Presentations

GMAS has four qualified psychologist who are available to provide psychosocial assessments and conduct presentations and trainings statewide.

Candice Tate, PhD Presentation List:

• Issues on counseling and assessment of Deaf individuals
• Rural Mental Health Challenges and Opportunities

Nanette McDevit, Presentation List:

So Many Diagnoses…So Little Time
For Teachers

Are you struggling to find the time to develop appropriate classroom activities to meet the needs of students with a variety of mental health diagnoses?  A teacher’s time is so limited, yet somehow teachers are expected to develop lesson plans that are creative, fun and challenging while also trying to meet the unique needs of students with emotional and behavioral difficulties. This workshop includes information on how to do all of this with limited time and resources.  This workshop is offered by Nanette McDevitt, PsyD, Med.  Dr. McDevitt taught grades K-3 at MN State Academy for the Deaf for five years, as well as directed a mentoring program for teachers for an additional two years. Dr. McDevitt also has experience leading social skills groups for students of all ages, leading parent support groups and providing a wide variety of mental health services including psychological assessments, individual/family and group therapy.

The Balancing Act---Successfully Coping With Your Child’s Mental Health Diagnosis While Also Having a Life!
For Parents

Your child has finally been diagnosed, and you have a report with a long list of recommendations.  The question is, how do you meet the unique needs of your child, while also meeting the needs of your other children, managing a household, working, nurturing social/romantic relationships and still get to sleep at night?  It takes some organization, prioritizing, acceptance, soul-searching and creativity, but it can be done!  This workshop will not only help provide a deeper understanding of your child’s mental health needs, but how to meet those needs, as well as the needs of all family members,  in a balanced and fulfilling manner.  This workshop is offered by Nanette McDevitt, PsyD, Med.  Dr. McDevitt  taught grades K-3 at MN State Academy for the Deaf for five years, as well as directed a mentoring program for teachers for an additional two years. Dr. McDevitt also has experience leading social skills groups for students of all ages, leading parent support groups and providing a wide variety of mental health services including psychological assessments, individual/family and group therapy.

What’s So  Funny?
For Students

Having a hearing loss can sometimes mean missing out on jokes, difficulty learning the slang used by peers, and missing out on vital pieces of verbal information necessary for relating to peers. Whether students are in a resource, mainstream or residential program, they often find themselves in awkward social situations. This workshop provides students with strategies for coping with these situations in  a way that strengthens relationships with other children, as well as hearing family members. This workshop can be modified to meet the needs of Elementary, Middle School/Junior High or High School students.  This workshop is offered by Nanette McDevitt, PsyD, Med. Dr. McDevitt taught grades K-3 at MN State Academy for the Deaf for five years, as well as directed a mentoring program for teachers for an additional two years. Dr. McDevitt also has experience leading social skills groups for students of all ages, leading parent support groups and providing a wide variety of mental health services including psychological assessments, individual/family and group therapy.

Robin Santa-Teresa, PsyD, Presentation List:

The Elephant and the Monkeys: Hearing Loss PLUS other factors
For Professionals Working with Children with Hearing Loss

Due to a variety of factors including changes in the etiologies of hearing loss, the demographic profile of deaf and hard of hearing students has changed significantly over the past thirty years.  This presentation is designed for professionals working with deaf and hard of hearing students. Some of the common variables that affect children with hearing loss will be identified and discussed. Specific attention will be paid to what is known about learning and behavioral differences associated with particular etiologies such as CMV and CHARGE syndrome.

The Elephant and the Monkeys: Living with a Child with Hearing Loss
For Parents and Caregivers of Children with Hearing Loss

When professionals work with parents of deaf and hard of hearing children, we often focus primarily on the hearing loss itself (the elephant).  In reality, the lives of these children and their families are impacted by many additional factors (the monkeys).  Some of these monkeys, such as additional disabilities, can be related to the hearing loss.  Others, such as temperament and sibling relationships, are only indirectly related to hearing loss.  The presentation identifies and promotes discussion about factors that impact families of children with hearing loss.

Deaf Plus:  Understanding and Working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children who have Additional Educational and Behavioral Challenges
For All Audiences

Due to a variety of factors including changes in the etiologies of hearing loss, the demographic profile of deaf and hard of hearing students has changed significantly over the past thirty years.  This presentation provides background on these changes and explores several common etiologies that are represented in deaf and hard of hearing classrooms today.  Specific attention will be paid to what is known about learning and behavioral differences associated with certain etiologies such as CMV and CHARGE syndrome.  Methods of working with children who have behavioral and learning differences will be discussed.  

Introduction to the use of Art (and Art Therapy) with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
For Mental Health Professionals

Art Therapy can be a powerful approach to   behavioral health treatment for a wide range of presenting problems.  This presentation will intersperse academic with experiential knowledge of the basics of art therapy.  Special consideration will be given to the appropriateness of using these models when working with deaf and hard of hearing people with varying behavioral and emotional concerns. 

Assessment of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
For Professionals

To accurately estimate cognitive, academic and emotional functioning of students with hearing loss requires an understanding of the many variables impacting these students as well as the available assessment instruments.  This presentation provides basic background information on important aspects of assessment of students with hearing loss including etiology, language choice and additional disabilities.  Appropriate test instruments are identified and resources for consultation are provided. 

Assessment of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
For Parents

All parents of children receiving exceptional student services are faced with questions regarding the appropriate assessment of their children as part of the educational planning process.  This presentation focuses on the individual cognitive, academic and emotional assessments that may be provided by psychologists or school psychologists.  The objective is to empower parents to understand the components of  psychoeducational assessment.  In addition, information regarding the application of psychoeducational results to school and home interventions will be provided. 

Social Emotional Development in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children
For All Audiences

This presentation will review basic developmental stages and principles in children and teens.  This knowledge will be applied specifically to deaf and hard of hearing youngsters. Development of cognitive, social, language, emotional and adaptive behaviors will be studied.   Basic expectations for children at various developmental stages at home and at school will be discussed.  Methods of analyzing problem behaviors will be introduced.  Sample behavioral problems and possible interventions will be considered. 

Defining Deaf or Hard of Hearing with Specific Learning Disabilities
For All Audiences

The definition of  Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) is often tricky with applied to hearing children.  It is event more complicated when analyzing the educational functioning of children with hearing loss.  Any discussion of the education of deaf and hard of hearing children must acknowledge the interaction of a multitude of factors. Despite the heterogeneity of this group, a case can be made for differences in learning abilities that are not due to environmental causes or from the hearing loss itself.  This presentation will examine the current understanding of the term SLD as it applies to hearing chidlren and introduce research on how SLD manifests in children with hearing loss.