California Deafblind Services

It's National Teacher Appreciation Week!
🎉🤗🙌🏽💛🤟🏽
Three cheers for the incredible, dedicated teachers, interveners, and related service providers teaching and supporting learners across the state of California and the entire country!









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Slide 1: Photo of a woman making a heart shape with her two hands. TEXT: Celebrating TEACHERS!
We appreciate you!

Slide 2: TEXT: "Every child deserves a champion—an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be."
~Rita Pierson, teacher

Slide 3: Graphic image of heart-shaped balloons. TEXT: CDBS salutes the champion Teachers, Interveners, and Related Service Providers who show up every day to provide access, encourage communication, build relationships, and promote independence for their students.

Slide 4: TEXT: CDBS. California Deafblind Services provides no-cost supports and resources to families and educators of children and youth who are deafblind across the state of California. Contact us to learn more. Graphic image of California Deafblind Services logo and QR code for website.

Our CDBS team had a wonderful time presenting and connecting with other professionals and families at Conference last week. We always learn so much at this annual conference focused on learners who are blind or low vision and love presenting and sharing information about deafblind learners. A few of us even squeezed in some time for some giant Jenga matches in the evening. Congratulations to for another wonderful conference!


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We're hosting a free webinar for families and youth who are deafblind on March 26th from 6:00pm-7:30pm PT. Come and learn about Helen Keller National Center's DeafBlind Immersion Experience (DBIE) program from Tammie Christian, the DBIE Program coordinator. ASL and Spanish Language Interpretation will be provided. Our slides provide more information and you can use the QR code or this link to register: https://sfsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3NI2QSUSwucGmiO

El 26 de marzo, de 6:00 p. m. a 7:30 p. m. (hora del Pacífico), organizaremos un seminario web gratuito dirigido a familias y jóvenes sordociegos. Ven a conocer el programa «DeafBlind Immersion Experience» (DBIE) del Centro Nacional Helen Keller de la mano de Tammie Christian, coordinadora del programa DBIE. Se ofrecerá interpretación en lengua de señas americana (ASL) y en español. Nuestras diapositivas ofrecen más información y puede utilizar el código QR o el enlace para inscribirse: https://sfsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3NI2QSUSwucGmiO



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Our Spanish-language webinar series “Communication: Supporting Your Child's Language and Communication Development” has begun and we're excited to welcome Nehuen Rodriguez Picatto for the next webinar on March 19th. His topic is "Behaviors, communication, and connection".

Nuestra serie de seminarios web en español «Comunicación: cómo apoyar el desarrollo del lenguaje y la comunicación de su hijo» ya ha comenzado y nos complace dar la bienvenida a Nehuen Rodríguez Picatto al próximo seminario web, que se celebrará el 19 de marzo. El tema que tratará es «Comportamientos, comunicación y conexión».

Slide 2 provides information about each session and speakers.
La diapositiva 2 proporciona información sobre cada sesión y ponente.

Slide 3 includes the QR code to register. Register here: https://sfsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ab10YeB6GZ4vMUu
La diapositiva 3 incluye el código QR para registrarse. Enlace para registrarse en las sesiones: https://sfsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ab10YeB6GZ4vMUu

We hope you can join us! Please share with families who may be interested.

¡Esperamos que puedan acompañarnos! Por favor, compártelo con las familias que puedan estar interesadas.




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Las descripciones de las diapositivas se encuentran en el texto alternativo.

Last week Janelle and Julie attended the annual Cal-TASH Conference in Sacramento. We loved seeing old friends and colleagues—including our former colleague, Kayla 😍—and meeting new families and professionals teaching students with complex support needs. We had the chance to present on the topics of person-centered planning, collaborating to share information during times of transitions, and essential deafblind intervention practices.

Thank you, Cal-TASH for always welcoming California Deafblind Services and for planning such impactful and inspiring conferences! 🤗🤟🏽😍



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Training opportunity for Spanish-speaking families with deafblind children. We hope you will join our webinar series “Communication: Supporting Your Child's Language and Communication Development” in March and April.

Oportunidad de capacitación para familias hispanohablantes con hijos sordociegos. Esperamos que se unan a nuestra serie de seminarios web «Comunicación: Apoyando el desarrollo del lenguaje y la comunicación de su hijo» en marzo y abril.

Slide 2 provides information about each session and speakers.

La diapositiva 2 proporciona información sobre cada sesión y ponente.

Slide 3 includes the QR code to register. Register here: https://sfsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ab10YeB6GZ4vMUu

La diapositiva 3 incluye el código QR para registrarse. Enlace para registrarse en las sesiones: https://sfsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ab10YeB6GZ4vMUu

We hope you can join us!

¡Esperamos que puedan acompañarnos!




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Las descripciones de las diapositivas se encuentran en el texto alternativo.

Myrna and Julie had such a wonderful time meeting these curious, fun, and committed educators from San Bernadino City School Unified School District. Thank you SBCUSD for inviting us for a half-day training in deafblind access and intervention.

If you would like in-person or virtual training for your staff, contact any member of our staff. Our contact information is in our Bio.



Image description: A group of people sit and stand for a group photo in a large conference room.

Professional Development Opportunity Alert for educators in California! CDBS is hosting a webinar, "A Practical Framework for Supporting Emergent Literacy in Learners Who Are Deafblind", at our March 3rd Peer Learning Community meeting with guest presenter Megan Leuzinger. Megan specializes in literacy and communication for learners with complex communication needs, including deafblindness.
This Peer Learning Community is open to any interested California educator or related service provider. The focus of this PLC is the teaching and support of learners who are deafblind with emerging language and communication skills.
See the slides for more details and registration link.
Link to register: https://sfsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1FYyC1YJ52R73sG

ASL Interpreting and Zoom captioning will be provided.



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Training opportunity for Spanish-speaking families with deafblind children. We hope you will join our webinar series “Communication: Supporting Your Child's Language and Communication Development” in March and April.

Oportunidad de capacitación para familias hispanohablantes con hijos sordociegos. Esperamos que se unan a nuestra serie de seminarios web «Comunicación: Apoyando el desarrollo del
lenguaje y la comunicación de su hijo» en marzo y abril.

Slide 2 provides information about each session and speakers.
La diapositiva 2 proporciona información sobre cada sesión y ponente.

Slide 3 includes the QR code to register. Register here: https://sfsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ab10YeB6GZ4vMUu
La diapositiva 3 incluye el código QR para registrarse. Enlace para registrarse en las sesiones: https://sfsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ab10YeB6GZ4vMUu

We hope you can join us!
¡Esperamos que puedan acompañarnos!




Slide descriptions are in the alt text.
Las descripciones de las diapositivas se encuentran en el texto alternativo.

¡Esperamos que puedan acompañarnos!

February has arrived and while we’re still in the winter season, each day brings a little more daylight. Many of us set intentions last month to learn something new, expand our skill sets, and practice self-care. We hope the information in our newsletters and CDBS activities and resources support your intentions and goals. Check out our newsletter to learn about two Early Years Symposiums that we co-host, our ongoing virtual events for professionals and families, and a few featured resources for you to explore and perhaps add to your toolkit. Swipe left on slides for QR code for the newsletter in English or Español.



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Today we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his goals to ensure the rights and dignity of all people and focus on dialogue and building bridges to promote opportunity, access, and security.



Image description: A photo of Martin Luther King Jr. speaking into a microphone and the text “One of the many insights shared by D. Martin Luther King Jr. “People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other”.