Event Title

A Deaf School Psychologist Signs Out: Reflections/Insights on 30 Years of Working in the Trenches of Deaf Education

Location

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, 4170 City Ave, Phila. PA 19131

Start Date

31-3-2012 11:40 AM

End Date

31-3-2012 12:40 PM

Description

A Deaf School Psychologist Signs Out: Reflections/Insights on 30 Years of Working in the Trenches of Deaf Education Michael Ralph, MA, CAGS, NCSP

National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Maine Association of School Psychologists (MASP) Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania (ASPP)

Biographical Sketch: Michael P. Ralph is a graduate of Gallaudet University with an Educational Specialist Degree in School Psychology. He has worked at four schools for the deaf throughout his career. Currently, Mr. Ralph is serving his 1st full year as a School Psychologist at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (PSD) in Philadelphia, PA. Mr. Ralph arrived at PSD in January, 2011 after working 7+ years at the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MECDHH) and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf located on Mackworth Island in Falmouth, Maine. He is a native Philadelphian and grew up in Ridley Park and attended Archbishop Ryan Memorial Institution for the Deaf in the Spring Garden section of Philadelphia, later transferring to the Ridley School District in Folsom, PA. Additional professional experiences for Mr. Ralph include being a teacher assistant at the Summit School in Wallingford, PA before attending Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. This is the only liberal arts college in the world for deaf students.

Mr. Ralph is a deaf professional fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) with over 30 years of experience performing psychological evaluations with deaf and hard of hearing children. He has been a Nationally Certified School Psychologist since 1989. He is especially skilled at administrating psychological test instruments to children with significantly delayed language and limited communication skills, to children with special needs. Because of his fluency in ASL, he is able to conduct testing in the child's native language, which, in most cases, is ASL. Mr. Ralph is very experienced in determining which tests would be appropriate/not appropriate to administer based on pertinent factors including language and cultural issues.

Description of presentation: The role of a psychologist in any particular school system is rewarding, yet challenging when faced with different situations. The challenges may become magnified based upon exceptionalities less discussed in higher learning institutions. This presentation will reflect and highlight over 30 years of experiences working with deaf and hard of hearing children. Throughout the presentation many topics directly and indirectly related to working as a school psychologist such as American Sign Language (ASL), deaf history/deaf community/deaf culture, cochlear implants, communication modalities, assessment issues, deaf/HOH children and their families will be explored. Additionally, stories and video clips will further enhance participants' understanding of working with this sensitive population.

Educational Objectives:

  1. Participants will be able to explain the differences between deaf, hard of hearing, signing/sign language and other forms of communication used within the deaf community
  2. Participants will learn about the challenges facing deaf children in the educational system and how advocates can advance the cause for appropriate assessment for deaf children
  3. Participants will learn about what assessment measures are used in determining eligibility for special education services
  4. Participants may indirectly learn ASL alphabet and ASL signs throughout the presentation

Target Audience: Doctoral Level Psychologists, Mental Health & Health Professionals, Social Workers, and Counselors

Level of Instruction: Intermediate

CEU: 1 credit

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Mar 31st, 11:40 AM Mar 31st, 12:40 PM

A Deaf School Psychologist Signs Out: Reflections/Insights on 30 Years of Working in the Trenches of Deaf Education

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, 4170 City Ave, Phila. PA 19131

A Deaf School Psychologist Signs Out: Reflections/Insights on 30 Years of Working in the Trenches of Deaf Education Michael Ralph, MA, CAGS, NCSP

National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Maine Association of School Psychologists (MASP) Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania (ASPP)

Biographical Sketch: Michael P. Ralph is a graduate of Gallaudet University with an Educational Specialist Degree in School Psychology. He has worked at four schools for the deaf throughout his career. Currently, Mr. Ralph is serving his 1st full year as a School Psychologist at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (PSD) in Philadelphia, PA. Mr. Ralph arrived at PSD in January, 2011 after working 7+ years at the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MECDHH) and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf located on Mackworth Island in Falmouth, Maine. He is a native Philadelphian and grew up in Ridley Park and attended Archbishop Ryan Memorial Institution for the Deaf in the Spring Garden section of Philadelphia, later transferring to the Ridley School District in Folsom, PA. Additional professional experiences for Mr. Ralph include being a teacher assistant at the Summit School in Wallingford, PA before attending Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. This is the only liberal arts college in the world for deaf students.

Mr. Ralph is a deaf professional fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) with over 30 years of experience performing psychological evaluations with deaf and hard of hearing children. He has been a Nationally Certified School Psychologist since 1989. He is especially skilled at administrating psychological test instruments to children with significantly delayed language and limited communication skills, to children with special needs. Because of his fluency in ASL, he is able to conduct testing in the child's native language, which, in most cases, is ASL. Mr. Ralph is very experienced in determining which tests would be appropriate/not appropriate to administer based on pertinent factors including language and cultural issues.

Description of presentation: The role of a psychologist in any particular school system is rewarding, yet challenging when faced with different situations. The challenges may become magnified based upon exceptionalities less discussed in higher learning institutions. This presentation will reflect and highlight over 30 years of experiences working with deaf and hard of hearing children. Throughout the presentation many topics directly and indirectly related to working as a school psychologist such as American Sign Language (ASL), deaf history/deaf community/deaf culture, cochlear implants, communication modalities, assessment issues, deaf/HOH children and their families will be explored. Additionally, stories and video clips will further enhance participants' understanding of working with this sensitive population.

Educational Objectives:

  1. Participants will be able to explain the differences between deaf, hard of hearing, signing/sign language and other forms of communication used within the deaf community
  2. Participants will learn about the challenges facing deaf children in the educational system and how advocates can advance the cause for appropriate assessment for deaf children
  3. Participants will learn about what assessment measures are used in determining eligibility for special education services
  4. Participants may indirectly learn ASL alphabet and ASL signs throughout the presentation

Target Audience: Doctoral Level Psychologists, Mental Health & Health Professionals, Social Workers, and Counselors

Level of Instruction: Intermediate

CEU: 1 credit