Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing often feel isolated, especially in our more rural communities, where they may be the only student for many miles. Our virtual groups have created connections and bonds among students, while teaching them the compensatory skills they need to be successful across all environments. Compensatory strategies related to hearing loss are techniques or modifications to our behavior or environment that are used to compensate in a specific area or skill. Collaboration is the act of working together with others to achieve a common goal. It involves contributing skills and ideas, being open to
others' input, and working through a give-and-take process. In our virtual groups, we work on a scope and sequence to focus on skills from the Minnesota Compensatory Skills Checklist. Join our presentation to learn more about how to use a virtual platform to bridge the isolation gap while meaningfully instructing and engaging students.
Kristal received her B.A. degree in Deaf Education and Elementary Education through Minot State University in 1986. She received my MA in Special Education in 2004 and also holds my Work Based Learning certificate. She has been a teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing for 38 years and has worked with students from birth through 21.
Joann is an Itinerant Teacher for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She works for ASEC (Area Special Education Cooperative) and serves students in Regions 1 & 2. Her husband and I live in the beautiful woods of Northern MN. Along with teaching, she also enjoys a daily dose of yoga, going to the gym, and being active in the great outdoors and all it has to offer.
Pamela Vettleson is a Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Teacher in Northwest Minnesota working for the Area Special Education Cooperative serving 11 rural school districts. She received her undergraduate degree in Elementary/Early Childhood Education from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, Learning Disabilities Licensure from Bemidji State University and Masters Degree in Special Education with an emphasis on Deaf/Hard of Hearing from Minot State University. Previously, she was a Specific Learning Disabilities teacher for 16 years in Thief River Falls, Minnesota primarily working with students in 2nd and 3rd grade.
