The Center for Disabilities of SD

08/15/2025

Classes start next month.

Have you registered for our upcoming Professional Development: Concentration in Deafblindness class yet? Don't wait!

An exciting professional development opportunity is available through a collaboration with the University of South Dakota (USD) and the South Dakota DeafBlind Project. During the Fall of 2025, we will be offering An Introduction to DeafBlindness and DeafBlindness: Assessment & Instructional Planning. The courses will run from August 26 through December 12, 2025.

This course will be a combination of weekly online work and 4 synchronous meetings. All meetings will be on Tuesdays from 6 pm-8 pm CST on the following dates: September 2, September 23, October 28, & December 9.

Cost: $450

To learn more and to register, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/professional-development-concentration-in-deafblindness-tickets-1302567878589?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwY2xjawMMKiBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFtWkZBZmdXejBxWTlpV3JFAR4JcgBkjjp-SKyAoE9fc4uFWvSpwp_uFAe6lY52RsBYSC8j_1UwqRPcY3guAw_aem_UqVTPoFHsAuIMQ5m9DltAQ

08/14/2025

We can’t wait to see you at our Run Walk & Roll on September 20th! Reminder, Early Bird pricing (and guaranteed shirt size) ends on September 1st!

Have you registered to join us? If not, sign up today!

We will have another drawing on September 2nd for all registered participants in the 5K and 10K events! Those prizes will be four (4) Great Life Golf certificates (expiration December 31, 2025) and four (4) tickets to a Sioux Falls Skyforce game for this season!

Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/SD/SiouxFalls/CenterforDisabilitiesRunWalkRoll?fbclid=IwY2xjawMKypJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFzNkVScll4ejlqc2FocFJXAR4LiTJyEGvx0_YM-jQNM_aBmCHxF1bdZyBcfFV2BcFMZrN6T7trVosqIhfU2Q_aem_5bBNr2VqxUaaeFV849fdIA

08/13/2025

Have you checked out our collection of books from the Wegner Health Sciences Library? If you haven't, you totally should!

Thanks to The Center for Disabilities of SD for the donation to our collection!

08/12/2025

The South Dakota Council on Developmental Disabilities (SDCDD) is in the process of creating its State Plan for 2027-2031, which will outline the direction of the Council's work for the next five years. They need your input. Please take the survey below to assist them.

The SD Council on Developmental Disabilities needs your input!

08/12/2025

Register for our upcoming Intentional Goal Development training today!

This in-person training will focus on the importance of developing IEP goals that are focused on the individual student and the connection of the IEP to instruction and services to ensure accountability and compliance. Attendees will be given opportunities to discuss the practice of utilizing data and information from the comprehensive evaluation during the process of drafting the student’s IEP. There will be collaborative discussions, case studies, and intentional training on how to write integrative IEPs for students that are needs-based, focus on the student’s individualized skills, and meet the required IEP components identified in the IDEA.

Date: October 15
Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm CDT
Location: Center for Disabilities

Cost: $75

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/intentional-goal-development-tickets-1442183623039?aff=oddtdtcreator

08/11/2025

Deadline to register for the South Dakota Conference on Developmental Disabilities is August 15. Get your spot today!

Dates: August 26–27, 2025
Location: Sioux Falls Convention Center
Theme: Celebrating Strengths, Inspiring Change

This 2-day statewide event brings together individuals with developmental disabilities, families, professionals, and community partners to learn, connect, and lead change.

Conference Tracks Include:
- Early Childhood
- Transition
- Mental Health & Challenging Behaviors
- Advocacy
- Accessibility & Inclusion

Register Now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/south-dakota-conference-on-developmental-disabilities-tickets-1225420007229?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwY2xjawMHOAVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFUYm5aaVdwVlo3YnRZTVFKAR4a-8Xinx1mS0M8cmy4rioojdFWEpqMH-BxqzVSQ_k-fLUqp6yZ-ivFp7NdVQ_aem_LbL14ZnEzqAyGzYwcA3xNw

View Agenda at a Glance: https://www.sddisabilitytips.org/Portals/4/2025%20Agenda%20at%20a%20Glance_Accessible.pdf?ver=6DVNIJvWDiPslQW2Btxxhg%3D%3D&fbclid=IwY2xjawMHOCBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFUYm5aaVdwVlo3YnRZTVFKAR6Wyr8BS8OgCDqRqBeiryiqRzW4EHYRgG1MNuY2xuPovkPjfYthUSdNkJjWSQ_aem_pb4c9kPpyVOAl1dpgGQjUg

Let’s come together to celebrate strengths and inspire meaningful change across South Dakota!

08/11/2025

Happening this week!

Join us for the upcoming Building Resilience: How Providers Can Mitigate the Effects of Childhood Trauma ECHO session on Wednesday, August 13th, from 12:00 pm-1:00 pm (CT).

Professionals can register for free on iECHO here: https://iecho.org/public/program/PRGM17292655484406XSGAM5P13

Session objectives include: Understand trauma and how it might present in children and adolescents, Identify screening methods for trauma in youth, and Describe protective factors that help mitigate the effects of trauma and promote healthy development.

08/08/2025

This afternoon, our Jon Wallner worked with Max Hofer on filming some of the Buddies & Co. crew for an upcoming feature. We can’t wait to show you the final product.

08/08/2025

Join us for our Intervener Training Series 2025-2026!

What Is an Intervener?
An intervener is a trained paraprofessional staff member who works one-on-one with a child who has combined hearing and vision loss (deafblindness) to provide critical connections to other people and the environment. The intervener supports communication between the child and others, provides access to information and the environment, and facilitates opportunities for learning and development.

What Is the Importance of an Intervener?
Combined hearing and vision loss creates unique and complex challenges. These challenges are mainly in communication, language, concept development, and social and emotional access and development. An intervener responds to these challenges by serving as a bridge to the world for the child who has verified combined hearing and vision loss (deafblindness).

Oct. 24-25, 2025: Introduction to Deafblindness and Intervention
Carolyn Monaco, Intervener Trainer

Nov. 14-15, 2025: Hearing and Vision Loss, Impact of Deafblindness
Kim Simshauser, Teacher of Blind/Visually Impaired

Jan. 16-17, 2026: The Power of Touch
Lindsey Hegg, Teacher of Blind/Visually Impaired

Feb. 6-7, 2026: Concept Development
Carolyn Monaco, Intervener Trainer

March 6-7, 2026: Communication and the Learner Who Is DeafBlind
Nancy Steele, DeafBlind Educational Consultant

April 10-11, 2026: The Importance of Self-Determination and Relationships
Emma Mayes, Teacher of Developmental Cognitive Disabilities

Location:
USD Sanford School of Medicine, Center for Disabilities
1400 W 22nd St, Room 105
Sioux Falls, SD 57105

Fridays – 5:00 to 9:00 pm (Dinner at 4:30 pm)
Saturdays – 8:30 am to 3:30 pm (Lunch provided.)

Contact: Amy.scepaniak@usd.edu, SD DeafBlind Project Director, for more information.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/intervener-training-series-2025-2026-tickets-1325637660929?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

08/07/2025

Join us for the upcoming Building Resilience: How Providers Can Mitigate the Effects of Childhood Trauma ECHO session on Wednesday, August 13th, from 12:00 pm-1:00 pm (CT).

Professionals can register for free on iECHO here: https://iecho.org/public/program/PRGM17292655484406XSGAM5P13

Session objectives include: Understand trauma and how it might present in children and adolescents, Identify screening methods for trauma in youth, and Describe protective factors that help mitigate the effects of trauma and promote healthy development.

08/07/2025

What is SOAR?

SOAR stands for Seeking Opportunities for an Advocacy Revolution. This event brings together self-advocates with disabilities from around the Midwest to exchange ideas and learn from each other about advocacy. At the SOAR Conference, self-advocates from Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming have opportunities to grow their advocacy skills by attending presentations and connecting with other advocates.

The event is hosted by Nebraska's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at the Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation, and People First of Nebraska.

Conference Dates: Oct. 3-5, 2025

Register today here: https://www.unmc.edu/mmi/education/ce/soar.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawL4x69leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFnVHR6dzI1QUM1NHcwNlo1AR4KiVO4TBGyUywlJ_AmiL3_1Tm0YD2dEPcGKLA_pE_Nsido4vI6BEsAo62fiA_aem_-r3OGK6gnW72Wsj-Ca9CKA

08/06/2025

Have you registered for our upcoming Professional Development: Concentration in Deafblindness class? Don't wait!

An exciting professional development opportunity is available through a collaboration with the University of South Dakota (USD) and the South Dakota DeafBlind Project. During the Fall of 2025, we will be offering An Introduction to DeafBlindness and DeafBlindness: Assessment & Instructional Planning. The courses will run from August 26 through December 12, 2025.

This course will be a combination of weekly online work and 4 synchronous meetings. All meetings will be on Tuesdays from 6 pm-8 pm CST on the following dates: September 2, September 23, October 28, & December 9.

Cost: $450

To learn more and to register, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/professional-development-concentration-in-deafblindness-tickets-1302567878589?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwY2xjawL4xCpleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFnVHR6dzI1QUM1NHcwNlo1AR4RFEiDoEDj7eKSnt64ldOxNOd1W1Mm5iLzgFNI5wjjEVFthHbkAkdAFWdy-w_aem_mjVVCz-Sd8dhRrAjUnqLmA