Community Rooms: Community Bios
Name: Mette Pedersen CommentsHI! My name is Mette Pedersen and I work at the Center for Development and Disability at UNM in Early Childhood Services. Most of my professional life has been dedicated to services for people with disabilities, particularly infants and young children. The recent explosion in the field contributing to our collective knowledge is more than I can comprehend, or integrate into my knowledge base. I am very grateful to the DeafBlind Project in being able to provide specialized information about research and intervention for young children, particularly. I look forward to using these resources to help carry out my work. Sometimes I feel like a waiter on roller skates, who is balancing multiple trays, trying not to drop anything too heavy on the patrons of the restaurant. In my case, however, it is trying to take in huge chunks of new information in our field, not totally able to integrate and incorporate everything in my existing knowledge base, and hoping I don't totally drop important pieces, or worse, smack someone over the head with information they can't use or don't want. Therefore, having access to expertise of the Project is very positive for me!! (and those I serve...look out below!!) Name: Charlene Wright CommentsI am a single mother of two. My daughter Taylor has been diagnosed with Infantile Spasms, Cortical Vision impairment and hearing impairment, her head is also not growing. Taylor is now 17 months old, and it has been a very rough last year. Lately I have been thinking about talking to parents reaching out, I was told by our Early intervetionist that they speak alot at the legislature and that they might be very interest in our story and possibly would like me to speak also, which after this past year of no help from the Federal government and the State government I am willing to fight for my disabled angel and all others like her. Name: Linda Lyle CommentsHi, I'm Linda, one of the facilitators of this class. I submitted a bio the other day but since it was not published, I think I'll try again. I work for NMSVH's Early Childhood Program in Albuquerque and also consult to NM Deaf/Blind Services. I am passionate about children and the ways they learn. I believe that children will always choose the best of their perceived options and if we, as family and team, do not give a child enough options, we limit their future. I am very excited about this class and our journey together. I'm particularly excited that Charlene is here since I know her precious daughter, Taylor. Name: Nancy A. Apprill CommentsI am a Special Education Teacher working at the New Mexico School for the Visually Impaired. I work with the Intermediate Multiply Impaired. I have stared training as a consultant for the Deaf Blind Project and am really excited to learn and share ideas which can be used by other teachers, parents, professional educators, etc. In the past I have helped with Deaf-Blind workshops and really enjoyed the hands on experience. I am now looking forward to sharing and learning on the Net. I feel a need to learn and share as much information possible due to the high turnover in professionals and the need to get information out to the ones who are working with the deaf blind who have not had experience or training in working with this select group. It is a project with a win-win agenda. Name: Mary Beth Judd CommentsI live in Maryland I am an interpreter for a deaf blind student. I hope to gain some insight in how to communicate with my student other deafblind individuals. My goals are to be the best I can be in this field and to make a difference in this very closed world as far as communication. Name: Charlene Wright CommentsI live in Albuquerque, my daughter Taylor was diagnosed with Cortical Vision impairment, hearing impairment, and Infantile Spasms at the age of 7 weeks old, she is now 2 1/2, cannot talk, walk, grasp objects, roll over or even hold her head up. I am a single parent of two, and I have over the last 2 1/2 years learned how hard it is to get help for a special needs child. Because I choose work over welfare I have ultimately been denied for all services, Taylor was on a waiting list for a year before she got on the medically fragile waiver and until that time she got no nursing, or therapies and I was responsible for all medical expenses that the insurance did not pay. Even now it is a constant battle to get the services she needs to have a chance at life. My goal is to make politicians and new mexicans realize what is needed for these children and fight to get somebody to listen to our stories and help. Children should not be denied any medical services that could possibly help them because their parents work or for any other reason. I want to tell our storie of frustration and battles with the federal and state government to the legislature, I want them to see Taylor and then tell me she is not worth the funding or that she will not be a productive member of society. I promised Taylor that as long as she fights to live that I will fight for her and the others like her. Name: Avila CommentsI'm not sure where I'm, I'm looking for imformation on communication systems for children who are deaf blind. I'm a student at the university of arizona some please give me some orientation. jimmy, hi Name: Elisa Sanchez Wilkinson CommentsDecember 17th, 2001 Hello Everyone, I am Elisa. I am the mom to two beautiful children. I have a son and daughter. My son is classified as Deaf-blind. He is very high functioning. He has a moderate to severe hearing loss and has monocular vision. I work as the family specialist at the Project for NM Children and Youth who are deaf-blind. I am working towards having this message board up to date with information and resources for anyone interested. I will be checking this board on a weekly basis with dated entries starting after the first of the year. If you have any questions or comments, please write them here and I will try to answer them or find the information for you. Thanks and I hope to be talking with you soon. Elisa Name: Katrina Arndt CommentsI live in western New York and attend Syracuse University. I have interpeter training, and got very interested in Deafblindness when I volunteered for a Deafblind teen group in Minnesota. At the same time I taught special education. After 7 years of teching, I am pursuing another degree in special education. I am excited about hearing from other people who are involved in tranistion planning for Deafblind youth, especially for postsecondary education.
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