{"id":23483,"date":"2013-06-14T16:07:03","date_gmt":"2013-06-14T21:07:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/?p=23483"},"modified":"2013-06-14T16:07:03","modified_gmt":"2013-06-14T21:07:03","slug":"tsd-blending-in-standing-out-dhh-students-bring-texas-families-to-together","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2013\/06\/14\/tsd-blending-in-standing-out-dhh-students-bring-texas-families-to-together\/","title":{"rendered":"TSD: “Blending In & Standing Out” – D\/HH Students Bring Texas Families to Together"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"tsd-logo-180x180\"<\/a>\u00a0TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF PRESS RELEASE
\nContact: Keena Miller
\nPhone: 512-462-5328, cell: 512-658-4444
\nEmail: Keena.miller@tsd.state.tx.us<\/p>\n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/p>\n

\u00a0DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS BRING TEXAS FAMILIES TOGETHER<\/strong>
\n\u00a0\u201cBlending In & Standing Out\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

FAMILY WEEKEND RETREAT for TEXAS FAMILIES of DEAF and HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS at TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF<\/strong><\/p>\n

Weekend Immersion Helps Families Navigate Hurdles, Advocate for Excellence<\/p>\n

Austin, Texas \u2013 June 14, 2013 Summer is in full swing at the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) as 350 individuals from more than 80 families of deaf and hard of hearing children all across Texas, arrive for TSD\u2019s Family Weekend Retreat (FWR), today through Sunday.<\/p>\n

From siblings to extended family, TSD\u2019s Educational Resource Center of Deafness (ERCOD) hosts a full weekend of workshops and activities, annually, for all family members of children in Texas who are deaf or hard of hearing.<\/p>\n

With the focus on understanding, nurturing and supporting the education and development of all children who are deaf or hard of hearing (D\/HH), each family leaves TSD\u2019s FWR on Sunday with regret.<\/p>\n

But, not in a sad way. Families who\u2019ve attended before will tell you that FWR literally changes lives.<\/p>\n

In response to that, \u201cmission accomplished.\u201d Crawford leads ERCOD\u2019s FWR, and each year sees the transformation in families by the end of the weekend.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery year, we have families get emotional after attending FWR, for a variety of reasons. Many families come back again, Crawford adds, while those who attend for the first time often leave wanting more help and more resources for their child.\u201d<\/p>\n

Crawford has assembled an esteemed group of colleagues – professionals and parents – who will present their experiences and lessons learned in rearing their own D\/HH children to the families attending TSD\u2019s FWR.<\/p>\n

FWR opens at 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning at St. Edward\u2019s University\u2019s Jones Auditorium with a keynote address from a mother of three \u2013 one, a deaf and blind, multi-disabled son. Parent, Djenne-Amal Morris – a motivational speaker<\/a> – also works as a Parent Educator and Training Coordinator in Raleigh, North Carolina, helping others adjust to life with a Deaf-Blind child.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, FWR is capped off with an inspiring closing address from Karen Putz – ChicagoNow writer<\/a>, three-time author and the mother of three teenagers who are hard of hearing. Putz herself grew up hard of hearing, and at age 19 became deaf from a fall while barefoot water skiing.<\/p>\n

Not only does FWR have parents speaking directly with other parents, professionals help families understand their child\u2019s rights to an education – in the least restrictive environment – and help them with communication at home.<\/p>\n

The FWR covers all bases for the entire family, including: childcare for the adolescents in each family; workshops specifically for extended family members; social and educational activities for D\/HH children of all ages; and a special Sib-Shop for siblings of a D\/HH brother or sister. Each group has a unique schedule of activities throughout the weekend to support those individuals. TSD also provides weekend lodging for the families, all meals, and allows time for fun and social activities, giving participants time to spend together networking.<\/p>\n

While TSD educates approximately 500-600 D\/HH students, annually, during the regular school year – and another 300+ during summer programs in Austin – the ERCOD at TSD focuses on the estimated 5,000+ students who attend school across the state in other public, charter and private schools \u2013 as well as their families, and professionals in the fields of education and D\/HH support services. FWR is just one of TSD\u2019s statewide outreach programs aimed at doing so.<\/p>\n

WHAT: Texas School for the Deaf\u2019s (TSD) 2013 Family Weekend Retreat (FWR) for families of children who are deaf and hard of hearing (D\/HH)<\/p>\n

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, June 12-14, 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

Friday:<\/p>\n