the attached Oklahoma Council for Exceptional Children Flyer


**NEW**Oklahoma Deaf Education Conference 2023

Registration for the Oklahoma Deaf Education Conference is now open and we have a great conference planned! 

To register, please scan or click on the QR code which will take you to the registration website. On the website, you will find registration, schedule, and lodging information. 

This year the conference will be held at the Chickasaw Retreat and Conference Center in Sulphur. Lodging will also be available. 

The pre-conference will have 2 tracks. There will be a track for educational interpreters who have not yet achieved a QAST level IV or EIPA level 4 (like OEITI) and a track for early intervention/early childhood. The main conference will have three tracks which will be for all educational interpreters, early intervention and early childhood, and teachers of the deaf.

Thanks to the Oklahoma State Department of Education, this conference is being offered at no cost to in-state attendees. Reimbursement for lodging is available through OSDE-SES Project 613. Districts will need to complete an online application through the Grants Management System (GMS). For reimbursement, districts will need to submit an online Expenditure Report through the GMS.

For more information, please see the Oklahoma Deaf Education Conference Flyer.

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