Collaboration and learning flourished at this year’s Deafblind Summer Symposium, hosted by the Iowa Deafblind Project in Coralville. The June 10 – 11 event focused on the Communication Matrix, and left the 28 attending speech language pathologists, teachers of the deaf, teachers of the visually impaired, occupational therapists, special education teachers and others feeling eager to apply their new knowledge in the 2024-’25 school year.
According to Sarah Harms, Iowa Deafblind Project coordinator, “The highlight of the symposium was (presenter) Nancy Steele, renowned for her expertise in the Communication Matrix, who captivated participating with a deep dive into its intricacies.”
Attendees gained practical skills to administer assessments, interpret results and translate findings into meaningful student goals and educational strategies. “The feedback was overwhelmingly positive,” said Harms.
New for this year’s symposium was the requirement for attendees to also tune into two pre-symposium Zoom sessions. Harms said Steele offered follow-up Zoom sessions for early fall to address any lingering questions and ensure the participants had support in implementing what they learned.
“The symposium not only enriched professional practices but also strengthened the community dedicated to improving educational outcomes for deafblind students,” said Harms.
Contact Harms for more information on the Deafblind project or this year’s symposium.
Link to more information about the Communication Matrix
Iowa’s Deafblind Services Project serves children and young adults age birth through 21 who are suspected of having both a hearing and a vision loss or difficulty in processing auditory and visual information. The project is dedicated to building the knowledge and skills of all stakeholders involved in the education or parenting of these learners. The project believes in using a collaborative, multi-faceted approach to achieve positive, fulfilling futures for children and youth with deafblindness.