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In this Issue:

P.2 Thank You To ISRC Advisory Board Members

P.3 Getting The School Year Off To A Bang!

A Note from the Director:

I am proud to participate in the Illinois Service Resource Center 10 year anniversary celebration. This is a personal 10 year anniversary as well, as I joined the ISRC on August 15, 1993, the first day of operations.

The ten year anniversary is aluminum, a property most noted for its versatility. It is flexible, yet strong. These are also characteristics of the ISRC.

Team members are versatile in their abilities, as well as the services they offer. The diverse backgrounds include education, psychology and social work.

When I look at the monthly calendar, the flexibility of team members is unmistakable. An individual calendar could include technical assistance in Zion, training in Collinsville and testing in Aurora.

Through the years, the ISRC has grown in strength and momentum. The cumulative experience of team members, a willingness to be flexible and a positive attitude have all contributed to that strength.

I am proud to be part of an agency that brings Illinois to the forefront of the nation, in providing services to students with a hearing loss and an emotional/behavioral disorder.

With a belief in access, acceptance and growth, Cheri L. Sinnott, LCSW

Illinois Service Resource Center S e r v ing Ch i ld r en Who a r e Deaf or Hard of Hearing and

Exhibit Emotional or Behavioral Disorders 8 4 7 - 5 5 9 - 0 1 1 0 V o i c e 8 4 7 - 5 5 9 - 9 4 9 3 T TY 8 0 0 - 5 5 0 - 4 7 7 2 H e l p l i n e ( 2 4 H o u r )

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Fall 2003 Edition

Review

ISRC Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary

On August 15, 1993 the Illinois Service Resource Center began serving students in Illinois who are deaf or hard of hearing and exhibit an emotional or behavioral disorder. Data maintained by the ISRC shows that in the first 10 years of operations, over 10,000 students, parents and educational team members received service in the form of technical assistance, evaluations, training, helpline requests and the resource library. The need for a statewide agency dedicated to this population was identified during a retreat of interested parties in 1988. The members of that group noticed a trend in the state, in which the identified primary disabilities of these students, along with their programming, would shift back and forth each year between Hearing Impaired and Behavior Disordered (the term used at that time). In 1989, Senate Bill PA86-0726 assigned the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) to study the needs of this population. In 1990 DORS completed a State Plan, leading to legislation establishing the Interagency Board for Hearing Impaired/ Behavior Disordered (HI/BD) Children. This board included representatives from a variety of state agencies including DORS, Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Public Aid, Community and Residential Services Authority (CRSA), Department of Corrections (DOC), parent representatives and a governor’s appointee. (continued on P.2)

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(Continued from P.1) Members of the HI/BD Board determined the best way to serve these students would be to create a statewide agency to serve as the initial point of contact when students received the dual diagnosis, and to track and monitor services to these students. Members of the legislature agreed, and established the ISRC in 1992, using Federal Discretionary Funds from the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) that flow through ISBE to fund the ISRC.

A Request For Proposals (RFP) was announced in 1992. The grant was awarded to the Center on Deafness in Northbrook, home of Centerview School, a therapeutic residential program for students with a hearing loss and emotional or behavioral disorder. Dr. Patricia Scherer, Executive Director at the time, hired a four member team, including a Director/ Educational Consultant, an Administrative Assistant, and a part time Psychologist and Social Worker.

During the first year a Resource Directory was compiled of services available for these students. Also, a computerized tracking system was developed to gather and monitor behavioral, educational, audiological and demographic information on these students.

In 1994, Judy Pierce replaced Ken Rislov as Director of the ISRC. Ms. Pierce had been a member of the original Retreat of Interested Parties, participated in developing the State Plan and served as the DORS representative to the HI/BD Board. Her involvement in the project from the beginning was instrumental in ensuring that the original vision was implemented. During her eight years as director the ISRC expanded to include a full time trainer, psychological consultant, social worker and information specialist. She coordinated efforts in 1996 that brought about a change in the wording of ISRC legislation from “may fund” to “shall fund”.

The ISRC has received an average of 450 helpline calls each year from parents and educational team members, with requests for information, technical assistance, training and evaluations. Students with a hearing loss and emotional/behavioral challenges have received assistance with behavior intervention strategies at school and at home, assistance with transition between school programs and to adult programming, and individual support from ISRC team members.

ISRC Advisory Board Members Provide Valuable Service

The Illinois Service Resource Center is deeply grateful for the advice and counsel of the members of the ISRC Advisory Board. The board meets three times per year to review the activities of the ISRC, and to provide suggestions and guidance. Current and previous members include:

Jim Altenbach, Psychologist* Rosemarie Manzella, Parent Eileen Andrews, Supervisor Jim Meeks, ISBE* Mark Clodfelter, Illinois School for the Deaf** Ellen Reynolds, Teacher* Melissa France, Teacher Marlene Ryan, Lucent Technologies* Jane Graening, Counselor Patricia Scherer, HI/BD Board* Lori Hobscheid, Teacher* Gary Seelbach, HI/BD Board* Diane Hudyka, Case Manager Barbara Sims, ISBE Thomas Jones, Gallaudet University* Peg Singleton, Supervisor Jacqueline Kimel, Supervisor* Becki Streit, Supervisor*** Rosalind Larsen, Parent* James Vanderbosch, Psychologist Maribeth Lartz, Illinois State University Karla Maday-Geise, Teacher * Previous Member ** Current Chairperson *** Previous Chairperson

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Getting The School Year Off To A Bang! Here are some ideas to consider when beginning a new school year. They may help students who are prone to exhibiting difficulties, to start off on the right foot.

• Post classroom/school rules where students can see them daily.

• Write rules large enough to see clearly from a distance.

• Frame the rules as a positive rather than a negative. Example: We walk in the halls quietly. If you do that then you

will earn….

Rather than: You must walk quietly in the halls- If you don’t you will miss recess.

• Tell the students what they should be doing

instead of what they shouldn’t.

• In general try to have the children earn special rewards rather than lose privileges.

• Don’t assume they should already understand the ‘proper’ way to behave in school or class. Explain your system over and over.

• Don’t assume they should already know how to organize their desks, books, and folders. Teach them, over and over.

• Set up a site in the room that can be used as the “chill out” corner.

The area should have a bean bag chair or oversized pillows. Also, put books, paper and writing utensils in the area. The students can use this area as a place to collect their thoughts and calm down if they feel themselves becoming anxious or angry. Students will need to be taught how to use the area appropriately.

• Allow for short 30-60 second breaks every hour. For younger children take breaks every 30 minutes. Allow the students to get up, move, stretch, breathe, jump, anything to release energy and rev up their alertness levels.

If you can implement one of these ideas, it will still make an impact.

Have a great year!!!!!!

Praise From The Field

“The ISRC has made a huge impact on these children and their families. They have often stepped in when a crisis has presented itself and helped both the family and the school navigate the complicated mental health system. These ten years have made a difference for all of us.”

Joan Forney, Superintendent, Illinois School for the Deaf

“I am thrilled that the ISRC is available to us because it helps us with assisting families in need and connecting them to outside agencies.”

Karen Bogdan, Supervisor, Northern Illinois Association

“When I needed you and had a problem, the agency was there for me, which helped, because I didn’t know what to do.”

Sandra O., Grandmother “ISRC staff members are always welcome visitors to our school. The students really enjoy talking with staff and look forward to the personal attention they give them and the interest they show in their lives. The teachers appreciate the suggestions and the fresh insights they offer on helping to lend a helping hand. Thanks for all you do!”

Betsy Murphy, Coordinator, Marion School for the Deaf

“Having the ISRC available to staff, parents, and students in the field has been a tremendous benefit to all of us. Over the years I have relied on the assistance of the ISRC staff through many challenging situations with students who are experiencing social/emotional or behavioral concerns. It is such a comfort to know when we have tried everything for a particular student, that we can turn to the ISRC and know there is help for the student as well as those people who are working with the student.”

Peg Singleton, Supervisor, Eisenhower Cooperative

“Thank God for you guys. I don’t know what I would have done without the ISRC!”

Kari Foster, Teacher, Kankakee

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ISRC Staff

Cheri Sinnott Director Jacki Marcus School Psychologist/ Deaf Educator Dr. Steve Vaupel Behavioral/Psychological

Consultant Jeri Reed Deaf/Special Needs

Educator Craig Vescelus Information Specialist Ann Sego Administrative Assistant

A Special Thank You To Judy Pierce, ISRC Director For Eight Years

The ISRC dedicates this 10 Year Anniversary Edition of the ISRC Review to Judy Pierce who served as the ISRC Director from 1994 to 2002. Under her guidance and leadership the ISRC flourished and developed a reputation for providing quality service to educators and families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing and exhibit emotional/behavioral challenges.