THE LATEST SOUND CHOICES FOR
CHILDREN WITH HEARING LOSS:

An educational seminar on bilateral hearing
for children with hearing loss
For families of children with hearing loss and the
professionals who support them

Co-Sponsored by Advanced Bionics® and Phonak

When:
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Where:
Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital
Dixon Auditorium
5101 S. Willow Springs Road
La Grange, IL 60525

Course Description
Please join us for an informational seminar highlighting the benefits of bilateral hearing for children with hearing loss. The latest advancements in the medical management of hearing impairment, with special emphasis on bilateral rehabilitation, will be discussed in conjunction with developments in cochlear implant technology. Time will be provided to speak with professionals and manufacturers’ representatives as well as parents of children with hearing loss. Light refreshments will be served.

Featured Speakers:

• Robert A. Battista, M.D., Practicing Otologist at the Ear Institute of Chicago in Hinsdale, IL, specializing in cochlear implants
• Dawn W. Maniskas, Au.D., Pediatric Audiologist and Coordinator of the Pediatric Audiology and Cochlear Implant Program for Adventist Paulson Pediatric Rehabilitation Center and Adventist Hinsdale Hospital in Hinsdale, IL
• Deborah Edwards, M.S., CCC-A., Audiologist with Phonak, specializing in pediatric hearing instrument fittings and FM systems
• Kerry Roesch, Au.D., Pediatric audiologist and North Central Regional Manager with Advanced Bionics
• Sarah Novodoff, Au.D., Audiologist and Principal Clinical Specialist with Advanced Bionics
• Jennifer Gusentine, MHS, CCC-SLP, Senior Speech-Language Pathologist, specializing in aural habilitation for the Pediatric Audiology and Cochlear Implant Program at the Adventist Paulson Pediatric Rehabilitation Center in Hinsdale, IL

Agenda:

• 6:00 – 6:15 p.m. Registration
• 6:15 – 6:45 p.m. The Surgeon’s Perspective of Unilateral Versus Bilateral Cochlear Implants
• 6:45 – 7:05 p.m. Pediatric Management of Bilateral Hearing Loss
• 7:05 – 7:25 p.m. Advances in Hearing Aid Technology
• 7:25 – 7:45 p.m. Advances in Cochlear Implant Technology and the Potential Benefits of Bilateral Hearing
• 7:45 – 8:05 p.m. Aural Rehabilitation Considerations in Bilateral Listening
• 8:05 – 8:25 p.m. The Bionic Ear Association® and Related Support Services for Parents and Professionals
• 8:25 – 8:45 p.m. Parent Panel
• 8:45 – 9:00 p.m. Question and Answer Session

Registration:
Space is limited! You can register for this FREE event in one of two ways:

1. Visit www.regonline.com/63385_763950A or www.BionicEar.com/calendar.
2. Contact Linda Luallen at 800.678.2575, ext. 1467

If you’re unable to attend the event, but would like information on hearing with cochlear implants, please contact:
Bionic Ear Association (BEA)
www.BionicEar.com
hear@AdvancedBionics.com
866.844.HEAR (4327)
800.678.3575 TTY

CEU’s:
This course is offered for 0.2 ASHA CEUs (Introductory level, Professional area).

This year there will be three free conferences across the state for parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing in Illinois.

Download the Parent Conference Flyer and plan to attend the conference that will be held in your area!!!

Marcia Breese, Staff Development Specialist
Illinois School for the Deaf
125 S. Webster Ave.,
Jacksonville IL 62650

877-339-2686 (Toll Free)
217-479-4328 (Fax)
Marcia.Breese@illinois.gov (Email)
http://morgan.k12.il/us/isd/outreach.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MENLO PARK, California — June 30, 2009 -  The Let Them Hear Foundation (LTHF) announced today its creation of a new Special Education Resource website for parents of children with disabilities and for professionals who would like to learn about the special education services that are available to children with disabilities (IDEA.letthemhear.org).   Since 2004, LTHF has helped individuals denied coverage by their health insurers obtain hearing related surgeries, services, devices, and other technologies.  Specific appeal areas include cochlear implants, Baha® implants for children with conductive hearing loss, atresia repair, microtia reconstruction, balance disorders, and other hearing related devices and surgery.

Director of the LTHF Advocacy Program Amy Brown, J.D., states, “After receiving hearing devices and services, many children encountered difficulty accessing the early intervention, or special education and related services to which they were entitled under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004).”   In response to this problem, LTHF chose to help children with hearing loss receive the services for which they were eligible under IDEA. Ms. Brown comments, “The services provided under IDEA are designed to meet the unique needs of children with educationally significant disabilities, including hearing loss, and to prepare them for further education, employment and independent living.”

The website will aid parents and the professionals working with children affected by any of the thirteen disability categories defined by IDEA 2004, as well as provide information relating to the specific category of hearing impairment, including deafness.   LTHF Advocacy Program Advocate Taylor Hoang, J.D. explains, “The special education website explains key concepts of IDEA 2004.  IDEA topic summaries, which are also available in Spanish, describe the early intervention, special education and related services available to IDEA-eligible children.”  Some of the topics discussed include Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP), Individual Education Program (IEP), Assistive Technology Devices and Services, and Due Process.  The IDEA topic summaries provide both general explanation of subject matter and applicable legal language of IDEA 2004 and its implementing Regulations.   LTHF Advocacy Program Advocate Sharon Rogers, J.D. says, “After reading any IDEA topic summary, the reader will have a general understanding of the subject matter covered, the relevant law as it applies to the subject, as well as practical tips for both parents of children and the professionals serving the needs of these children with disabilities.”

Regarding information collection for the website, Ms. Hoang states, “Attorneys researched various websites, including the Department of Education IDEA webpage. Private attorneys specializing in Special Education law were consulted when needed.  The layout and organization of the topic summaries resemble a legal brief but are written in parent-friendly language.  The reader can also click on a summary hyperlink that takes them to the corresponding law section on the Department of Education website or other websites as appropriate.”

Founder and former Director of the Advocacy Program Sheri Byrne-Haber, J.D. points out, “IDEA is intended to be implemented the same everywhere, yet often it is not, because school districts do not understand their obligations to provide children with hearing loss with the assistive technology and services they are eligible to receive.  Parents also may not fully understand what services their child is entitled to under IDEA.  A website such as this will give both parents and professionals the required information in an easy-to-understand format to ensure the child receives a free appropriate public education.”  The Special Education IDEA website will eventually be a subscription based resource but currently is being offered free of charge for a limited time only.  Interested individuals will want to take advantage of this great opportunity to explore the website.  To learn more about the special education website, please visit IDEA.letthemhear.org, or call Amy Brown at 650.617.2255 or toll-free at 877. HEAR HELP.

Contact: Amy Henderson Brown, J.D. Director of Advocacy
Let Them Hear Foundation
650.617.2255 voice
650.617.2252 fax
abrown@letthemhear.org
advocacy.letthemhear.org
IDEA.letthemhear.org

The Let Them Hear Foundation was founded in 2002 by Dr. Joseph Roberson and his wife, Julia. LTHF is the leader in giving individuals and families affected by hearing loss the objective information, expert advice, clinical and financial support, and legal access they need to choose the hearing alternative that is right for them.

Dr. Patricia Scherer, Ph.D.,  well-respected authority on deafness  is speaking on the psychological aspects of hearing loss at Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital on Thursday, May 14, 2009 from 6:30-8:30pm.

For more information and to register, click here.

“Next Steps…Baby Steps: Moving Forward towards Intervention and Advocacy following a Hearing Loss Diagnosis”

April 18, 2009
Rockford, IL

Download the flyer to get more information about the workshop.

Hello Hands & Voices Network and Friends,

We’d like to invite you to join us for a special advocacy training workshop, “The Power Is in the Paper: Effective Advocacy Through the IEP Process” on March 16^th from 6:30pm to 8:00pm Mountain Standard Time.

The best part of it is that you never have to leave your house for this unique webinar opportunity. Read all about it in the attachment (click here for webinar registration), and be sure to register as soon as possible. Forward this invitation along to anyone you think would be interested.

Looking forward to “seeing” you all there!

Leeanne Seaver, M.A., Executive Director
Hands & Voices National
www.handsandvoices.org
Toll Free 1 (866) 422-0422
Illinois (217) 357-3647

Interested in finding out more about…

• ITHI (Illinois Teachers of the Hearing Impaired)
• Different Communication Choices
• School choices in your area
  • Find out what deaf/hh school programs are available in your area (coops, oral, residential, etc)
• Post-Secondary programs
  • Find information about college and career programs for deaf and hard-of-hearing students
• Medical Careers
  • Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Loss (AMPHL)
• Oral Programs
  • Child’s Voice – Wood Dale
  • Alexander Graham Bell Montessori School (Cued Speech) – Mt. Prospect
  • LICA (Oral Pre-School-as part of their overall T.C. deaf/hh program for students ages 3-21) – Northwest Suburban Cook County
  • Dupage West Cook (Oral program- as one option as part of their overal deaf/hh program for students ages 3-21)
  • St. Joseph Institute at Carle - Urbana
  • CID (Central Institute for the Deaf) – St. Louis

• Other Educational Programs
  • Center on Deafness – serving deaf/hh children and adults with additional handicapping conditions such as mental illness or developmental disabilities
  • John Tracy Clinic – provides, worldwide and without charge, parent-centered services to young children with a hearing loss. Summer sessions in California, online correspondence courses, local services, as well as professional education are provided.
• IEP’s
  • U.S. Department of Education
  • Hands and Voices Pop-up IEP
  • Wrightslaw
• IDEA
  • The FAPE Site
  • How IDEA applies to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
  • A.G. Bell Asociation – online brochure
  • Council of Educators for Students with Disabilities’ – IDEA Resources
  • Questions and Answers about IDEA
  • IDEA – Laws and Regulations
  • Obligations of Public Agencies to Serve Your Children if You Have Placed Them in a Private School
  • A User’s Guide to the 1999 IDEA Regulations
• Section 504
  • Wrightslaw
  • Comparing IDEA and Section 504
  • Section 504 and IDEA:Basic Similarities and Differences
  • Section 504, the ADA, and the IDEA
  • Council of Educators for Students with Disabilities’ – 504 Resources
  • Comparison of ADA, IDEA and Section 504
  • A Parent Guide to Section 504
  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
  • FAPE – Requirements under Section 504
  • Section 504 Handbook
  • Student Placement and Section 504 and Title II of the ADA
• Related Services
  • A discussion of Related Services by the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (part of NICHCY – National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities)

• Special Education
  • Illinois State Board of Education
  • Illinois Special Ed (advocacy and parent support groups)
  • Questions Often Asked by Parents About Special Education Services
• Accomodations
  • Classroom modifications
  • Classroom acoustics Q and A
  • Communication accomodations (this website focuses on postsecondary students, but the information is useful for parents/students of any age/grade)
  • Classroom acoustics suggestions
  • A Guide to Speech-to-Text Services (in the Postsecondary Environment)
• Speech-To-Text Services
  • Breaking Down the Laws Applicable to CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation)
  • National Court Reporters Association
  • Communication Acess Information Center
  • Caption First
  • CARTwheel
  • C-Print
  • Typewell