Return to: Georgia Sensory Assistance Project | On-line Newsletter | Revised 04/24/2004

Project SPARKLE DVD Training Program!

The Georgia Sensory Assistance Project is pleased to announce that we are providing to parents, free of cost, the Project SPARKLE DVD Training Program. SPARKLE (Supporting Parents Access to Resources, Knowledge, Linkages & Education) is a high quality training program designed for parents and was produced at the SKI-HI Institute at Utah State University. SPARKLE is a unique and innovative training tool that utilizes the DVD format in connection with internet based support and resources, as well as a local state facilitator, to provide families information on a wide range of topics. Families can view information at their leisure in the comfort of their home.

SPARKLE covers such topics as: Deafblindness, Vision, Hearing and Touch. Additional topics are currently being produced (e.g., concept development, communication, family issues). Each topic contains several smaller units, such as, “ Causes of Deafblindness,” The Impact on Learning,” “Perception & Interaction,” “How Vision Works,” “How Hearing Works,” “The Importance of Touch,” and “Touch as a Basis for Communication”. All topics are available to parents and parents can pick areas to view that are of interest to them.

The Georgia Sensory Assistance Project will be offering the SPARKLE DVD Training Program to all parents as their child with deafblindness turns 2 or 2_ years old. However, other families are welcome to participate. Each participating family will receive the DVD and a Parent Guidebook to use in their homes and keep as a reference!

Other exciting components of Project SPARKLE include:

• The Child Profile- an organized and personal record of each child that can be used to support educational planning, furnish detailed medical histories and provide information regarding special needs.
• The SPARKLE web site - access resources, publications, glossaries, video library, and more via the Internet.
• Networking – access to other participating families via internal list serve and e-mail updates.
• Continuing Education Activities- includes special DVD presentations and web casts.

Check out the SPARKLE Web site for more information (www.sparkle.usu.edu).

Interested parents should contact our project staff member in charge of SPARKLE:
Deborah Fields-Harris  e-mail: dfieha@comcast.net  or call her at 404-762-7398

Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity!