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Summer 2021 Guide for Families

LEND is now accepting applications

Strong leadership influences change in systems like Healthcare, Education, and Public Policy. To become a better informed professional, you need interdisciplinary skills and community-based learning. To transform society as we know it, you must be an effective advocate and leader.

Apply to Louisiana LEND now to acquire these skills! Deadline extended to May 31st, 2021! Click the button below that best describes you.

Student and Practicing Professional Application

Self-Advocate and Family Member Application

Please know that LEND is a stipend program that financially compensates you for your time and participation. Registration and travel to the national AUCD conference in Washington, D.C. is also covered when participating in the program.

Preparing for the EIPA

6-week Virtual Course

Instructors: Jennie Bourgeois and Jo Brown

Topics will cover:

• Overview/Background
• Written Examination
• Preparation for Voicing
• Transliterating vs. Interpreting
• Scoring Process and Rating System

Employment and Community Inclusion: Meet Victor

HDC celebrates Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Each March, we join the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACCD) to highlight the many ways in which people with and without disabilities come together to form strong, diverse communities. This social media campaign, known as “Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month” or #DDawareness2021, seeks to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities, as well as awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities still face in connecting to the communities in which they live.

Employee Spotlight: Brandy Brooks, MSW, RSW

“To help families build a solid foundation, we must give them the tools and resources to build. That is what we do with the Early Head Start Child Care Partnership at the LSUHSC Human Development Center.”

– Brandy Brooks, MSW, RSW

FHF NOLA Seeks Employment Specialist/Job Coach

From Carole Berke, Vocational/Transitional Counselor at Families Helping Families NOLA:

Families Helping Families (FHF) NOLA seeks a part-time (20 hours) 1099 employee to provide employments specialist supports and services to transition age students participating in FHF’s Coding for Youth With Autism program. This position involves assisting individuals in the acquisition of the employment and community living skills necessary to obtain employment and independently maintain employment in the community in the Technology Field. These supports are individualized and centered around work-related goals focused on helping the FHF coding students obtain the maximum level of independence within their job and tech career pathway. Employment Specialists provide the supports necessary to ensure success at future employment sites. Services will be provided at a variety of sites including; FHF NOLA, at FHF’s educational partner for coding, Operation Spark, or in the community. Applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree and at least one year of experience delivering supported employment services or direct care services either in classroom, place of employment, day care, medical, or residential settings. Once additional funding is obtained the position will become full time salaried employment. For further information send a resume and cover letter to Carole Berke, Development Officer, FHF NOLA. The email address is carole@caroleberkeassociates.com. Please put Employment Specialist in the subject line

NRTC 5-Year Study

From David Goldfield, Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist:

The National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision at Mississippi State University (NRTC) is recruiting people with blindness or low vision (age 21+) who are working or are interested in working to be part of a multi-year study about technology in the workplace. Participants will complete multiple surveys over time so they can learn about changes in access technology use. Participants will receive a small gift card after completing each survey. The NRTC will share our findings with you and their technology company partners. They’ll also make recommendations for access technology users, VR professionals, access technology specialists, and employers. Would you like to help with their 5-year study? Complete their pre-screening survey or call 662-325-2001 to schedule an appointment for a telephone screening.

Legislative Roundtable 2021 for Regions 1 and 10

From Nicole Williams, former LaCAN Leader of Regions 1 and 10 and currently with Families Helping Families NOLA:

Our Annual Legislative Round Table is almost here and I am so excited!  I want to take this time to encourage and ask that you please reach out to other people, other families that may be interested in attending this event to hear about legislation as it relates to the disability community and voice their concerns to their legislators. Every year we set a goal to fill the space so that as many people as possible are able to take part in this event.

Living with Usher Syndrome, Wednesday, March 3, 6 PM

From Natasha Aymami, South Central Regional Representative of the Helen Keller National Center:

Hello All!

I wanted to share an upcoming webinar presented by one of our Louisiana DeafBlind Collaboration Team state partners, Megan Wimberly, next March 3rd Wednesday at 6pm, ‘Living with Usher Syndrome. This workshop will be provided by Megan Wimberly of the Louisiana School for the deaf. She will be sharing information about supporting children with Usher Syndrome at home and at school. 

The information provided will cover an overview of Usher Syndrome, growing up as a person with Usher Syndrome, how to work with children that have it, and support their socioemotional development. This presentation is appropriate for families and educators that work with children withe Usher Syndrome from birth to adulthood. For more information about the Family Workshop Series and accommodations, please go to this webpage: 

Zoom Meeting ID: 959 7530 1279
Password: s6ytaQ

Please share this webinar with the community.

About the Louisiana School for the Deaf

The mission of Louisiana School for the Deaf (LSD) is to maximize the whole person potential of each student. LSD is also committed to serve as an exemplary resource in the education of deaf and hard of hearing students by providing:

• ASL/English Bilingual-Bicultural services within a language-rich environment.
• Rigorous educational curriculum while maximizing vocational training and job earning potential within a variety of professions.
• Established programs to address the social, emotional, cultural, physical, and educational needs of every child within a safe environmen
• A culture of high academic expectations and opportunities for students to study with an educator; emphasizing instruction; teaching study skills, time management skills, and organizational skills.
• Support and training for students to develop a culture of self advocacy

About the Helen Keller National Center

Authorized by an Act of Congress in 1967, HKNC is the only organization of its kind—providing training and resources exclusively to people age 16 and over who have combined vision and hearing loss.

Students travel from across the country to our headquarters in Sands Point, New York, for on-campus training in assistive technology, vocational services, orientation and mobility, communication and independent living, and our regional offices bring HKNC resources to communities throughout the United States.

Our instructors are sensitive to the cultural differences between students with different levels of hearing and vision loss and varying educational backgrounds, providing individualized training and guidance to each student.

HKNC also is a leader in professional learning, “training the trainers” to work with the deaf-blind community.

HKNC is the national division of Helen Keller Services, which also includes Helen Keller Services for the Blind, a regional division serving the New York City/Long Island area.

About the Louisiana DeafBlind Project

The mission of the Louisiana Deafblind Project for Children & Youth is to provide technical assistance and information dissemination to Louisiana students with combined hearing and vision loss, their families, schools, service providers, school districts, and the Louisiana Department of Education.

Survey on Resources Needed for Transition Age Children & Students with Disabilities

Exceptional Lives is an independent not-for-profit organization that develops tools and materials to help Louisiana families find information and resources for their children with special needs or disabilities. They are asking for input specifically on needed tools and resources to assist with the challenges of transitioning children into and out of the school system, mostly for kids that are between the ages of 2-6 or 14-21. If you have a child with special needs who is close to one of these transitions, please complete the following survey: