PEPNet West/WROCC

Western Region Outreach Center & Consortia - Updates -

As the summer approaches we have an opportunity to reflect on the academic year and what we've accomplished.  As our colleagues around the country also can attest, we have been busy!  Since February, PEPNet West has provided more than 50 trainings in 10 states.   The most commonly requested are about assistive and adaptive technology. 

 

At the end of February, Idaho held their second annual Tools for Life: Secondary Transition and Technology conference.  More than 250 high school students with disabilities attended.  PEPNet West was in attendance and led several concurrent sessions.

 

This summer the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation near Globe, Arizona hosted the 11^th Annual Intertribal Deaf Conference (IDC).  The purpose of the conference is to bring together deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing Natives to celebrate and share information. The IDC promotes traditions and rituals as a way to show that all tribes' cultures are cherished with dignity.  For information about the conference visit the IDC website at -

http://www.deafnative.com/index.htm

 

In conjunction with the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Region V Conference, in Anchorage, Alaska, Outreach Coordinator Annette Leonard provided more than 30 hours of training Anchorage and Fairbanks to social service providers, educators, and vocational rehabilitation counselors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to our technical assistance and training, we are anticipating the release of two new PEPNet products:

 

The first product is a DVD focusing on the lives and experiences of several deaf individuals who have faced significant challenges and obstacles due to language delays, multiple disabling conditions and/or learning disabilities.  A collaboration between PEPNet West and Region 4 Educational Service Center in Houston, Texas, the DVD is aimed at service providers, mental health professionals, educators, and transition specialists and is expected to be released by December 2006.

 

The second product is a technology manual for working with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.  This handbook, geared for employers, VR counselors and disability service providers, will explain the use of assistive listening devices, alerting and signaling devices, telephone accommodations and other technological adaptations for use in the classroom and workplace.  Watch for the release of this publication later this summer.  It will be printed in limited quantity and will be downloadable on the web.

 

To stay connected with the most recent products visit the PEPNet Resource Center at http://prc.csun.edu

6 PEPNet Perspectives

Four, by an amazing coincidence, is also the number of  PEPNet conferences held prior to the one in 2006 (1996, Kansas City; 1998, Orlando; 2000, Denver; 2004, Pittsburg).

 

A final spin—Holy cow that number is so huge I can't even say it. (I can type it, though—it's 28707.) It must refer to the incredible volume of useful materials disseminated by the PEPNet Resource Center (founded 1997) and its guru, Tony Ivankovic including the ever-popular #1185 Guide to Working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students. For more information

on the PRC and a listing of its fantastic products, visit  http://prc.csun.edu

 

Hey, what is that sparkly thing Gary Sanderson is waving? Probably a signal to "tie" this show up. Folks, you've been a great audience, and just to make sure everyone goes home a winner, we have a great collection of information, resources—and more—waiting for each and every one of you on our web site, www.pepnet.org

 

Thanks for playing "Wheel of PEPNet"!