WWisconsin isconsin EEducational ducational SServices ervices PProgram for the rogram for the DDeaf and eaf and HHard ard

of of HHearing (WESP-DHH) earing (WESP-DHH)

Outreach ProgramOutreach Program

Wisconsin Wisconsin Department of Department of

Public InstructionPublic Instruction

The Dreaming…The Dreaming…

““It takes a village…”It takes a village…”

19981998 - Facilitated identification of - Facilitated identification of needs with DHH teachers – conducted needs with DHH teachers – conducted regionallyregionally

19991999 - “Needs” shared with - “Needs” shared with Stakeholder groups including parents Stakeholder groups including parents and people both urban and rural areasand people both urban and rural areas

Evolution of Evolution of WESP-DHHWESP-DHH

20002000– Mission / VisionMission / Vision was developed by stakeholders was developed by stakeholders– Strategic Plan Strategic Plan drafted bydrafted by Advisory CommitteeAdvisory Committee– Proposal Proposal to the DPI Superintendent and to the DPI Superintendent and

legislaturelegislature 20012001

– Bill passedBill passed with funds to support a newly with funds to support a newly designed designed WWisconsin isconsin EEducational ducational SServices ervices PrProgram-ogram-DDeaf and eaf and HHard of ard of HHearing; earing; WSDWSD and and OutreachOutreach Program. Program.

2003 2003 – Outreach Director hired … a new beginning…Outreach Director hired … a new beginning…

The Wisconsin DesignThe Wisconsin Design

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI)

Special Education Team

Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of

Hearing (WESP-DHH)

WESP-DHH Wisconsin School Outreach Program for the Deaf

The Outreach Program The Outreach Program supports children who supports children who

are deaf, hard of are deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind hearing and deafblind by providing a broad by providing a broad array of services to array of services to

families and families and educational programs. educational programs. Services and supports Services and supports are determined based are determined based on the child’s needs.on the child’s needs.

WESP-DHH Outreach WESP-DHH Outreach Mission….Mission….

Wisconsin Statistics…Wisconsin Statistics…

Click

678426

117

202299

89

65

140

12853

79

62

Dec 1 2003Child Count:Deaf andHard of HearingStudents

Consultant StaffConsultant Staff

Can assess and consult in a variety of areas:Can assess and consult in a variety of areas:

Educational achievementEducational achievement

Speech developmentSpeech development

Language developmentLanguage development

Auditory developmentAuditory development

Sign communication developmentSign communication development

Social/emotional developmentSocial/emotional development

Deafblindness Deafblindness

Communication accessCommunication access

Consultant StaffConsultant Staff

Services Provided to School Districts Services Provided to School Districts and Birth to 3 Programs:and Birth to 3 Programs:

– Assessment and EvaluationAssessment and Evaluation

– ConsultationConsultation

– Written Evaluations and RecommendationsWritten Evaluations and Recommendations

– Participation in the IFSP / IEP team meetingParticipation in the IFSP / IEP team meeting

– Staff in-service and trainingStaff in-service and training

Unique Programs…Unique Programs…

Guide-By-Your-SideGuide-By-Your-Side Deaf Mentor ProjectDeaf Mentor Project Parent ConferenceParent Conference Deafblind ServicesDeafblind Services Captioned MediaCaptioned Media ASL Distance ASL Distance

LearningLearning

Guide-By-Your-Side Guide-By-Your-Side A Parent-to-Parent ProgramA Parent-to-Parent Program

Guides are parents of Guides are parents of children who are deaf, hard children who are deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind.of hearing or deafblind.

Service is free-of-charge. Service is free-of-charge. Bilingual guides are Bilingual guides are

available.available. Provide in-home support to Provide in-home support to

parents of a newly parents of a newly identified childidentified child

Deaf Mentor Deaf Mentor ProjectProject

Provides a Deaf Mentor to any family Provides a Deaf Mentor to any family with a child who is deaf or hard of with a child who is deaf or hard of hearing and under the age of 6 to:hearing and under the age of 6 to:

– Teach the family American Sign Teach the family American Sign Language Language

– Model interactions with the child Model interactions with the child – Share aspects of Deaf CultureShare aspects of Deaf Culture– Modeled after the Deaf Mentor Modeled after the Deaf Mentor

project from SKI*HI in Utah project from SKI*HI in Utah

Annual Annual Statewide Parent Statewide Parent

ConferenceConference Over 120 families Over 120 families

at this year’s at this year’s conferenceconference

Led by parentsLed by parents Deaf and hard of Deaf and hard of

hearing role hearing role modelsmodels

Variety of activitiesVariety of activities Latino family Latino family

outreach effortsoutreach efforts

Distance Learning Distance Learning Opportunities Opportunities

Currently:Currently: Broadcast from Broadcast from WW S S

DD AAmerican merican SSign ign LLanguage as a world anguage as a world language to high language to high school studentsschool students

Future Plans:Future Plans: ASL classes for ASL classes for

parents statewideparents statewide Staff coursesStaff courses

DeafblindDeafblind ServicesServices

CollaborativeCollaborative Workgroup currently meeting Workgroup currently meeting to vision and develop a collaborative to vision and develop a collaborative statewide plan, including:statewide plan, including:– Deafblind Coordinator, WESPDHHDeafblind Coordinator, WESPDHH– State Consultants, DHH and VI, Dept. of Public State Consultants, DHH and VI, Dept. of Public

InstructionInstruction– WI Center for Blind and Visually ImpairedWI Center for Blind and Visually Impaired– Federal Deafblind Project (WDE)Federal Deafblind Project (WDE)– Office for the Deaf and Hard of HearingOffice for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing– Division of Vocational RehabilitationDivision of Vocational Rehabilitation– Helen Keller Regional Resource CenterHelen Keller Regional Resource Center

Professional Professional Development & Development &

SupportsSupports Year round conferences and workshopsYear round conferences and workshops Networking and Professional Support: Networking and Professional Support:

– DHH teachers, Educational Audiologists, DHH teachers, Educational Audiologists, Educational Interpreters, etc. Educational Interpreters, etc.

Professional Library & Clearinghouse of Professional Library & Clearinghouse of materialsmaterials

Presentations for School Administrators Presentations for School Administrators

Future Future dreaming…dreaming…

Use of technology-distance Use of technology-distance learning-sign language for parentslearning-sign language for parents

Pen Pals programPen Pals program Shared Reading Program Shared Reading Program Latino Family FocusLatino Family Focus Literacy-based Summer Literacy-based Summer

Programming for kidsProgramming for kids In-home Auditory Training for In-home Auditory Training for

parents (similar to Deaf Mentor parents (similar to Deaf Mentor Project)Project)

Chat rooms for professionalsChat rooms for professionals

Collaborative Collaborative partners for change…partners for change…

WI Department of Public Instruction State Consultants

Wisconsin School for the Deaf Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually

Impaired Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Federal Deafblind Project Department of Health and Family Services

– Wisconsin Sound Beginnings (EHDI program)– Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing– Wisconsin Birth to Three Program

Wisconsin Personnel Development Project Wisconsin Families for Hands and Voices Stakeholders

Together it Together it Works! Works!

Birth to 3 Programs

Parents and

Families

Communities

State Education

Agency

National Organizations & Resources

State Health

Agency

Schools

Wisconsin Educational Services Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard Program for the Deaf and Hard

of Hearing (WESPDHH)of Hearing (WESPDHH)

For more information, contactFor more information, contact

Marcy Dicker DropkinMarcy Dicker Dropkin

Outreach DirectorOutreach Director

262-787-9540 v/tty262-787-9540 v/tty

marcy.dropkin@wesp-dhh.wi.govmarcy.dropkin@wesp-dhh.wi.gov

Or visit our website:Or visit our website:

www.wesp-dhh.wi.govwww.wesp-dhh.wi.gov