Natalina Martiniello
Dr. Natalina Martiniello is a CIHR Health Systems Impact Postdoctoral Fellow at Concordia University, in collaboration with l’Institut Nazareth et Louis Braille. She is also a course instructor in the Graduate program in Vision Impairment and Rehabilitation at the University of Montreal. Prior to this, she worked as a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist. Her research focuses on inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility for blind and low vision individuals. As a person with lived experience, she is deeply committed to initiatives that support accessible and inclusive learning and equitable access to information. She is the Past-President of Braille Literacy Canada, a director on the International Council on English Braille, and the co-founder and Vice-Chair of the International Network of Researchers with Vision Impairment and their Allies (INOVA).
Breakout Session 1A: Elevating Conference Accessibility and Inclusion for Individuals with Deafblindness: Merging Best Practices from Vision, Hearing and Dual Sensory Impairment
Dr. Natalina Martiniello is a CIHR Health Systems Impact Postdoctoral Fellow at Concordia University, in collaboration with l’Institut Nazareth et Louis Braille. She is also a course instructor in the Graduate program in Vision Impairment and Rehabilitation at the University of Montreal. Prior to this, she worked as a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist. Her research focuses on inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility for blind and low vision individuals. As a person with lived experience, she is deeply committed to initiatives that support accessible and inclusive learning and equitable access to information. She is the Past-President of Braille Literacy Canada, a director on the International Council on English Braille, and the co-founder and Vice-Chair of the International Network of Researchers with Vision Impairment and their Allies (INOVA).
Breakout Session 1A: Elevating Conference Accessibility and Inclusion for Individuals with Deafblindness: Merging Best Practices from Vision, Hearing and Dual Sensory Impairment
Lea Maurer
Lea Maurer works as a special educational needs teacher for the deafblind at the institution Nikolauspflege (Stuttgart, Germany). She is part of the project Hand in Hand (development and implementation of a qualification program) and works as a special needs teacher for children with visual impairment and complex disabilities. In 2022, Lea graduated from the University of Education (Heidelberg, Germany) with a degree in special needs education, majoring in pedagogy for the blind and visually impaired and pedagogy for the hearing impaired. In addition, she completed the course of special needs education for the deafblind. Furthermore, she worked as a research assistant in the research project IKI-TAU (Development of a Screening and Assessment Tool for the Deafblind) at the University of Education (Heidelberg, Germany). Her main areas of interest are diagnostics of functional vision and pedagogy for the deafblind.
Breakout Session 8D: Hand in Hand - A Project to Develop Professional Competence in the Field of Deafblindness at the Institution Nikolauspflege Stuttgart
Lea Maurer works as a special educational needs teacher for the deafblind at the institution Nikolauspflege (Stuttgart, Germany). She is part of the project Hand in Hand (development and implementation of a qualification program) and works as a special needs teacher for children with visual impairment and complex disabilities. In 2022, Lea graduated from the University of Education (Heidelberg, Germany) with a degree in special needs education, majoring in pedagogy for the blind and visually impaired and pedagogy for the hearing impaired. In addition, she completed the course of special needs education for the deafblind. Furthermore, she worked as a research assistant in the research project IKI-TAU (Development of a Screening and Assessment Tool for the Deafblind) at the University of Education (Heidelberg, Germany). Her main areas of interest are diagnostics of functional vision and pedagogy for the deafblind.
Breakout Session 8D: Hand in Hand - A Project to Develop Professional Competence in the Field of Deafblindness at the Institution Nikolauspflege Stuttgart
Laurie McBride
Laurie McBride, DeafBlind Employment Specialist (DBES) with Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) for Iowa and Minnesota. Services provided fall under Job Development such as online job searching skills, job interviews, solving transportation challenges and education of reasonable accommodations to employers. Provides information and resources to family members, employers, and local vocational rehabilitation counselors. Originally from Ontario, Canada, Laurie worked in Iowa as a Graphic Designer for 20 years. Since 2015, has been a trainer with HKNC for the iCanConnect Program providing consumers training in telecommunications equipment, while attending college and university to obtain her bachelor’s degree in Human Service. Laurie has adapted to different workplace environments with her hearing loss, and now with combined hearing and vision loss. Her personal experience as a DeafBlind person is a helpful tool in her DBES position to show consumers and potential employers that people with vision and hearing loss can live AND WORK in their community. Self-advocacy has been an important tool in finding her own jobs and adapting her career path. Using these personal assets to assist other DeafBlind consumers in finding and retaining employment will result in the right fit for both employee and employer.
Breakout Session 6C: Emergency Preparedness Overview
Laurie McBride, DeafBlind Employment Specialist (DBES) with Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) for Iowa and Minnesota. Services provided fall under Job Development such as online job searching skills, job interviews, solving transportation challenges and education of reasonable accommodations to employers. Provides information and resources to family members, employers, and local vocational rehabilitation counselors. Originally from Ontario, Canada, Laurie worked in Iowa as a Graphic Designer for 20 years. Since 2015, has been a trainer with HKNC for the iCanConnect Program providing consumers training in telecommunications equipment, while attending college and university to obtain her bachelor’s degree in Human Service. Laurie has adapted to different workplace environments with her hearing loss, and now with combined hearing and vision loss. Her personal experience as a DeafBlind person is a helpful tool in her DBES position to show consumers and potential employers that people with vision and hearing loss can live AND WORK in their community. Self-advocacy has been an important tool in finding her own jobs and adapting her career path. Using these personal assets to assist other DeafBlind consumers in finding and retaining employment will result in the right fit for both employee and employer.
Breakout Session 6C: Emergency Preparedness Overview
Kathy McGilton
Kathy McGilton is a Senior Scientist at KITE Research Institute: Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network and a Professor at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg, Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto. Her research focuses on improving the lives of older adults in facility-based settings while also studying the staff and the contextual factors that influence their care. Her work has led to innovations in models of care and positive outcomes for older adults, care partners and staff. She does this by working in an integrated model with health care practitioners, administrators, and policy decision makers.
Breakout Session 8F/9F: Combined Vison and Hearing Loss in Long-Term Care: Interprofessional Contributions to Integrated Care to Address Sensory-based Communication Barriers
Kathy McGilton is a Senior Scientist at KITE Research Institute: Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network and a Professor at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg, Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto. Her research focuses on improving the lives of older adults in facility-based settings while also studying the staff and the contextual factors that influence their care. Her work has led to innovations in models of care and positive outcomes for older adults, care partners and staff. She does this by working in an integrated model with health care practitioners, administrators, and policy decision makers.
Breakout Session 8F/9F: Combined Vison and Hearing Loss in Long-Term Care: Interprofessional Contributions to Integrated Care to Address Sensory-based Communication Barriers
Megan McHugh
Megan McHugh works for Canadian Helen Keller Centre (CHKC) in Toronto. She teaches those who are deafblind to use assistive technology. Megan is a role model for the acquired deafblind population as she adapts to her own recent significant vision loss. Megan won the JT award, which recognizes significant contributions to the Canadian deafblind community. Megan is currently the president of the Canadian National Society of the Deaf-Blind (CNSDB), and she has consulted, in partnership with the Deaf Wireless Canada Committee (DWCC) and with the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
Breakout Session 10B: Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS): Why Am I Seeing Things That Aren't Really There?
Megan McHugh works for Canadian Helen Keller Centre (CHKC) in Toronto. She teaches those who are deafblind to use assistive technology. Megan is a role model for the acquired deafblind population as she adapts to her own recent significant vision loss. Megan won the JT award, which recognizes significant contributions to the Canadian deafblind community. Megan is currently the president of the Canadian National Society of the Deaf-Blind (CNSDB), and she has consulted, in partnership with the Deaf Wireless Canada Committee (DWCC) and with the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
Breakout Session 10B: Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS): Why Am I Seeing Things That Aren't Really There?
Rick Mercer
Rick Mercer chronicles, satirizes, and ultimately celebrates all that is great and irreverent about this country. A national #1 bestselling author and the Governor General’s Award-winner for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, Mercer is our most popular comic; a political satirist who knows exactly what matters to regular Canadians and what makes them laugh. In his new memoir Talking to Canadians, the beloved comic charts his meteoric rise to TV fame in a series of riveting, hilarious, and unforgettable anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes revelations from his decades-long career.
Closing Keynote Session
Rick Mercer chronicles, satirizes, and ultimately celebrates all that is great and irreverent about this country. A national #1 bestselling author and the Governor General’s Award-winner for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, Mercer is our most popular comic; a political satirist who knows exactly what matters to regular Canadians and what makes them laugh. In his new memoir Talking to Canadians, the beloved comic charts his meteoric rise to TV fame in a series of riveting, hilarious, and unforgettable anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes revelations from his decades-long career.
Closing Keynote Session
Cédric Moreau
Cédric Moreau is an associate professor in educational sciences at INSHEA in the Grhapes laboratory (France), PhD in linguistics related to sign language and a master’s degree in “Technology and disability”. His work focuses on conceptualization and access to knowledge for deaf and deafblind children. He coordinates the research "Identification of Perceptual Specificities & Personalized Educational Programs for children with deafblindness and other severe complex disabilities (IS4P)" funded by Firah, leads the multilingual and multimodal collaborative project Ocelles and co-coordinates the observatory of adapted digital resources.
Breakout Session 10A: Identification of the Perceptual Characteristics and Personalized Educational Progressions for Children with Deafblindness and Other Severe complex Disabilities
Cédric Moreau is an associate professor in educational sciences at INSHEA in the Grhapes laboratory (France), PhD in linguistics related to sign language and a master’s degree in “Technology and disability”. His work focuses on conceptualization and access to knowledge for deaf and deafblind children. He coordinates the research "Identification of Perceptual Specificities & Personalized Educational Programs for children with deafblindness and other severe complex disabilities (IS4P)" funded by Firah, leads the multilingual and multimodal collaborative project Ocelles and co-coordinates the observatory of adapted digital resources.
Breakout Session 10A: Identification of the Perceptual Characteristics and Personalized Educational Progressions for Children with Deafblindness and Other Severe complex Disabilities
Mäde Müller
Mäde Müller is the Head of Rehabilitation Unit, Specialist advice centre for deafblindness at SNAB, Swiss National Association of and for the Blind. Since 2007 rehabilitation teacher for people with acquired deafblindness / hearing and visual impairment. Since 2010 responsible for the rehabilitation team all over Switzerland and delegate for the international network DBI. Specialised in Communication, Low Vision and Orientation & Mobility. Working in different languages German, Sign Language, French, English for evaluations, trainings, workshops for voluntary workers and professionals.
Breakout Session 5D: How to Sign with and Interpret for People with Deafblindness
Mäde Müller is the Head of Rehabilitation Unit, Specialist advice centre for deafblindness at SNAB, Swiss National Association of and for the Blind. Since 2007 rehabilitation teacher for people with acquired deafblindness / hearing and visual impairment. Since 2010 responsible for the rehabilitation team all over Switzerland and delegate for the international network DBI. Specialised in Communication, Low Vision and Orientation & Mobility. Working in different languages German, Sign Language, French, English for evaluations, trainings, workshops for voluntary workers and professionals.
Breakout Session 5D: How to Sign with and Interpret for People with Deafblindness
Sorcha Nallen
Sorcha Nallen has 6 years' experience working with people who are deafblind at the Anne Sullivan Centre in Dublin, Ireland, primarily with adults who are congenitally deafblind. Sorcha received a post graduate certificate in Multi-Sensory Impairment from Birmingham University in 2018. In 2021 Sorcha was project manager on a Deafblind Literacy project which successfully created accessible books for children who are deafblind in Ireland. Sorcha is currently working as a Deafblind Communication Specialist for the Anne Sullivan Foundation’s Outreach Services.
Breakout Session 9B: Sharing Deafblind Knowledge and Practice with Service Providers and Families Through Online Learning: A Pilot Program in Ireland
Sorcha Nallen has 6 years' experience working with people who are deafblind at the Anne Sullivan Centre in Dublin, Ireland, primarily with adults who are congenitally deafblind. Sorcha received a post graduate certificate in Multi-Sensory Impairment from Birmingham University in 2018. In 2021 Sorcha was project manager on a Deafblind Literacy project which successfully created accessible books for children who are deafblind in Ireland. Sorcha is currently working as a Deafblind Communication Specialist for the Anne Sullivan Foundation’s Outreach Services.
Breakout Session 9B: Sharing Deafblind Knowledge and Practice with Service Providers and Families Through Online Learning: A Pilot Program in Ireland
Gracia Ng-A-Tham
Gracia Ng-A-Tham was born with severe hearing loss and diagnosed with Usher syndrome type 2 at the age of 16. She has progressive loss of sight and is now legally blind. She holds a master’s degree in Developmental Psychology and Pedagogy from Leiden University, The Netherlands. She has worked in several youth and family care organizations in The Netherlands. Since 2010 she is involved as an expert-by-experience in several projects like: advocacy for people with deafblindness, facilitating peer-to-peer contact and support for people with Usher syndrome and their families, and leading a project team for a series of interactive online events organized by the Usher Syndrome Foundation in The Netherlands. She advises professional care providers and researchers on deafblindness, among others as a member of the research project team ‘Coping with Usher’. She also assesses and advises a broad spectrum of cultural art organizations about improving their accessibility and cultural experience for people with visual and/or auditive impairment. She is married and has two children.
Breakout Session 10D: Research Lightning Talks (3)
Gracia Ng-A-Tham was born with severe hearing loss and diagnosed with Usher syndrome type 2 at the age of 16. She has progressive loss of sight and is now legally blind. She holds a master’s degree in Developmental Psychology and Pedagogy from Leiden University, The Netherlands. She has worked in several youth and family care organizations in The Netherlands. Since 2010 she is involved as an expert-by-experience in several projects like: advocacy for people with deafblindness, facilitating peer-to-peer contact and support for people with Usher syndrome and their families, and leading a project team for a series of interactive online events organized by the Usher Syndrome Foundation in The Netherlands. She advises professional care providers and researchers on deafblindness, among others as a member of the research project team ‘Coping with Usher’. She also assesses and advises a broad spectrum of cultural art organizations about improving their accessibility and cultural experience for people with visual and/or auditive impairment. She is married and has two children.
Breakout Session 10D: Research Lightning Talks (3)
Jude Nicholas
Dr. Jude Nicholas is a certified clinical neuropsychologist and a researcher employed at Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway. Dr. Nicholas has some 25 years of clinical and research experience working with children and adults with different sensory loss. He has a longstanding interest in toxic conditions, genetic syndromes and neurological conditions involving sensory impairments and cognitive functions. He is author of several articles and book chapters on these topics. His current research investigates the neuropsychological functions of brain related visual and auditory impairment and the pragmatic understanding of how the tactile system functions, particularly in persons with deafblindness.
Breakout Session 1C: Bridging the Gap-Finding the link Between Central Hearing Loss and Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment
Breakout Session 2E: Brain Related Auditory and Visual Impairment: An Approach to a Complex Relationship
Breakout Session 4D: Exploring Tactile Transitions
Breakout Session 6F: Enhancing the Bodily-Tactile Cognition of a Child with Congenital Deafblindness in An Outdoor Activity
Dr. Jude Nicholas is a certified clinical neuropsychologist and a researcher employed at Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway. Dr. Nicholas has some 25 years of clinical and research experience working with children and adults with different sensory loss. He has a longstanding interest in toxic conditions, genetic syndromes and neurological conditions involving sensory impairments and cognitive functions. He is author of several articles and book chapters on these topics. His current research investigates the neuropsychological functions of brain related visual and auditory impairment and the pragmatic understanding of how the tactile system functions, particularly in persons with deafblindness.
Breakout Session 1C: Bridging the Gap-Finding the link Between Central Hearing Loss and Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment
Breakout Session 2E: Brain Related Auditory and Visual Impairment: An Approach to a Complex Relationship
Breakout Session 4D: Exploring Tactile Transitions
Breakout Session 6F: Enhancing the Bodily-Tactile Cognition of a Child with Congenital Deafblindness in An Outdoor Activity
JB Orange
JB Orange is Professor Emeritus and Adjunct Research Faculty, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Western University, London Canada. He also is Scientific Director of the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging at Western. Professor Orange’s research addresses language and cognitive-communication disorders of adults and older adults with special emphasis on discourse and communication of individuals living with dementia. Examples of current funded research include investigations examining the nature and type of conversational breakdowns and repairs among different dementia types and determining the effectiveness of person-centred communication enhancement education and training program for health care providers.
Breakout Session 8F/9F: Combined Vison and Hearing Loss in Long-Term Care: Interprofessional Contributions to Integrated Care to Address Sensory-based Communication Barriers
JB Orange is Professor Emeritus and Adjunct Research Faculty, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Western University, London Canada. He also is Scientific Director of the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging at Western. Professor Orange’s research addresses language and cognitive-communication disorders of adults and older adults with special emphasis on discourse and communication of individuals living with dementia. Examples of current funded research include investigations examining the nature and type of conversational breakdowns and repairs among different dementia types and determining the effectiveness of person-centred communication enhancement education and training program for health care providers.
Breakout Session 8F/9F: Combined Vison and Hearing Loss in Long-Term Care: Interprofessional Contributions to Integrated Care to Address Sensory-based Communication Barriers
Mr. Rasmus Hougaard Pedersen
Psychologist and project manager working at the Specialist Consultancy for the Deafblind in the North Denmark Region. Working in the practice field, I try to bridge the gap between research and practice by focusing on knowledge development and building competence in the different kinds of projects. Projects about Usher syndrome and the qualitative experiences of people with Usher syndrome sparked my interest and have been my starting point for working in the deafblind field. I’m still very interested in the qualitative experiences of people living with deafblindness as well as the perspectives of the relatives, and I think these aspects can offer a lot to the knowledge development in the deafblind field. Though I’m biased working alongside very experienced consultants and in the practice field, one of the things I also focus on is how research can be made applicable to practice.
Breakout Session 6D: Identification of Deafblindness: The Nordic Way - An Assessment Material in Progress
Psychologist and project manager working at the Specialist Consultancy for the Deafblind in the North Denmark Region. Working in the practice field, I try to bridge the gap between research and practice by focusing on knowledge development and building competence in the different kinds of projects. Projects about Usher syndrome and the qualitative experiences of people with Usher syndrome sparked my interest and have been my starting point for working in the deafblind field. I’m still very interested in the qualitative experiences of people living with deafblindness as well as the perspectives of the relatives, and I think these aspects can offer a lot to the knowledge development in the deafblind field. Though I’m biased working alongside very experienced consultants and in the practice field, one of the things I also focus on is how research can be made applicable to practice.
Breakout Session 6D: Identification of Deafblindness: The Nordic Way - An Assessment Material in Progress
Jerry G Petroff
Jerry G Petroff, PhD
Dr. Petroff is a Professor and Executive Director of the Center for Sensory & Complex Disabilities at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), School of Education. His experience working on behalf of students, youth and adults with disabilities and their families spans several decades. Holding a doctorate in psychological studies in special education (Developmental Psychology), and a master’s degree in speech pathology and audiology, he has developed expertise in inclusive education, behavior support, early communication, social network development, assistive technology (augmentative and alternative communication), and the transition of students with disabilities from school to adult life. The assessment, development and education of children with deafblindness are central to Dr. Petroff’s practice and scholarship. Current research activities include post-secondary/college education for students with intellectual disabilities; the education of children with deafblindness; fathers’ influence on deafblind child’s development and education; challenging behavior of children with deafblindness, co-teaching and post-school outcomes for students with deafblindness. Lastly, He is a trained and experienced facilitator that has conducted hundreds of successful person-centered plans, systems-based strategic planning (e.g. schools, government agencies, etc.) as well as other group processes.
Plenary Session 7: Dad's Involvement in the Care, Development and Education of their Children with Deafblindness
Jerry G Petroff, PhD
Dr. Petroff is a Professor and Executive Director of the Center for Sensory & Complex Disabilities at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), School of Education. His experience working on behalf of students, youth and adults with disabilities and their families spans several decades. Holding a doctorate in psychological studies in special education (Developmental Psychology), and a master’s degree in speech pathology and audiology, he has developed expertise in inclusive education, behavior support, early communication, social network development, assistive technology (augmentative and alternative communication), and the transition of students with disabilities from school to adult life. The assessment, development and education of children with deafblindness are central to Dr. Petroff’s practice and scholarship. Current research activities include post-secondary/college education for students with intellectual disabilities; the education of children with deafblindness; fathers’ influence on deafblind child’s development and education; challenging behavior of children with deafblindness, co-teaching and post-school outcomes for students with deafblindness. Lastly, He is a trained and experienced facilitator that has conducted hundreds of successful person-centered plans, systems-based strategic planning (e.g. schools, government agencies, etc.) as well as other group processes.
Plenary Session 7: Dad's Involvement in the Care, Development and Education of their Children with Deafblindness
Kathy Pichora-Fuller
Kathy Pichora-Fuller is Professor Emerita in Psychology at the University of Toronto and Adjunct Professor in Gerontology at Simon Fraser University. She is the audiology expert for the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging and the Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging. Her main research and clinical interest for over three decades has been to understand how links between sensory and cognitive aging affect the communication and participation of older adults in everyday life. Currently, she is past president of the International Collegium of Rehabilitative Audiology and is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
Breakout Session 8F/9F: Combined Vison and Hearing Loss in Long-Term Care: Interprofessional Contributions to Integrated Care to Address Sensory-based Communication Barriers
Kathy Pichora-Fuller is Professor Emerita in Psychology at the University of Toronto and Adjunct Professor in Gerontology at Simon Fraser University. She is the audiology expert for the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging and the Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging. Her main research and clinical interest for over three decades has been to understand how links between sensory and cognitive aging affect the communication and participation of older adults in everyday life. Currently, she is past president of the International Collegium of Rehabilitative Audiology and is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
Breakout Session 8F/9F: Combined Vison and Hearing Loss in Long-Term Care: Interprofessional Contributions to Integrated Care to Address Sensory-based Communication Barriers
Meredith Prain
Dr. Meredith Prain has worked in the field of deafblindness for 27 years in a range of roles including speech pathologist, deafblind consultant, researcher, and project manager. She currently works at Able Australia as the National Head of Research and Centre of Excellence – Deafblind, and SensesWA as Project Manager - Deafblind Information Australia. Meredith is a board member of Deafblind Australia and Deafblind International. She is passionate about high quality interactions and approaches to achieving them.Dr Meredith Prain has worked in the field of deafblindness for 27 years in a range of roles including speech pathologist, deafblind consultant, researcher, and project manager. She currently works at Able Australia as the National Head of Research and Centre of Excellence – Deafblind, and SensesWA as Project Manager - Deafblind Information Australia. Meredith is a board member of Deafblind Australia and Deafblind International. She is passionate about high quality interactions and approaches to achieving them.Dr Meredith Prain has worked in the field of deafblindness for 27 years in a range of roles including speech pathologist, deafblind consultant, researcher, and project manager. She currently works at Able Australia as the National Head of Research and Centre of Excellence – Deafblind, and SensesWA as Project Manager - Deafblind Information Australia. Meredith is a board member of Deafblind Australia and Deafblind International. She is passionate about high quality interactions and approaches to achieving them.
Breakout Session 3C: Raising Expectations - Improving Website Accessibility for People with Deafblindness
Dr. Meredith Prain has worked in the field of deafblindness for 27 years in a range of roles including speech pathologist, deafblind consultant, researcher, and project manager. She currently works at Able Australia as the National Head of Research and Centre of Excellence – Deafblind, and SensesWA as Project Manager - Deafblind Information Australia. Meredith is a board member of Deafblind Australia and Deafblind International. She is passionate about high quality interactions and approaches to achieving them.Dr Meredith Prain has worked in the field of deafblindness for 27 years in a range of roles including speech pathologist, deafblind consultant, researcher, and project manager. She currently works at Able Australia as the National Head of Research and Centre of Excellence – Deafblind, and SensesWA as Project Manager - Deafblind Information Australia. Meredith is a board member of Deafblind Australia and Deafblind International. She is passionate about high quality interactions and approaches to achieving them.Dr Meredith Prain has worked in the field of deafblindness for 27 years in a range of roles including speech pathologist, deafblind consultant, researcher, and project manager. She currently works at Able Australia as the National Head of Research and Centre of Excellence – Deafblind, and SensesWA as Project Manager - Deafblind Information Australia. Meredith is a board member of Deafblind Australia and Deafblind International. She is passionate about high quality interactions and approaches to achieving them.
Breakout Session 3C: Raising Expectations - Improving Website Accessibility for People with Deafblindness
Daniel Prause
Daniel Prause is a geriatric nurse and PhD. He works with research and professional development at Signo Conrad Svendsen senter in Oslo, Norway (assisted living and rehabilitation for persons with deafness and deafblindness). Daniel just finished his PhD thesis at MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion & Society, focusing on existential care to older patients with acquired deafblindness. His work experiences comprise mainly geriatric care with an emphasis on deafblindness, dementia, and palliative care in Norway, Iceland, and Germany. He has worked in the field of deafblindness since 2005.
Breakout Session 8B: Vulnerability, (Dis)Trust, and (No)Fellowship: Existential Encounters Between Older Patients with Acquired Deafblindness and Caregivers
Daniel Prause is a geriatric nurse and PhD. He works with research and professional development at Signo Conrad Svendsen senter in Oslo, Norway (assisted living and rehabilitation for persons with deafness and deafblindness). Daniel just finished his PhD thesis at MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion & Society, focusing on existential care to older patients with acquired deafblindness. His work experiences comprise mainly geriatric care with an emphasis on deafblindness, dementia, and palliative care in Norway, Iceland, and Germany. He has worked in the field of deafblindness since 2005.
Breakout Session 8B: Vulnerability, (Dis)Trust, and (No)Fellowship: Existential Encounters Between Older Patients with Acquired Deafblindness and Caregivers
Cathy Proll
Cathy Proll has had many roles within the field of deafblindness that spans over a 40-year period. She is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Sensity -Deafblind and Sensory Support Network of Ontario.
Additionally Cathy is currently the Chair of the Deafblind Network of Ontario and has held many leadership roles within the Deafblind Sector in Ontario. These roles have included working closely with government in the transformation of intervenor services. Cathy was also part of the team that developed the deafblind supplement for the Inter-Rai Assessment.
Cathy has always had a passion for the education and training of intervenors and was lead on a team of professionals in the development of technical competencies for intervenors working with adults who are deafblind.
On an International level Cathy is a Board Member of Deafblind International and supports the Secretariat role as a member on ManCom. Cathy has had the priviledge to present at conferences on the International, National and Provincial level
Breakout Session 5F: Developing Our Future Leaders
Cathy Proll has had many roles within the field of deafblindness that spans over a 40-year period. She is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Sensity -Deafblind and Sensory Support Network of Ontario.
Additionally Cathy is currently the Chair of the Deafblind Network of Ontario and has held many leadership roles within the Deafblind Sector in Ontario. These roles have included working closely with government in the transformation of intervenor services. Cathy was also part of the team that developed the deafblind supplement for the Inter-Rai Assessment.
Cathy has always had a passion for the education and training of intervenors and was lead on a team of professionals in the development of technical competencies for intervenors working with adults who are deafblind.
On an International level Cathy is a Board Member of Deafblind International and supports the Secretariat role as a member on ManCom. Cathy has had the priviledge to present at conferences on the International, National and Provincial level
Breakout Session 5F: Developing Our Future Leaders
Saaron Putnam-Almaguer
Saaron Putnam-Almaguer, MS, is a Teacher for the Visually Impaired (TVI) and Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) for Columbia Regional Program in Portland, Oregon. She is also the statewide CVI consultant for the state providing resources, professional development, coaching and capacity building for all of Oregon Regional Inclusive Services personnel and school district staff. Saaron has been a TVI for 14 years and holds a Master's in Special Education and Bachelor of Arts in Early Intervention Special Education. She also holds credentials in cortical/cerebral visual impairment and in teaching strategies for students who are blind/VI with multiple disabilities in the sensorimotor stage of development.
Breakout Session 8A: Orientation and Mobility Principles and Instructional Strategies for Students with Complex Needs Including CVI, Deafblind, and Multiple Disabilities
Saaron Putnam-Almaguer, MS, is a Teacher for the Visually Impaired (TVI) and Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) for Columbia Regional Program in Portland, Oregon. She is also the statewide CVI consultant for the state providing resources, professional development, coaching and capacity building for all of Oregon Regional Inclusive Services personnel and school district staff. Saaron has been a TVI for 14 years and holds a Master's in Special Education and Bachelor of Arts in Early Intervention Special Education. She also holds credentials in cortical/cerebral visual impairment and in teaching strategies for students who are blind/VI with multiple disabilities in the sensorimotor stage of development.
Breakout Session 8A: Orientation and Mobility Principles and Instructional Strategies for Students with Complex Needs Including CVI, Deafblind, and Multiple Disabilities
John Ravenscroft
John Ravenscroft, PhD (Chair of Childhood Visual Impairment) is a Psychologist, Educationalist, and uses philosophy into his work. Prof Ravenscroft is Director of the Scottish Sensory Centre, which provides career Long Professional Development for Teachers of Children with Sensory Impairment. He is based at the Moray House School of Education and Sport; University of Edinburgh and he is also the current Editor in Chief of the British Journal of Visual Impairment. He is the President of the International Council for Educators of Children with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) Europe) and lectures on cerebral visual impairment, inclusive education as well as research methods. He is known for his work on cerebral visual impairment and his “Conversations about CVI” have been views thousands of times on YouTube. Professor Ravenscroft is often found on twitter and welcomes any discussion about the nature of representation.
Breakout Session 2E: Brain Related Auditory and Visual Impairment: An Approach to a Complex Relationship
John Ravenscroft, PhD (Chair of Childhood Visual Impairment) is a Psychologist, Educationalist, and uses philosophy into his work. Prof Ravenscroft is Director of the Scottish Sensory Centre, which provides career Long Professional Development for Teachers of Children with Sensory Impairment. He is based at the Moray House School of Education and Sport; University of Edinburgh and he is also the current Editor in Chief of the British Journal of Visual Impairment. He is the President of the International Council for Educators of Children with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) Europe) and lectures on cerebral visual impairment, inclusive education as well as research methods. He is known for his work on cerebral visual impairment and his “Conversations about CVI” have been views thousands of times on YouTube. Professor Ravenscroft is often found on twitter and welcomes any discussion about the nature of representation.
Breakout Session 2E: Brain Related Auditory and Visual Impairment: An Approach to a Complex Relationship
Marilyn Reed
Marilyn Reed is Practice Advisor for Audiology at Baycrest Health Sciences. She obtained her master’s degree in Audiology from the University of Southampton, England in 1976 and has since worked in Canada in a variety of clinical settings, with a focus on hearing rehabilitation in older adults. She has been with Baycrest Health Sciences in Toronto for 25 years as a clinician and clinical researcher in the area of hearing and cognition. Her recent projects include hearing screening in Memory Clinics and evaluating HEARS, a community-based hearing rehabilitation program for older adults in Toronto and New Brunswick.
Breakout Session 8F/9F: Combined Vison and Hearing Loss in Long-Term Care: Interprofessional Contributions to Integrated Care to Address Sensory-based Communication Barriers
Marilyn Reed is Practice Advisor for Audiology at Baycrest Health Sciences. She obtained her master’s degree in Audiology from the University of Southampton, England in 1976 and has since worked in Canada in a variety of clinical settings, with a focus on hearing rehabilitation in older adults. She has been with Baycrest Health Sciences in Toronto for 25 years as a clinician and clinical researcher in the area of hearing and cognition. Her recent projects include hearing screening in Memory Clinics and evaluating HEARS, a community-based hearing rehabilitation program for older adults in Toronto and New Brunswick.
Breakout Session 8F/9F: Combined Vison and Hearing Loss in Long-Term Care: Interprofessional Contributions to Integrated Care to Address Sensory-based Communication Barriers
Tracey Riggillo
Tracey Riggillo has worked in the field of deafblindness for 30 years and spent 25 years at her school board as an Intervenor. Tracey is a valued member of the Canadian Helen Keller Centre team in a variety of roles including 20 plus years as an instructor and 16 plus years as an Intervenor. She is a loving wife to her husband who has Usher’s Syndrome, they have been married for almost 28 years and have three beautiful children together. Tracey’s family has grown up in and around the deafblind community and its variety of services. Tracey can offer a unique perspective both as an Intervenor and a family member of a person receiving intervention services.
Breakout Session 6B: Intervention: A Family's Perspective
Tracey Riggillo has worked in the field of deafblindness for 30 years and spent 25 years at her school board as an Intervenor. Tracey is a valued member of the Canadian Helen Keller Centre team in a variety of roles including 20 plus years as an instructor and 16 plus years as an Intervenor. She is a loving wife to her husband who has Usher’s Syndrome, they have been married for almost 28 years and have three beautiful children together. Tracey’s family has grown up in and around the deafblind community and its variety of services. Tracey can offer a unique perspective both as an Intervenor and a family member of a person receiving intervention services.
Breakout Session 6B: Intervention: A Family's Perspective
Melanie Robartson
Melanie Robartson has worked as a Speech Pathologist for over 20 years. The majority of this time has been spent in the disability sector in Western Australia and has included direct client services in Early, School Age and Adult Intervention programmes, consultancy, training and project work. She joined SensesWA in 2008 and so began her work in deafblindness as Senior Speech Pathologist and Deafblind Consultant. Her current role is Project Officer - Deafblind Information Australia.
Breakout Session 3C: Raising Expectations - Improving Website Accessibility for People with Deafblindness
Melanie Robartson has worked as a Speech Pathologist for over 20 years. The majority of this time has been spent in the disability sector in Western Australia and has included direct client services in Early, School Age and Adult Intervention programmes, consultancy, training and project work. She joined SensesWA in 2008 and so began her work in deafblindness as Senior Speech Pathologist and Deafblind Consultant. Her current role is Project Officer - Deafblind Information Australia.
Breakout Session 3C: Raising Expectations - Improving Website Accessibility for People with Deafblindness
Gloria Rodriguez-Gil
Gloria Rodríguez-Gil is the Director, Latin America and the Caribbean, for Perkins International. Born and educated in Costa Rica, Spain and the United States. She leads Perkins International programs in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Chile, as well as a professional network of educators across the region. Gloria has more than thirty years of experience with special focus on visual impairments, deafblindness and multiple disabilities. Gloria founded and developed the First Educational Program for children who are deafblind in Central America, and was also co-creator of the First Master’s Program on Multiple Disabilities and Deafblindness in the University of Costa Rica, supported by the Hilton-Perkins Program. Gloria was recognized for her accomplishments with several study scholarships, and an internship at Gallaudet University and Perkins School from the Blind, and in 1997 based on these experiences she published one of the first books in Spanish on deafblindness. Gloria graduate degrees on Special Education in Multiple Disabilities from Universidad de Costa Rica and from Boston College under the mentoring of program Director Dr. Barbara Mcletchie. Gloria is the author of a number of articles and an advocate and speaker for accessible education at national, regional and global level.
Breakout Session 1D: Every Child Can Learn: A Model for Enhancing Education of Children and Youth with Visual Impairments Including Those with Deafblindness
Gloria Rodríguez-Gil is the Director, Latin America and the Caribbean, for Perkins International. Born and educated in Costa Rica, Spain and the United States. She leads Perkins International programs in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Chile, as well as a professional network of educators across the region. Gloria has more than thirty years of experience with special focus on visual impairments, deafblindness and multiple disabilities. Gloria founded and developed the First Educational Program for children who are deafblind in Central America, and was also co-creator of the First Master’s Program on Multiple Disabilities and Deafblindness in the University of Costa Rica, supported by the Hilton-Perkins Program. Gloria was recognized for her accomplishments with several study scholarships, and an internship at Gallaudet University and Perkins School from the Blind, and in 1997 based on these experiences she published one of the first books in Spanish on deafblindness. Gloria graduate degrees on Special Education in Multiple Disabilities from Universidad de Costa Rica and from Boston College under the mentoring of program Director Dr. Barbara Mcletchie. Gloria is the author of a number of articles and an advocate and speaker for accessible education at national, regional and global level.
Breakout Session 1D: Every Child Can Learn: A Model for Enhancing Education of Children and Youth with Visual Impairments Including Those with Deafblindness
Ton Roelofs
Dr. Ton Roelofs is a medical specialist in Clinical Physics at Royal Dutch Visio. He studied at Nijmegen University, the Netherlands, and did his PhD in Psychophysics at the Institute for Perception Research and the Technical University in Eindhoven. He researched neural networks of the brain at the University Medical Center in Amsterdam and did a postdoc on breast cancer research at the Radboud University Medical Centre in Nijmegen. He worked as a department manager at the Swedish company Ericsson and followed a postgraduate training program in perception and technology. He is also specialized in and registered as a Clinical Physicist. Ton has extensive experience with scientific research in both the visual and the auditory field, and as a rehabilitation specialist. He is currently chairman of the Deafblindness expert group of Royal Dutch Visio and is working for the expertise centre for Deafblindness of Visio intensive rehabilitation. He is also the representative from “Kennis over Zien” within the board of DBI. He is a project leader and co-promotor of a number of projects, mainly focused on Deafblindness.
Breakout Session 2A: Can You Observe the Future in Your Hands? Yes! Tactual Profile for Acquired Deafblindness, Uniquely Designed Observatory Instrument
Dr. Ton Roelofs is a medical specialist in Clinical Physics at Royal Dutch Visio. He studied at Nijmegen University, the Netherlands, and did his PhD in Psychophysics at the Institute for Perception Research and the Technical University in Eindhoven. He researched neural networks of the brain at the University Medical Center in Amsterdam and did a postdoc on breast cancer research at the Radboud University Medical Centre in Nijmegen. He worked as a department manager at the Swedish company Ericsson and followed a postgraduate training program in perception and technology. He is also specialized in and registered as a Clinical Physicist. Ton has extensive experience with scientific research in both the visual and the auditory field, and as a rehabilitation specialist. He is currently chairman of the Deafblindness expert group of Royal Dutch Visio and is working for the expertise centre for Deafblindness of Visio intensive rehabilitation. He is also the representative from “Kennis over Zien” within the board of DBI. He is a project leader and co-promotor of a number of projects, mainly focused on Deafblindness.
Breakout Session 2A: Can You Observe the Future in Your Hands? Yes! Tactual Profile for Acquired Deafblindness, Uniquely Designed Observatory Instrument
Marianne Rorije
Marianne Rorije, Ph.D. candidate, department: inclusive and special needs education, University of Groningen, The Netherlands, supervised by prof. dr. S. Damen, prof. dr. H.J.M. Janssen, and prof. dr. A.E.M.G. Minnaert. Marianne started her Ph.D. journey in October 2018. During this conference, she will present the primary outcomes of the research project ‘Tell it!’ - fostering the communicative agency and tactile communication skills of individuals with congenital deafblindness by improving the communication partners’ communicative agency support and tactile communication strategies. Therefore, a video-feedback intervention is developed and tested on its effectiveness: the Influencing Communication and Language (IC&L) Program. In addition, it is investigated how communication coaches, who provided the video feedback, implemented the IC&L Program.
Breakout Session 1E: Research Lightning Talks (3)
Marianne Rorije, Ph.D. candidate, department: inclusive and special needs education, University of Groningen, The Netherlands, supervised by prof. dr. S. Damen, prof. dr. H.J.M. Janssen, and prof. dr. A.E.M.G. Minnaert. Marianne started her Ph.D. journey in October 2018. During this conference, she will present the primary outcomes of the research project ‘Tell it!’ - fostering the communicative agency and tactile communication skills of individuals with congenital deafblindness by improving the communication partners’ communicative agency support and tactile communication strategies. Therefore, a video-feedback intervention is developed and tested on its effectiveness: the Influencing Communication and Language (IC&L) Program. In addition, it is investigated how communication coaches, who provided the video feedback, implemented the IC&L Program.
Breakout Session 1E: Research Lightning Talks (3)
Christine Sauvé Guindon
Christine Sauvé Guindon is a lifelong learner who has dedicated her teaching career to deafblindness. She has worked in a deafblind classroom, and she is currently an educational consultant at Consortium Centre Jules-Léger. She also developed and teaches (in French!) the Deafblind Additional Qualification three-part course at the Faculty of Education at Ottawa University. Over the years, she has trained under Jan van Dijk to refine her approach in child guided strategies and assessment. She has completed the Supervisor Seminar on the Tactile Working Memory Scale. Being passionate about brain-based sensory losses, she learnt everything she could regarding Cortical / Cerebral Visual Impairment and obtained the Perkins-Roman CVI Endorsement. She also has an interest in understanding the link between CVI and Central Auditory Processing Disorder, as well as between CVI and tactile signing. She has been published twice in the Deafblind International Review and presented at various symposiums and conferences.
Breakout Session 1C: Bridging the Gap-Finding the link Between Central Hearing Loss and Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment
Breakout Session 8E: Assessing in the Age of Zoom: Virtual vs. In-Person in Deafblind Assessments
Christine Sauvé Guindon is a lifelong learner who has dedicated her teaching career to deafblindness. She has worked in a deafblind classroom, and she is currently an educational consultant at Consortium Centre Jules-Léger. She also developed and teaches (in French!) the Deafblind Additional Qualification three-part course at the Faculty of Education at Ottawa University. Over the years, she has trained under Jan van Dijk to refine her approach in child guided strategies and assessment. She has completed the Supervisor Seminar on the Tactile Working Memory Scale. Being passionate about brain-based sensory losses, she learnt everything she could regarding Cortical / Cerebral Visual Impairment and obtained the Perkins-Roman CVI Endorsement. She also has an interest in understanding the link between CVI and Central Auditory Processing Disorder, as well as between CVI and tactile signing. She has been published twice in the Deafblind International Review and presented at various symposiums and conferences.
Breakout Session 1C: Bridging the Gap-Finding the link Between Central Hearing Loss and Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment
Breakout Session 8E: Assessing in the Age of Zoom: Virtual vs. In-Person in Deafblind Assessments
Anne Schoone
Anne is working as a healthcare psychologist at Kentalis in the Netherlands. Anne is part of the multidisciplinary diagnostic team. Her expertise is on diagnostic assessment in children and adults with congenital and acquired deafblindness. Her main focus is on dynamic assessment of people with deafblindness. Anne has a special interest in CHARGE syndrome and Anne is part of the multidisciplinary CHARGE team of Kentalis and the DbI CHARGE Network.
Breakout Session 2C: Together in CHARGE
Anne is working as a healthcare psychologist at Kentalis in the Netherlands. Anne is part of the multidisciplinary diagnostic team. Her expertise is on diagnostic assessment in children and adults with congenital and acquired deafblindness. Her main focus is on dynamic assessment of people with deafblindness. Anne has a special interest in CHARGE syndrome and Anne is part of the multidisciplinary CHARGE team of Kentalis and the DbI CHARGE Network.
Breakout Session 2C: Together in CHARGE
Helle Selling
Helle Buelund Selling works as a development consultant with special focus on co-creation of knowledge and knowledge sharing from her base at CDH, in Aalborg DK. Helle is author to several articles with focus on tactile communication and congenital deafblindness, partner competences, self-harming and transfer from knowledge to action. Helle has worked in the field of deafblindness since October 2000, she has a background in communication from the University of Aalborg, and later she finished her Master of Science in Communication and Deafblindness from the University in Groningen, NL in 2011.
Helle is a member of the Nordic Network on Tactile Langue, the DbI Communication Network, and the Scientific Committee for this DbI World Conference.
Breakout Session 7E: If You Can See It, You Can Support It: A Contribution to Recognise Tactile Language
Breakout Session 9A: Co-creating the Future, when Meeting Self-harm with a New Perspective
Helle Buelund Selling works as a development consultant with special focus on co-creation of knowledge and knowledge sharing from her base at CDH, in Aalborg DK. Helle is author to several articles with focus on tactile communication and congenital deafblindness, partner competences, self-harming and transfer from knowledge to action. Helle has worked in the field of deafblindness since October 2000, she has a background in communication from the University of Aalborg, and later she finished her Master of Science in Communication and Deafblindness from the University in Groningen, NL in 2011.
Helle is a member of the Nordic Network on Tactile Langue, the DbI Communication Network, and the Scientific Committee for this DbI World Conference.
Breakout Session 7E: If You Can See It, You Can Support It: A Contribution to Recognise Tactile Language
Breakout Session 9A: Co-creating the Future, when Meeting Self-harm with a New Perspective
Tom Shakespeare
Tom Shakespeare is professor of disability research at The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and has published widely about disability and inclusion. His books include Disability Rights and Wrongs, and Genetic Politics: from eugenics to genome and The Sexual Politics of Disability. He has been involved with the disability rights movement for 35 years.
Plenary Session 9: The Virtual World: An Opportunity or Threat for Persons with Disabilities
Tom Shakespeare is professor of disability research at The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and has published widely about disability and inclusion. His books include Disability Rights and Wrongs, and Genetic Politics: from eugenics to genome and The Sexual Politics of Disability. He has been involved with the disability rights movement for 35 years.
Plenary Session 9: The Virtual World: An Opportunity or Threat for Persons with Disabilities
Dr. Peter Simcock
Dr. Peter Simcock is Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Birmingham City University, UK, where he is also the Course Lead for the Certificate and Diploma in Professional Studies (Deafblind Studies) Programmes. Prior to working in social work education, he was a specialist social worker with d/Deaf and deafblind people and has a long-standing practice and research interest in deafblindness. He is particularly interested in deafblindness among older people, including both those with late life acquired deafblindness and those ageing with the condition. Peter is the Chair of the Deafblind International Acquired Deafblindness Network (ADBN) and an Ambassador for Deafblind UK.
Breakout Session 2D: Educating the Social Care Workforce to Better Support Deafblind People
Breakout Session 4E: Research Lightning Talks (2)
Dr. Peter Simcock is Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Birmingham City University, UK, where he is also the Course Lead for the Certificate and Diploma in Professional Studies (Deafblind Studies) Programmes. Prior to working in social work education, he was a specialist social worker with d/Deaf and deafblind people and has a long-standing practice and research interest in deafblindness. He is particularly interested in deafblindness among older people, including both those with late life acquired deafblindness and those ageing with the condition. Peter is the Chair of the Deafblind International Acquired Deafblindness Network (ADBN) and an Ambassador for Deafblind UK.
Breakout Session 2D: Educating the Social Care Workforce to Better Support Deafblind People
Breakout Session 4E: Research Lightning Talks (2)
Chiara Somers
Chiara Somers works as an Educational Psychologist at Royal Dutch Kentalis School Rafaël in the Netherlands. A school for special and secondary special education for children with deafblindness aged 3 to 20. Besides her experience as an Educational Psychologist, she also has six years of experience as a teacher in providing education to students with deafblindness. In 2020-2021, she successfully completed the Master Deafblindness at the University of Groningen. In which she conducted research on the topic tactile cognition in outdoor activities.
Breakout Session 2C: Together in CHARGE
Breakout Session 6F: Enhancing the Bodily-Tactile Cognition of a Child with Congenital Deafblindness in An Outdoor Activity
Chiara Somers works as an Educational Psychologist at Royal Dutch Kentalis School Rafaël in the Netherlands. A school for special and secondary special education for children with deafblindness aged 3 to 20. Besides her experience as an Educational Psychologist, she also has six years of experience as a teacher in providing education to students with deafblindness. In 2020-2021, she successfully completed the Master Deafblindness at the University of Groningen. In which she conducted research on the topic tactile cognition in outdoor activities.
Breakout Session 2C: Together in CHARGE
Breakout Session 6F: Enhancing the Bodily-Tactile Cognition of a Child with Congenital Deafblindness in An Outdoor Activity
Amita Srinivasan
Amita Srinivasan is a current member and a past President of DeafBlind Citizens in Action, a national disability rights nonprofit organization in the USA. After being elected President in 2018, Amita focused on the need for reliable, safe and accessible transportation as key to increasing wellbeing and participation of the deafblind community in society and in the labor force. As chair of the DBCA Transportation Committee, she directed surveys to study the effects of accessibility of different transportation methods in the Deafblind Community. The collated research was transformed into a white paper that generated recommendations for increasing accessibility in current and emerging transport technology. In addition, Amita has also interned at the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor in the U.S. Department of State, where she analyzed regional legal systems, specializing in South and Central Asia, to identify openings in the legal and policy frameworks by cataloging gaps in policy/laws and comparing them to best practices standards that uphold fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities. She has also served on the Disability Advisory Committee at the Federal Communications Commission. Amita currently works as a data analyst for a Fortune 500 technology company.
Breakout Session 10F: Deafblind Citizens in Action (DBCA) in the United States: A Decade of Grassroots Leadership
Amita Srinivasan is a current member and a past President of DeafBlind Citizens in Action, a national disability rights nonprofit organization in the USA. After being elected President in 2018, Amita focused on the need for reliable, safe and accessible transportation as key to increasing wellbeing and participation of the deafblind community in society and in the labor force. As chair of the DBCA Transportation Committee, she directed surveys to study the effects of accessibility of different transportation methods in the Deafblind Community. The collated research was transformed into a white paper that generated recommendations for increasing accessibility in current and emerging transport technology. In addition, Amita has also interned at the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor in the U.S. Department of State, where she analyzed regional legal systems, specializing in South and Central Asia, to identify openings in the legal and policy frameworks by cataloging gaps in policy/laws and comparing them to best practices standards that uphold fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities. She has also served on the Disability Advisory Committee at the Federal Communications Commission. Amita currently works as a data analyst for a Fortune 500 technology company.
Breakout Session 10F: Deafblind Citizens in Action (DBCA) in the United States: A Decade of Grassroots Leadership
Mahadeo Sukhai
Dr. Mahadeo Sukhai is the world’s first congenitally blind geneticist. Mahadeo is Vice-President Research & International Affairs and Chief Accessibility Officer for the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind), having previously served as a researcher at the University Health Network in Toronto. Dr. Sukhai is a leading expert on accessibility of graduate and postdoctoral research training in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and healthcare disciplines. Dr. Sukhai is the Chair of the Employment Technical Committee for Accessibility Standards Canada, as well as the External Co-Chair of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Expert Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Systemic Ableism.
Breakout Session 7A: What Can We do about Barriers to Participation and Social Inclusion in Canada
Dr. Mahadeo Sukhai is the world’s first congenitally blind geneticist. Mahadeo is Vice-President Research & International Affairs and Chief Accessibility Officer for the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind), having previously served as a researcher at the University Health Network in Toronto. Dr. Sukhai is a leading expert on accessibility of graduate and postdoctoral research training in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and healthcare disciplines. Dr. Sukhai is the Chair of the Employment Technical Committee for Accessibility Standards Canada, as well as the External Co-Chair of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Expert Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Systemic Ableism.
Breakout Session 7A: What Can We do about Barriers to Participation and Social Inclusion in Canada
Ann-Sofie Sundqvist
Ann-Sofie Sundqvist, is a registered nurse anesthetist and PhD affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine and Health at Örebro University, Sweden. She is employed in region Örebro County, Örebro, Sweden, where she holds a part-time position as a researcher/research supervisor and a part-time position as a research funding advisor. Her research is in the clinical field related to family involvement after cardiac surgery, children’s health and well-being, surgical site infections, as well as daily life as perceived by people with funnel chest. In 2019 Ann-Sofie first got involved in research within the field of deafblindness as a research consultant affiliated to the National Resource Center for Deafblindness in Sweden. This has resulted in three reports and two research studies regarding rehabilitation interventions for people with deafblindness.
Breakout Session 10D: Research Lightning Talks (3)
Ann-Sofie Sundqvist, is a registered nurse anesthetist and PhD affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine and Health at Örebro University, Sweden. She is employed in region Örebro County, Örebro, Sweden, where she holds a part-time position as a researcher/research supervisor and a part-time position as a research funding advisor. Her research is in the clinical field related to family involvement after cardiac surgery, children’s health and well-being, surgical site infections, as well as daily life as perceived by people with funnel chest. In 2019 Ann-Sofie first got involved in research within the field of deafblindness as a research consultant affiliated to the National Resource Center for Deafblindness in Sweden. This has resulted in three reports and two research studies regarding rehabilitation interventions for people with deafblindness.
Breakout Session 10D: Research Lightning Talks (3)
Sanja Tarczay
Sanja Tarczay was born in Zagreb, as a deaf child in a deaf family and later became Deafblind. In 1994, she established the Croatian Association of Deafblind Persons -Dodir -where she currently serves as President. She is the creator of a Croatian Sign Language course, courses for SSPs, courses for Deafblind interpreters and the founder of the Croatian Sign Language Interpreting Centre. Since 2008, Sanja Tarczay is the head of exercises for the subject Deafblindness at the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Zagreb, and a lecturer on Sign Language at the University of Applied Health Studies in Zagreb. She has also lectured at numerous other universities at home and abroad as a guest lecturer. She has published several expert and research papers, both as a sole contributor and as co-author and participated in 40 conferences at home and abroad. From 2013 till 2022, she was elected as the president of the European Deafblind Union. Sanja earned her Doctorate degree in 2014; her thesis was titled “Meeting Challenges - Deafblind Interpreting From a User's Perspective.” She is fluent in five Sign Languages including: Croatian Sign Language, British Sign Language (BSL), International Sign Language (ISL), Swedish Sign Language and American Sign Language. Sanja Tarczay ’s work was repeatedly recognized. She received a number of awards and honours. In 2015 the President of the Republic of Croatia, Dr. Ivo Josipović, has awarded her the honour of the ORDER OF THE CROATIAN STAR WITH THE EFFIGY OF KATARINA ZRINSKA, an honour given for the extraordinary services for healthcare, social welfare and the promotion of social moral values, recognition, and creation of an environment for the quality of life of deafblind persons in Croatia and the world. Currently, Sanja Tarczay is the president of the World Federation of the Deafblind (elected October 2022) and is fighting for the rights of Deafblind persons across the globe, promoting equality, accessibility, and rights for Deafblind persons.
Plenary Session 2: The Steps to Take in Response to the Global Report on Deafblindness
Sanja Tarczay was born in Zagreb, as a deaf child in a deaf family and later became Deafblind. In 1994, she established the Croatian Association of Deafblind Persons -Dodir -where she currently serves as President. She is the creator of a Croatian Sign Language course, courses for SSPs, courses for Deafblind interpreters and the founder of the Croatian Sign Language Interpreting Centre. Since 2008, Sanja Tarczay is the head of exercises for the subject Deafblindness at the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Zagreb, and a lecturer on Sign Language at the University of Applied Health Studies in Zagreb. She has also lectured at numerous other universities at home and abroad as a guest lecturer. She has published several expert and research papers, both as a sole contributor and as co-author and participated in 40 conferences at home and abroad. From 2013 till 2022, she was elected as the president of the European Deafblind Union. Sanja earned her Doctorate degree in 2014; her thesis was titled “Meeting Challenges - Deafblind Interpreting From a User's Perspective.” She is fluent in five Sign Languages including: Croatian Sign Language, British Sign Language (BSL), International Sign Language (ISL), Swedish Sign Language and American Sign Language. Sanja Tarczay ’s work was repeatedly recognized. She received a number of awards and honours. In 2015 the President of the Republic of Croatia, Dr. Ivo Josipović, has awarded her the honour of the ORDER OF THE CROATIAN STAR WITH THE EFFIGY OF KATARINA ZRINSKA, an honour given for the extraordinary services for healthcare, social welfare and the promotion of social moral values, recognition, and creation of an environment for the quality of life of deafblind persons in Croatia and the world. Currently, Sanja Tarczay is the president of the World Federation of the Deafblind (elected October 2022) and is fighting for the rights of Deafblind persons across the globe, promoting equality, accessibility, and rights for Deafblind persons.
Plenary Session 2: The Steps to Take in Response to the Global Report on Deafblindness
Elodie Thiercelin
Elodie Thiercelin a specialized teacher of deaf children for ten years, Elodie quickly developed a particular interest in deafblindness. On several occasions, young deaf and visually impaired children have been integrated into her classes. Eager to provide them with quality teaching and adapted materials, she enrolled in the CRESAM (national resource center for deafblindness) training module on deafblindness. She then joined the deafblindness expert team in the Institute for young deaf people in Bourg la Reine to bring a pedagogical perspective to the actions carried out by colleagues. In addition, Elodie had the opportunity to participate in the first training session of the university diploma in deafblindness, given by the University of Rennes. It is within this framework that she created the sensory workshop for teenagers with Usher syndrome.
Breakout Session 9C: A Fun Workshop to Help Teenagers with Usher Syndrome
Elodie Thiercelin a specialized teacher of deaf children for ten years, Elodie quickly developed a particular interest in deafblindness. On several occasions, young deaf and visually impaired children have been integrated into her classes. Eager to provide them with quality teaching and adapted materials, she enrolled in the CRESAM (national resource center for deafblindness) training module on deafblindness. She then joined the deafblindness expert team in the Institute for young deaf people in Bourg la Reine to bring a pedagogical perspective to the actions carried out by colleagues. In addition, Elodie had the opportunity to participate in the first training session of the university diploma in deafblindness, given by the University of Rennes. It is within this framework that she created the sensory workshop for teenagers with Usher syndrome.
Breakout Session 9C: A Fun Workshop to Help Teenagers with Usher Syndrome
Renee Toninger
Renée joined the Canadian Helen Keller team in 1997, after working three years in the intervenor services field at partner agencies. She started as an intervenor, then transitioned to the role of community services coordinator, and training coordinator. In her current role as intervenor services manager, she leads, manages, mentors, and oversees a team who provide intervenor services to consumers of CHKC. She is an assessor with MCCSS, and a member of various internal and external committees.
Breakout Session 7F: CHKC: Supporting Intervenors to Support Others - Mental Wellness for All
Renée joined the Canadian Helen Keller team in 1997, after working three years in the intervenor services field at partner agencies. She started as an intervenor, then transitioned to the role of community services coordinator, and training coordinator. In her current role as intervenor services manager, she leads, manages, mentors, and oversees a team who provide intervenor services to consumers of CHKC. She is an assessor with MCCSS, and a member of various internal and external committees.
Breakout Session 7F: CHKC: Supporting Intervenors to Support Others - Mental Wellness for All
Kim E. Tosolini
Kim E. Tosolini grew up in Italy in a very small town called Arcola, and when she turned 18, she went to The Netherlands to study Pedagogical Sciences at the University of Groningen (UG). During these years, her interest in deaf and deaf-blind children grew more and more. Therefore, after the bachelor, she enrolled and obtained a master’s degree in communication & Deafblindness. While writing her master thesis, an interesting opportunity presented itself: the possibility of doing research in the field of deafblindness. Kim was immediately enthusiastic, applied and got the job as a PhD researcher at the UG. The project is called “Thinking in Dialogue” and is now, after three and a half years, almost coming to an end.
Breakout Session 1E: Research Lightning Talks (3)
Kim E. Tosolini grew up in Italy in a very small town called Arcola, and when she turned 18, she went to The Netherlands to study Pedagogical Sciences at the University of Groningen (UG). During these years, her interest in deaf and deaf-blind children grew more and more. Therefore, after the bachelor, she enrolled and obtained a master’s degree in communication & Deafblindness. While writing her master thesis, an interesting opportunity presented itself: the possibility of doing research in the field of deafblindness. Kim was immediately enthusiastic, applied and got the job as a PhD researcher at the UG. The project is called “Thinking in Dialogue” and is now, after three and a half years, almost coming to an end.
Breakout Session 1E: Research Lightning Talks (3)
Suzanne Trudeau
Suzanne Trudeau has been a specialized educator for over 20 years at the Institut Raymond-Dewar. She has held a special education diploma (TES) since 1997. She has been working with people with dual sensory impairments for over 20 years. She has expertise in Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) and has mastered tactile LSQ. She is a CODA (Child Of Death Adult) and has a strong and rich experience of living with the deaf community and its culture.
Breakout Session 8G-VT: Visual Rehabilitation Adapted to People with Dual Sensory Impairment. Clinical Practice Developed in Quebec.
Breakout Session 4C: Visual Rehabilitation Adapted to People with Dual Sensory Impairment
Suzanne Trudeau has been a specialized educator for over 20 years at the Institut Raymond-Dewar. She has held a special education diploma (TES) since 1997. She has been working with people with dual sensory impairments for over 20 years. She has expertise in Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) and has mastered tactile LSQ. She is a CODA (Child Of Death Adult) and has a strong and rich experience of living with the deaf community and its culture.
Breakout Session 8G-VT: Visual Rehabilitation Adapted to People with Dual Sensory Impairment. Clinical Practice Developed in Quebec.
Breakout Session 4C: Visual Rehabilitation Adapted to People with Dual Sensory Impairment
Darija Udovicic
Darija Udovicic is Regional Director Europe & Eurasia at Perkins. She has over 20 years of experience of working in the field of multiple disabilities, deaf-blindness, visual impairment, and Early intervention. She is an experienced director with a history of international activities, leading projects, and research. She has extensive knowledge and experience in setting up educational programs and other services in the field of Assessment, Early intervention, Deafblindness and multiple disabilities. She has established program that provides highly specialized and comprehensive services to children with visual impairments and other multiple disabilities as well as provider of services in Early Childhood intervention. She was executive of that program that is nowadays regional resource center. Darija has developed and led numerous national and international projects with emphasize on getting professionals from different scientific and academic background work together on different range of topics related to the improvement of the education and rehabilitation of infants, children and young adults .The projects she was in charge were in partnership with lots of different institutions, and were led in partnership with renown organizations such as UNICEF, USAID, CBM , IRC, and many others.
Breakout Session 1D: Every Child Can Learn: A Model for Enhancing Education of Children and Youth with Visual Impairments Including Those with Deafblindness
Darija Udovicic is Regional Director Europe & Eurasia at Perkins. She has over 20 years of experience of working in the field of multiple disabilities, deaf-blindness, visual impairment, and Early intervention. She is an experienced director with a history of international activities, leading projects, and research. She has extensive knowledge and experience in setting up educational programs and other services in the field of Assessment, Early intervention, Deafblindness and multiple disabilities. She has established program that provides highly specialized and comprehensive services to children with visual impairments and other multiple disabilities as well as provider of services in Early Childhood intervention. She was executive of that program that is nowadays regional resource center. Darija has developed and led numerous national and international projects with emphasize on getting professionals from different scientific and academic background work together on different range of topics related to the improvement of the education and rehabilitation of infants, children and young adults .The projects she was in charge were in partnership with lots of different institutions, and were led in partnership with renown organizations such as UNICEF, USAID, CBM , IRC, and many others.
Breakout Session 1D: Every Child Can Learn: A Model for Enhancing Education of Children and Youth with Visual Impairments Including Those with Deafblindness
Charlotte van de Molengraft
Charlotte van de Molengraft is 74 and lives in The Netherlands with her husband of 50 years. They have 4 children, 2 grandchildren, 2 dogs (one guide dog) and 1 black cat. Charlotte has Usher syndrome and is functional blind and deaf, but has two Cochlear implants so she can hear a lot more than she ever has. She likes walking with the dogs, reading spoken books, cycling on a tandem, and making 3D paintings and sculptures. Since 1995 she is a volunteer in the deafblind world. Charlotte started as secretary of the organization of the blind and the last 10 years as the chair of the deafblind people. Now she is advisor of the project called: The Dutch Functional Definition of Deafblindness, and advisor of two other projects in the Dutch expertise program Deelkracht [“Shared Force”]. Working with researcher’s and professionals is a great pleasure and I’m glad that I have the opportunity to share my experiences with them.
Breakout Session 3E: Research Lightning Talks (2)
Charlotte van de Molengraft is 74 and lives in The Netherlands with her husband of 50 years. They have 4 children, 2 grandchildren, 2 dogs (one guide dog) and 1 black cat. Charlotte has Usher syndrome and is functional blind and deaf, but has two Cochlear implants so she can hear a lot more than she ever has. She likes walking with the dogs, reading spoken books, cycling on a tandem, and making 3D paintings and sculptures. Since 1995 she is a volunteer in the deafblind world. Charlotte started as secretary of the organization of the blind and the last 10 years as the chair of the deafblind people. Now she is advisor of the project called: The Dutch Functional Definition of Deafblindness, and advisor of two other projects in the Dutch expertise program Deelkracht [“Shared Force”]. Working with researcher’s and professionals is a great pleasure and I’m glad that I have the opportunity to share my experiences with them.
Breakout Session 3E: Research Lightning Talks (2)
Rosemarie van den Breemer
Rosemarie van den Breemer is an associate professor in comparative politics at Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, since August 2022 and a postdoctoral fellow at VID Specialized University, Oslo, as part of a project on Citizenship and Disability (2020-2023), titled CITPRO. She holds a MA and M.Phil. from the New School for Social Research in New York and a PhD from the University of Oslo (2019). Her research interests include state governance of religion as well as the state governance of disability, both seen from a comparative and historical perspective. Moreover, in her work she connects everyday micropolitics with broader institutional regimes of structuration. She currently leads a postdoctoral project on ‘The Disability Family’ that charts families experiences with the care for children with congenital deafblindness. It thematizes families’ experiences with not being heard, or not being taken seriously, by service providers from within an analytic framework of epistemic injustice. The project is located at the nexus between deafblind, citizenship, and disability studies and uses a participatory action approach, involving co-researchers and a parent-organization in the process of investigation. Rosemarie also has years of lived experience as a mother of a child with congenital deaf blindness.
Breakout Session 6A: Family Knowledge in Deafblind Research: A Changing Institutional and Epistemic Landscape
Rosemarie van den Breemer is an associate professor in comparative politics at Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, since August 2022 and a postdoctoral fellow at VID Specialized University, Oslo, as part of a project on Citizenship and Disability (2020-2023), titled CITPRO. She holds a MA and M.Phil. from the New School for Social Research in New York and a PhD from the University of Oslo (2019). Her research interests include state governance of religion as well as the state governance of disability, both seen from a comparative and historical perspective. Moreover, in her work she connects everyday micropolitics with broader institutional regimes of structuration. She currently leads a postdoctoral project on ‘The Disability Family’ that charts families experiences with the care for children with congenital deafblindness. It thematizes families’ experiences with not being heard, or not being taken seriously, by service providers from within an analytic framework of epistemic injustice. The project is located at the nexus between deafblind, citizenship, and disability studies and uses a participatory action approach, involving co-researchers and a parent-organization in the process of investigation. Rosemarie also has years of lived experience as a mother of a child with congenital deaf blindness.
Breakout Session 6A: Family Knowledge in Deafblind Research: A Changing Institutional and Epistemic Landscape
Trees van Nunen
Trees van Nunen is the DbI network coordinator. She is a member of DbI ManCom and DbI ComCom. In daily life she is working as a certified psychologist at Royal Kentalis in the Netherlands. She is coordinator and chairperson of a multidisciplinary diagnostic team and is involved in several research projects at Kentalis Academy. She is specialized in diagnostics and assessment of cognition and other developmental areas of persons with congenital deafblindness and persons with deafness in combination with an intellectual disability. In the past she was involved in international projects (Uganda, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia).
Plenary Session 4: Welcome to the DbI networks!
Trees van Nunen is the DbI network coordinator. She is a member of DbI ManCom and DbI ComCom. In daily life she is working as a certified psychologist at Royal Kentalis in the Netherlands. She is coordinator and chairperson of a multidisciplinary diagnostic team and is involved in several research projects at Kentalis Academy. She is specialized in diagnostics and assessment of cognition and other developmental areas of persons with congenital deafblindness and persons with deafness in combination with an intellectual disability. In the past she was involved in international projects (Uganda, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia).
Plenary Session 4: Welcome to the DbI networks!
Moa Wahlqvist
Moa Wahlqvist has a PhD in Disability science with a background as a social worker. She holds a part time position as a researcher in Region Örebro County, Örebro Sweden and is affiliated to the Faculty of Medicine and Health at Örebro University. Moa is affiliated researcher to Disability Research, School of Health Sciences at Örebro University. She also works part time as a coordinator at the Swedish National Resource Centre for Deafblindness. Her research focuses on health, wellbeing and rehabilitation in a biopsychosocial context for people with deafblindness and their families.
Breakout Session 5E: Research Lightning Talks (3)
Moa Wahlqvist has a PhD in Disability science with a background as a social worker. She holds a part time position as a researcher in Region Örebro County, Örebro Sweden and is affiliated to the Faculty of Medicine and Health at Örebro University. Moa is affiliated researcher to Disability Research, School of Health Sciences at Örebro University. She also works part time as a coordinator at the Swedish National Resource Centre for Deafblindness. Her research focuses on health, wellbeing and rehabilitation in a biopsychosocial context for people with deafblindness and their families.
Breakout Session 5E: Research Lightning Talks (3)
Annmaree Watharow
Annmaree Watharow is a former medical practitioner and current Lived Experience Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Centre for Disability Research and Policy at the University of Sydney, Australia. In her final year of medical training, Annmaree was diagnosed with Usher syndrome. Annmaree went back to university to complete a Master’s in Psychological Medicine, while being the mother to a four-week-old baby, to enable her to work as a general practitioner-therapist. As her degenerative condition worsened, Annmaree returned to university so that some opportunity might come out of this adversity. Her PhD explored the hospital experiences of persons living with deafblindness. She revealed disturbing instances of abuse, neglect, dehumanisation, and negative touch to be commonplace in these settings. Annmaree’s current research includes the use of touch messaging (haptics) in health care; disability and linguistics; challenging ableist qualitative methodologies; and older people with dual sensory impairment. After decades of writing case notes, referral letters and management plans, Annmaree is about to complete a Master of Creative Writing, having written a text for health students on communication. With an emerging, awarded playwright and producer Izabella Louk, Annmaree has written a play based on the lived experiences of people with sensory loss in hospital.
Breakout Session 1A: Elevating Conference Accessibility and Inclusion for Individuals with Deafblindness: Merging Best Practices from Vision, Hearing and Dual Sensory Impairment
Plenary Session 5: Bringing Experience to Life, Research & Education
Annmaree Watharow is a former medical practitioner and current Lived Experience Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Centre for Disability Research and Policy at the University of Sydney, Australia. In her final year of medical training, Annmaree was diagnosed with Usher syndrome. Annmaree went back to university to complete a Master’s in Psychological Medicine, while being the mother to a four-week-old baby, to enable her to work as a general practitioner-therapist. As her degenerative condition worsened, Annmaree returned to university so that some opportunity might come out of this adversity. Her PhD explored the hospital experiences of persons living with deafblindness. She revealed disturbing instances of abuse, neglect, dehumanisation, and negative touch to be commonplace in these settings. Annmaree’s current research includes the use of touch messaging (haptics) in health care; disability and linguistics; challenging ableist qualitative methodologies; and older people with dual sensory impairment. After decades of writing case notes, referral letters and management plans, Annmaree is about to complete a Master of Creative Writing, having written a text for health students on communication. With an emerging, awarded playwright and producer Izabella Louk, Annmaree has written a play based on the lived experiences of people with sensory loss in hospital.
Breakout Session 1A: Elevating Conference Accessibility and Inclusion for Individuals with Deafblindness: Merging Best Practices from Vision, Hearing and Dual Sensory Impairment
Plenary Session 5: Bringing Experience to Life, Research & Education
Ines Weber
Ines Weber works as a special educational needs teacher for the deafblind at the institution Nikolauspflege (Stuttgart, Germany). She is part of the project Hand in Hand (development and implementation of a qualification program), works as a counselor for children with visual impairment and complex disabilities, and as a special needs teacher. In 2018, Ines graduated from the University of Education (Heidelberg, Germany) with a degree in special needs education, majoring in pedagogy for the hearing impaired and pedagogy for learning support. In addition to working as a counselor for children with deafblindness and as a research assistant (research project IKI-TAU, development of a Screening and Assessment Tool for the Deafblind) at the University of Education (Heidelberg, Germany), she completed a Master of Science (Communication and Deafblindness) at the University of Groningen (Netherlands). Her main areas of interest are counselling for the deafblind and diagnostics of functional hearing of people with complex disabilities.
Breakout Session 8D: Hand in Hand - A Project to Develop Professional Competence in the Field of Deafblindness at the Institution Nikolauspflege Stuttgart
Ines Weber works as a special educational needs teacher for the deafblind at the institution Nikolauspflege (Stuttgart, Germany). She is part of the project Hand in Hand (development and implementation of a qualification program), works as a counselor for children with visual impairment and complex disabilities, and as a special needs teacher. In 2018, Ines graduated from the University of Education (Heidelberg, Germany) with a degree in special needs education, majoring in pedagogy for the hearing impaired and pedagogy for learning support. In addition to working as a counselor for children with deafblindness and as a research assistant (research project IKI-TAU, development of a Screening and Assessment Tool for the Deafblind) at the University of Education (Heidelberg, Germany), she completed a Master of Science (Communication and Deafblindness) at the University of Groningen (Netherlands). Her main areas of interest are counselling for the deafblind and diagnostics of functional hearing of people with complex disabilities.
Breakout Session 8D: Hand in Hand - A Project to Develop Professional Competence in the Field of Deafblindness at the Institution Nikolauspflege Stuttgart
Kacie Weldy
Kacie Weldy, DeafBlind Employment Specialist (DBES) with Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) for Indiana state. Focus services includes exploration and identification of careers, educate, and enhance personal management and employment skills, interviewing, and resume building. Additionally, Kacie coordinates job supports, summer youth career exploration and work experience, vocational consultation, and work adjustments. She also provides education and training for agency staff members on best practices and means of inclusion and accessibility. An Indiana native, Kacie has over 20 years of experience in advocacy both locally and nationally with both the DeafBlind and service dog communities. She has earned her A.S. and B.S. in Organizational Leadership and Supervision from Indiana University Purdue University of Indianapolis. As a DeafBlind person, she is active in numerous related organizations. Kacie is a 2009 graduate of the Indiana Partners in Policymaking program by the Indiana Governors Council for People with Disabilities and is currently serving as a board member for both the Indianapolis Mayoral Advisory Council for Disabilities and Indiana Statewide Independent Living Council. Professionally she has completed the ACRE certification and is working towards achieving the CESP certification along with additional professional development to better serve those she works with.
Breakout Session 6C: Emergency Preparedness Overview
Kacie Weldy, DeafBlind Employment Specialist (DBES) with Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) for Indiana state. Focus services includes exploration and identification of careers, educate, and enhance personal management and employment skills, interviewing, and resume building. Additionally, Kacie coordinates job supports, summer youth career exploration and work experience, vocational consultation, and work adjustments. She also provides education and training for agency staff members on best practices and means of inclusion and accessibility. An Indiana native, Kacie has over 20 years of experience in advocacy both locally and nationally with both the DeafBlind and service dog communities. She has earned her A.S. and B.S. in Organizational Leadership and Supervision from Indiana University Purdue University of Indianapolis. As a DeafBlind person, she is active in numerous related organizations. Kacie is a 2009 graduate of the Indiana Partners in Policymaking program by the Indiana Governors Council for People with Disabilities and is currently serving as a board member for both the Indianapolis Mayoral Advisory Council for Disabilities and Indiana Statewide Independent Living Council. Professionally she has completed the ACRE certification and is working towards achieving the CESP certification along with additional professional development to better serve those she works with.
Breakout Session 6C: Emergency Preparedness Overview
Machelle Wilchesky
Machelle Wilchesky is an Assistant Professor within the Department of Family Medicine and Division of Geriatric Medicine at McGill University, and Scientist at the Centre for Clinical Epidemiology of the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research (Jewish General Hospital). As Director of the Donald Berman Maimonides Centre for Research in Aging, she has established an independent research program that focuses on improving the care provided to vulnerable older adults (many of whom live with dementia) residing in long-term care facilities.
Breakout Session 8F/9F: Combined Vison and Hearing Loss in Long-Term Care: Interprofessional Contributions to Integrated Care to Address Sensory-based Communication Barriers
Machelle Wilchesky is an Assistant Professor within the Department of Family Medicine and Division of Geriatric Medicine at McGill University, and Scientist at the Centre for Clinical Epidemiology of the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research (Jewish General Hospital). As Director of the Donald Berman Maimonides Centre for Research in Aging, she has established an independent research program that focuses on improving the care provided to vulnerable older adults (many of whom live with dementia) residing in long-term care facilities.
Breakout Session 8F/9F: Combined Vison and Hearing Loss in Long-Term Care: Interprofessional Contributions to Integrated Care to Address Sensory-based Communication Barriers
Stine Winciansen
Stine Rognaldsen Winciansen is an adviser for people with acquired deafblindness employed at Statped center for deafblindness in Bergen, Norway. She has a bachelor’s degree in social education, and further education in supervision and family therapy. She has been working with people with deafblindness since 2012, first as an environmental therapist and from 2014 as an adviser. She is currently doing a master’s degree in family therapy and relational work.
Breakout Session 4D: Exploring Tactile Transitions
Stine Rognaldsen Winciansen is an adviser for people with acquired deafblindness employed at Statped center for deafblindness in Bergen, Norway. She has a bachelor’s degree in social education, and further education in supervision and family therapy. She has been working with people with deafblindness since 2012, first as an environmental therapist and from 2014 as an adviser. She is currently doing a master’s degree in family therapy and relational work.
Breakout Session 4D: Exploring Tactile Transitions