We need your help on a project that will benefit students across Illinois. Last year, ISHI developed a draft Communication Plan that would support team decision making for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. ITHI members reviewed the plan and offered suggestions that were incorporated, and a small pilot was conducted. The Illinois State Board has asked that we conduct a larger pilot of the Communication Plan; one that is representative of students of all ages, levels of hearing loss, regions of the state, communication mode, and service level. Our goal is to capture approximately 10% of the students served statewide, or about 400 students.

We hope you will assist us by completing the Communication Plan for one or more of your students as part of the students’ IEP process, then completing this survey once for each of those students.

Instructions for completing the Communication Plan can be found at: http://goo.gl/xJpac
The Communication Plan can be found at: http://goo.gl/ZU345
The Post-Plan Survey can be found at: http://goo.gl/M7LJo

The 2012 Fingerspelling Bee will be held on April 20, 2012 at 1:00 pm.  This year the contest will take place at the Hoogland Center for the Arts located at 420 South 6th Street in Springfield, Illinois.

Much thanks goes out to the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission (IDHHC) for their extensive amount of information, help and donations to the event.  We also would like to thank the Illinois Service Resource Center (ISRC) for their donations of trophies for our participants!  We couldn't have done it without you!

Attached, you will find the forms necessary to take part in the Fingerspelling Bee.  They must be returned no later than April 2, 2012 to be eligible to participate.  Also attached you will find the word list.  All questions can be directed to the Fingerspelling Bee Chairperson, Mary Dagon, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Happy Spelling!

Fingerspelling Bee forms.pdf

Spelling Bee Lists.pdf

The 48th Annual Conference will be held March 1-3, 2012 in Springfield, IL.  Links to the form for breakout proposals, Exhibitor request form and a Sponsorship request form can be found on the Conference webpage:

http://www.ithi.org/2011-09-14-19-10-25/2012-conference.html

The main purpose of ITHI is to provide information and support to teachers and other organizations related to the field of Deafness. To better service our members, ITHI is broken into twelve areas across the state. Each area has at least one area chairperson who is responsible for relaying information from executive board meetings to the general membership.

Read more...About ITHI

The ITHI Educational Services and Resource Directory is now online! You may now view and print any section of the directory directly from this site. To find the directory, please go to the tab marked "Resources" or click here.

Illinois State University will be offering a graduate course of study to prepare professionals with current degrees in deaf education, speech and language pathology or audiology to work with infants/toddlers and their families.  A grant from the US Department of Education, (OSERS), CFDA 84.325K, has been awarded, and applications for the first cohort are being accepted through April 15, 2011.  All courses and supervised practicum experiences will be offered tuition free to accepted students.  This year-long, five course sequence of study is aimed at increasing the number of personnel qualified to provide early intervention for Illinois children who are deaf and hard of hearing.  Upon completion, candidates will have earned a Deaf and Hard of Hearing Listening and Spoken Language graduate certificate from Illinois State University as well as having completed the core knowledge competency areas needed to apply for the early intervention credential in Illinois.  Preference will be given to applicants who are bilingual, or from underrepresented populations, or high-need geographic areas. 

The coursework will be delivered through a combination of on-site instruction, online learning, and video conferencing instruction; connecting a Chicago based classroom with a classroom on the ISU campus.  The program will address the needs of existing personnel to improve their knowledge and skills in two primary areas:

1.  Enhancing the auditory and spoken language skills in the child; and

2.  Developing the competencies specific to working with infants, toddlers and their families

There will be three cohorts of students.  The first cohort will take two courses in Summer, 2011, and two courses in Summer, 2012.  A two semester course will be offered September through April providing students with individualized programming including hands on experiences, and field observations.  A new cohort will begin in Summer, 2012 and continue the same schedule, graduating in Summer,  2013 upon successful completion of coursework and supervised practicum experiences.

 For more information regarding application procedures, visit the website: http://www.specialeducation.ilstu.edu/certifications/dhhspecialist.shtml 
Inquiries should be addressed to Dr. Maribeth Lartz, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; 309-438-8988 or to Tracy Meehan, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; 630-336-3765

Sheri Cook, the new director for the Gallaudet University Regional Center (GURC) at John A. Logan College in Carterville , IL has contacted ITHI to let us know about this exciting opportunity!.  This center serves 13 Midwest states.  You can check out their website at www.jalc.edu/gurc to learn more about them. You may have spoken with or seen the coordinator, Misti Harrison, who recently had a GURC booth at the ITHI conference.
 

GURC wanted to let you know that Gallaudet University is now offering a new Deaf Students with Disabilities Online Certificate Program.  This 21-credit graduate certificate program is made to help educators improve their knowledge and skills in working with deaf students who have multiple disabilities.
 

Gallaudet is also offering another new program this summer! It is the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants, Toddlers, and Families: Collaboration and Leadership Program. This is a 6-course (18 credit) graduate certificate program that provides professionals with current evidence-based knowledge and skills for working with families and their very young children who are deaf/hoh.
 

Please check out the brochures that are attached about the programs. 

2011 Disability Certificate Brochure
Families Education Brochure

GURC would be happy to help you with any concerns or needs that you have.
Feel free to contact Sheri at:

Sheri S. Cook, Director
Midwest Gallaudet University Regional Center
John A. Logan College
700 Logan College Road
Carterville, IL 62918
618-565-0054 VP
172.16.148.11 IP
618-985-5998 Fax
www.jalc.edu/gurc

The ITHI 2012 Conference, "Diversity Within the Classroom" is scheduled for March 1-3, 2012 at the Hilton Hotel in Springfield, Illinois! Keep checking back for more information as it becomes available!