Peer Learning Communities
State deafblind project personnel are an incredibly supportive group of individuals. They work collectively to improve the lives of children who are deafblind and their families by
- Sharing knowledge and expertise
- Working together to solve problems
- Collaborating to provide services
To make this type of networking across state lines as easy as possible, NCDB offers peer learning communities (PLCs). These are primarily for state deafblind projects but, depending on the group, may also include representatives from other national entities.
Learn more about Peer Learning Communities for State Deafblind Projects.
Current PLCs are listed below. If you are interested in joining any of these, please connect with the relevant contact person. Note that all PLCs have expectations of their participants. See Readiness for Targeted TA from NCDB for general information. Additional expectations for each group can be obtained from the group contacts.
This page was updated in August 2024. If you would like to join a PLC, please reach out to the group's contact person.
Identification and Referral
Building Solutions in Systems-Based Identification Work
This is a continuing PLC with a new name (previously called “Strategies to Increase Identification and Referral”). It meets every other month and focuses on a variety of topics, including identifying existing identification and referral patterns, working with state partners, and finding ways to collaboratively develop goals and solutions. Members share experiences and solutions that have worked in their states. The group's current focus is healthcare systems. This PLC is open to all state deafblind project staff regardless of previous experience with this topic.
Contact: Emma Fricke at efricke@helenkeller.org or (971) 430-7044
Child Count Data: Digging Into the Self-Assessment Guide
This PLC will meet monthly to support new and experienced project personnel who would like to collaborate and use the Identification and Referral Self-Assessment Guide and their state’s child count data to build an action plan to increase their state’s identification, referral, and child count efforts. Emma Fricke and Carlie Rhoads will facilitate. Following the completion of the Self-Assessment Guide, the group will identify next steps.
Contact: Emma Fricke at efricke@helenkeller.org or (971) 430-7044
Family Engagement
Family Engagement in Transition
This PLC is intended for state deafblind project staff who will share and learn from each other and from families about what it means to plan and actively participate in their child’s transition from high school to adult services, how to provide space for families and the deafblind individual to think about what a meaningful life would be, and from a family-centered approach, explore actionable steps families can take to be informed and empowered. The PLC will meet monthly for eight months, beginning September 2024 and ending May 2025.
Contact: Jana Villemez at jvillemez@helenkeller.org or (501) 517-1474
Family Engagement Coordinators
The Family Engagement Coordinator (FEC) PLC supports state deafblind projects in their work with families. In addition to providing opportunities for FECs to learn from and be inspired by each other, this PLC works to develop and legitimize the value and needs of families of children who are deafblind. The Value of Family Engagement: Identifying Unique Needs and Priorities of Families with Children Who Are Deaf-Blind, guides our PLC and provides unity and cohesion for why we do what we do for families.
Contact: Jana Villemez at jvillemez@helenkeller.org or (501) 517-1474
Interveners and Qualified Personnel
Training Interveners Group
The Training Interveners Group PLC meets bi-monthly to identify state-specific systems change activities for fostering the intervener model. Meetings include discussions of the obstacles, challenges, and successes of intervener training as well as strategies to improve training. We are happy to welcome new members!
Contact: Kristi Probst at kprobst@helenkeller.org or (309) 287-4158
Improving and Implementing Professional Development Practices
This PLC meets monthly to address ways to partner with state systems to increase the capacity of families, educators, and providers to meet the needs of children who are deafblind. Over the past year, we have studied adult learning strategies that increase engagement, implementation of best practices, and the use of coaching. We’ve also learned about the provision of training and TA and ways to partner with state-level organizations and systems (e.g., departments of education, SPDGs) to improve practices and embed deafblind content into existing systems.
Contact: Emma Fricke at efricke@helenkeller.org or (971) 430-7044
Technical Assistance
Child-Specific Technical Assistance
Defining and implementing your state deafblind project’s universal, targeted, and intensive child-specific TA can be challenging given limited project time and resources and the extensive needs of educational teams. The Child TA PLC has been exploring what’s realistic to achieve under these constraints and how to create innovative, sustainable outcomes to enhance the services and supports for children who are deafblind.
Contact: Megan Cote at mcote@helenkeller.org or (516) 833-8311
Newbie Group
This group is for interested state deafblind project staff who have worked on their project for two years or less. Members connect, share, and learn together in an informal way. The group meets once a month on Zoom. Discussion topics are determined based on the evolving needs of the group.
Contact: Megan Cote at mcote@helenkeller.org or Carlie Rhoads at crhoads@helenkeller.org
Transition
Increasing Individualized Work Experience through Systems Collaboration
This PLC is made up of state deafblind projects and their invited state partners (e.g., departments of education, blind and low vision services, UCEDDs, vocational rehabilitation services, HKNC) who are working collaboratively across systems in their state to increase access to individualized work experiences and employment preparation for students who are deafblind with additional disabilities. It meets monthly. State deafblind project personnel who are working on systems change and capacity building are welcome to join.
Contact: Michael Fagbemi at mfagbemi@helenkeller.org or (516) 393-7596, Ellen Condon at ellen.condon@mso.umt.edu