Family Workshop

Supporting Literacy in DeafBlind Children: Creating Access for Learning

Presented by Overbook School for the Blind, PaTTAN, and Pennsylvania School for the Deaf

Join us for this amazing family-centered workshop where families will learn about how to best support literacy skills and development in their DeafBlind children; network with other families with DeafBlind children; participate in a family networking lunch event; and create hands-on materials to bring home!

This workshop is a hybrid event: families will have the opportunity to participate in the morning portion of the presentation in-person or via Zoom from the comfort of their home. Those that participate in-person will be able to participate in the free lunch networking event and the hands-on Story Box workshop in the afternoon.

Childcare will be provided.

Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025

Time: 9:30AM – 2:30 PM

Schedule:

9:30 – 10:00 AM: Family Arrival/Check-in

10:00 – 11:00 AM: Hybrid presentation from Overbrook School for the Blind: Literacy: Creating Access for Learning

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM: In-person Family Networking, facilitated by PaTTAN

12:15 – 1:00 PM: Lunch

1:00 – 2:30 PM: Story Box workshop, led by PaTTAN/The Pennsylvania DeafBlind Project

Location:

Pennsylvania School for the Deaf
Maguire Student Center
100 W. School House Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19144

Presenters: Beth Ramella and Isabelle Perkins (Overbrook School for the Blind)

Beth Ramella, Ed.D. is the Superintendent and CVI Specialist at the Overbrook School for the Blind. She is a dedicated educator and advocate committed to enhancing the lives of children with brain-based visual impairment. With knowledge and experience spanning multiple roles within the field of vision/special education, Dr. Ramella brings a unique blend of expertise, compassion, and innovation to her work. As a Teacher of the Visually Impaired/Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist, she has demonstrated unwavering commitment to empower her students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive academically. Specializing in brain-based visual impairment/CVI, Beth aspires to be at the forefront of research and practice in this emerging field. Her dedication to understanding the unique needs faced by children with CVI informs her approach and drives her ongoing pursuit of effective interventions and accessible learning strategies. Her work is deeply invested in research, professional development and collaboration.

Isabelle Perkins, B.S.Ed is a dedicated Teacher of students with Visual Impairments. While specializing in working with students with visual impairments and deafblindness, she has a lengthy experience working with students with a variety of disabilities and support needs. After earning her degree from Kutztown University, she began teaching students with multiple disabilities, including Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) and Deafblindness at Overbrook School for the Blind. In addition to her work in the classroom, she is actively involved with Camp Abilities, which offers skill-building opportunities for students with visual impairments through physical education and Expanded Core Curriculum activities. Currently, she is the CVI Teacher Facilitator and Assistive Technology Teacher at Overbrook School for the Blind, where she supports students and faculty, and families throughout the school community.

Facilitators: Patti McGowan (PaTTAN)

Patti McGowan is the parent of a young adult who is deafblind.  She and her family live in North Huntingdon, PA. As a parent of a son who is deafblind, she is skilled in supporting other parents and families who are facing challenges. Patti is the moderator of the Pennsylvania Family Listserv which is used across the commonwealth to network, share resources, and educate families and interested professionals. Patti has been a family consultant for the Pennsylvania DeafBlind Project since 2005. She is the past president of the National Family Association for DeafBlind (NFADB) and general board member to the State Affiliate to NFADB known as PPDB, Pennsylvania Partnership for Deafblind. Patti had the opportunity to be a regular contributor to the Paths to Transition site through Perkins School for the Blind.  She blogs about family-related issues and provides consultation about the parent perspective. In addition, Patti took part in the writing team for the National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB) Open Hands, Open Access: Deaf-Blind Intervener Modules as a module creator, contributing concepts, ideas, resources, and videos to sculpt the open-access modules. Patti has worked as a consultant assisting the NCDB in the development of content for a national website on advocacy and leadership for families. She has had years of experience in training parents and families in all aspects of advocacy and leadership. Please feel free to contact Patti at pmcgowan@pattan.net.

Facilitators: Carolyn Bennett, Laura Stephan, Tara Kelly and Sue Ann Houser (PaTTAN)

Carolyn Bennett is an experienced Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathologist with a deep passion for working with babies and families. Her career spans medical, educational, and research settings, where she has dedicated herself to supporting children with hearing and speech challenges. Carolyn holds a certification in Listening and Spoken Language (LSLS Cert. AVEd) and finds immense joy in witnessing the growth and development of the children she serves. Through her expertise and commitment, she strives to make a lasting impact on the lives of the families she works with.

Tara Kelly, M.S., M.Ed. (she/her) is an Educational Consultant at the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) in Malvern, PA currently serving as the Project Director for the PA DeafBlind Project housed within PaTTAN’s DeafBlind Initiative; she also serves as the State Lead for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Initiative and on the Family Engagement Initiative. Tara received her master’s degree in Deaf Education from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY, and has enjoyed working with students and families as a teacher, educational interpreter, and early interventionist. She earned her second master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Wilmington University and has served as an administrator at statewide and intermediate unit programs for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind students in Delaware and Pennsylvania. Her areas of interest include leveraging technology to reduce barriers and increase opportunities for family partnership and accessible learning experience design across the lifespan. Tara and her partner, Brian, are proud parents to twins Tommy and Will (7); together they are discovering the gifts of autism and neurodiversity.

Laura Stephan is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and RESNA certified Assistive Technology Professional, with 18 years of experience, specializing in augmentative and alternative communication methods and assistive technology for low-vision students as well as students having a dual-sensory loss and other complex communication needs. She works at Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia, Pa., where she implements a variety of low, mid and high-tech communication systems, integrating them into the classroom to help students better access their education. Laura studied at The Pennsylvania State University and then went on to Gallaudet University to earn her Master of Science Degree in Speech-Language Pathology as well as George Mason University to earn her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Assistive Technology.

Registration

This workshop will be presented in spoken English with ASL interpretation. Interpretation in other languages or additional accommodations can be provided upon request. For any questions, please contact Kim Stephan at kstephan@psd.org