FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Anne Sittner Anderson, anne.sittner-anderson@state.mn.us / text: 651-888-1519

St. Paul, Minnesota (October 25, 2018) – The Collaborative Plan Steering Committee is hosting a two-day Collaborative Plan Summit from October 25, 2018 to October 26, 2018.

The organizations represented in are

• Metro Deaf School
• Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens 
• Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing
• Minnesota Department of Education
• Minnesota Department of Health
• Minnesota Employment and Economic Development – State Services for the Blind
• Minnesota Employment and Economic Development – Vocational Rehabilitation Services
• Minnesota Hands & Voices
• Minnesota State Academies
• Northern Voices
• PACER
• University of Minnesota
• As well as various school districts both urban and rural

During these two days, summit participants will review the accomplishments of the past ten years – now known as Collaborative Plan 1.0; and to set a plan for the next five of collaborative work – Collaborative Plan 2.0.

The summit will take place at the Minnesota Department of Education (1500 Commerce St., Roseville, MN 55113. Members of the public may attend and observe. 

A special feature that will be released for the first time at the summit are TED Talk-style videos from five members of the Collaborative Plan workgroups. Each talk will cover some of the works that have contributed to and improved services to children and families over the past ten years. Each presenter chose a topic that was near and dear to their heart. The videos will be shared with the public next week. 

Past successes of Collaborative Plan 1.0 include but are not limited to:

• Hosting a Collaborative Experience Conference in 2015, 2016, and 2017. The purpose of the conference is to bring together teachers and professionals serving students who are deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing. These teachers and professionals are often isolated in their field and cited a great need for access to the most current research and learn new information.
• Publishing a document called “Developing a Language and Communication Focused IEP: A Discussion Guide,” to be used by parents and schools to ensure that students who are deaf and hard of hearing have an Individual Education Program (IEP) that caters to their language and communication needs.
• Creating a Guide to Transition Services for Teachers of Deaf/Hard of Hearing, which is hosted on the University of Minnesota website. This guide is designed for teachers to use with their transition-aged students with hearing loss who are preparing for life after graduating from high school.

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About the Collaborative Plan

The Collaborative Plan is a network of agencies and organizations who work together to create positive, systematic changes in order to achieve better education and career outcomes for students who are deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing. 

About the Commission

The Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing Minnesotans is a Governor-appointed Commission that advocates for communication access and equal opportunity for the 20% of Minnesotans who are deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing. For more information about the Commission, visit our website or join us on Facebook and Twitter.