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Theme:
- Functional Listening Assessments
Tech Tool of the Month
Articles:
- Celebrating Our Working with the Experts - Deaf/Hard of Hearing (WWE-DHH): Foundations for Literacy Professional Learning
- TLC AT & UDL Loan Library
- October is Audiologist Awareness Month
News from RMTC-DHH:
- TA-Live! Functional Listening Assessments Recording Now Available
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Schedule Change TA-Live! Hearing Assistive Technology
- Tea with the Teachers
- Coffee with the Contacts
Teacher Toolkit:
- FAQs on Hearing Assistive Technology
- Expanded Skills Webpage
Did You Know?
- The Deaf Reading Rope
- Registration is Open Florida Educators of Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Registration is Open Future of Education Technology Conference
- FSDB Learning Network
- FLASHA Call For Papers Now Open
- Math, Misconceptions, and Mastery: Meeting Deaf Students Needs
- FSDB Disability Awareness Community Open House Live Stream
Upcoming Events
- 10/14/25: Spicing Up Auditory Training
- 10/22/25: TA-Live! Hearing Assistive Technology
- 11/7/25-11/8/25: FEDHH
- 11/12/25: Tea with the Teachers
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This month in Tech Notes, we’re excited to continue our TA-Live! virtual learning community webinar series with a focus on hearing assistive technology (HAT). We welcome Dr. Leslie Walker from Miami-Dade County Public Schools, who will share the latest technologies along with practical troubleshooting tips to help support students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
📅 Schedule Update: The October TA-Live! session has been moved from October 15 to October 22. Please mark your calendar—we look forward to seeing you there! | | | | |
What is it?
MagicSchool AI is an AI-powered platform designed specifically for educators to streamline planning, personalize learning, and support differentiated instruction. It provides tools to generate lesson plans, assessments, IEPs, and student/parent communication, with built-in scaffolding and accessibility features.
Why it’s great for educators:
- Saves prep time: rather than building everything from scratch, teachers input grade level, topic, and learning goals; MagicSchool helps fill in the rest.
- Supports differentiation: produces individualized study guides, interventions, and scaffolding suggestions.
- Accessible: built with teacher privacy and student support in mind; helps with varying needs (e.g. English learners, students who need extra reinforcement).
- Wide subject/grade coverage: works for many subjects and levels.

Bonus for students who are deaf or hard of hearing:
MagicSchool’s text-based lesson plans, visual organizers, and customizable materials make it easier to adapt content for visual access. Teachers can easily pair generated resources with captioned videos, transcripts, or sign language supports, ensuring students have multiple ways to access information.
Top Features:
đź“š Generate standards-aligned lesson plans, assessments, IEPs quickly
🧰 Templates and scaffolded supports for diverse learners
✉️ Tools for communicating with students & parents
🔒 Focus on privacy/security and designed for educators’ workflow
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🎉 Celebrating Our Working with the Experts - Deaf/Hard of Hearing (WWE-DHH): Foundations for Literacy Professional Learning
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A big thank you to the professionals from the following districts for attending our WWE-DHH: Foundations for Literacy Professional Learning:
Alachua, Broward, Columbia, Duval, Escambia, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Leon, Marion, Martin, Okeechobee, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco, Polk, and St. Johns

Because this professional learning was provided by an IDEA-Funded State Project:
- Districts saved a combined total of $37,743 in registration, materials, and lodging costs.
- More resources can now directly support students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- High-quality professional learning was provided to teachers on an evidence-based literacy intervention developed specifically for students who are deaf/hard of hearing.
| | TLC AT & UDL Loan Library | |
The Technology & Learning Connections (TLC) project is a part of Florida’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) through the Problem Solving/Response to Intervention (PS-RtI) Project at the University of South Florida. Their services support the local development of highly effective classrooms for all students based on the Florida Standards through a multi-tiered system of supports in a universal education system.
TLC also manages the AT & UDL Loan Library. Available to district/school staff approved by ESE directors, including local assistive technology specialists (LATS), the loan library supports assistive technology assessments/evaluations, professional development in the use of assistive technology (AT) in the classroom, and the use of universal design for learning (UDL) strategies to support all students.
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The AT & UDL Loan Library includes hearing assistive technology devices (e.g., classroom sound field amplification system, personal FM systems, etc.) that districts can check out in order to conduct trials before purchasing. Borrowing this type of equipment allows teams to implement and collect data on assistive technology use, a critical component to determining educational benefit and need before investing in the equipment.
If you are interested in borrowing from the AT-UDL loan library, please reach out to your district’s LATS or to RMTC-DHH.
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October is Audiologist Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the critical role audiologists play in supporting students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Audiologists:
- Diagnose and address hearing related disabilities.
- Provide hearing aids and assistive technology solutions.
- Help students fully access their learning environment and reach their academic potential.
This month, take a moment to thank the audiologists in your schools and communities for their expertise and dedication to students’ success!
| | 🎥 TA-Live! Functional Listening Assessments Recording Now Available
| September’s TA-Live! session on functional listening assessments with Dr. Jordan McNair, Lynn Miskiel, and Kathleen Vergara from the University of Miami is now available in our video library. Be sure to check it out! | | | |
Please join RMTC-DHH for TA-Live! The sessions will be recorded for future viewing.
Sessions include:
When?
The next TA-Live! session will be October 22, 2025 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET (1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. CT).
| Our next discussion will focus on hearing assistive technology. We will be joined by Dr. Leslie Walker from Miami-Dade County Public Schools, who will share insights on the latest technologies and troubleshooting tips. Do you have questions you’d like to submit ahead of the session for our guest speaker? Please fill out this form. | | | |
Please join RMTC-DHH for the next session of Tea with the Teachers, a virtual collaborative learning community (VCLC). Participants are encouraged to add questions/topics for discussion using the Tea with the Teachers Collaborative Notes. The sessions will not be recorded and transcripts will not be available after the event.
When?
Date(s): 11/12/25; 1/21/26; 4/1/26; 5/6/26
Time(s): 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. EST (8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. CST)
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Please join RMTC-DHH for Coffee with the Contacts, VCLC designed for deaf/hard of hearing program leads and contacts or their designees. The sessions will not be recorded and transcripts will not be available after the event.
When?
Date(s): 12/3/25; 2/4/26; 4/8/26
Time(s): 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. EST (8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. CST)
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Looking to enhance your classroom's support for students who are deaf or hard of hearing? Explore the RMTC-DHH Teacher Toolkit, which offers a comprehensive collection of resources to assist educators in integrating and troubleshooting hearing assistive technologies.
Key Resources:
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Join ASHA SIG 9 (Pediatric Hearing and Hearing Disorders) for an exciting hands-on session where you can explore the power of assistive technology (AT) using your own smartphone!
This interactive experience highlights innovative AT tools designed to support individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, with applications that benefit users of all abilities.
Discover:
- 📱 Real-time captioning apps for live conversations
- 🌍 Translation tools that bridge language gaps
- 🧠Immersive apps that turn 2D visuals into interactive experiences
We are pleased to share that Sherry Conrad and Candace McIntire, representing RMTC-DHH, will be contributing their expertise to this session, offering valuable insights into accessible technology and its impact on communication.

Whether you're an educator, therapist, or tech enthusiast, this session is your chance to unlock new possibilities in communication and accessibility. Bring your device and get ready to be inspired!

👉 Register here to reserve your spot!
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In 2023, Nathan Harrison introduced the Deaf Reading Rope, a model grounded in the science of reading and inspired by Scarborough’s Reading Rope (2001). This framework synthesizes decades of research on bilingual reading and illustrates how readers who are deaf and hard of hearing utilize both American Sign Language (ASL) and English to achieve reading success. Designed specifically to capture the complexities of reading for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing—particularly those who use ASL—the Deaf Reading Rope offers valuable insights into the unique pathways of literacy development in this population.
To learn more, read Nathan Harrison’s full article:
Harrison, N. E. (2023). Deaf reading rope: Visualizing the science of reading for ASL/English. https://osf.io/d96jx
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Registration is now open for the 2025 Florida Educators of Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (FEDHH) Conference, themed “From Beepers to Breakthroughs: Evolving Access in Deaf Education.”
📅 Dates: November 7–8, 2025
đź“Ť Location: Hilton University of Florida Conference Center, Gainesville, FL
🏨 Hotel Booking: Reserve by Oct. 16th to receive the special FEDHH rate
This annual conference brings together professionals in deaf education for engaging sessions, networking, and shared learning. A draft agenda is available, with updates to follow.
đź”— Click here to view details and register
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Registration is now open for the Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC)!
Join educators and tech leaders January 11–14, 2026 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL for hands-on learning, innovative tools, and powerful ideas shaping the future of education.
Register today
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🍍 FSDB Learning Network
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The Florida School for the Deaf and Blind (FSDB) Learning Network shares best practices, teaching strategies, and resources for educators, parents, and stakeholders. The network features a series, offering quick three- to five-minute glimpses into effective classroom practices for students who are deaf/hard of hearing and blind/visually impaired you can easily apply in your own teaching.

Explore the FSDB Learning Network
| | FLASHA Call For Papers Now Open | | |
Call for Papers for the FLASHA 2026 Convention is officially open!
đź“… Submission Deadline: November 17, 2025
📍 Convention Dates: July 9–11, 2026
đź“Ś Location: West Palm Beach, Florida
This is your opportunity to share your expertise, research, and innovations with colleagues from across the state and beyond.

Submit Your Proposal
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Math, Misconceptions, and Mastery:
Meeting Deaf Students Needs
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Teachers of students who are deaf or hard of hearing often observe that gaps in prior mathematics learning can create challenges in the classroom. While there is no single solution, several effective approaches can support student success. This session will share implemented strategies, including the use of the Unique Learning System curriculum and visuals, an extended middle school math class model, and a classroom economy framework.
Join RIT/NTID virtually on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, from 6:00pm - 7:00pm EDT to gain practical insights on addressing your students’ needs and making mathematics instruction both accessible and meaningful. To register for this event, please go to the Event Registration Page.
Sign language interpreting and captioning will be provided.
To view DeafTEC's additional, previously recorded Math Observations in Deaf Education (MODE) webinars, please go to the MODE Webinars Page.
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FSDB Disability Awareness Community
Open House Live Stream
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Join the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) for a special Disability Awareness event on October 15, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. This annual Community Open House features inspiring student performances and celebrates the talents of FSDB students.
Live Stream Highlights:
- Performances by the Blind Department thespians, chorus, and soloists
- A dynamic showcase by the Dance Troupe
- Announcement of the White Cane Contest winners from the Orientation and Mobility program
This event is a great way to engage in Disability Awareness activities and support student expression and achievement.
📧 For questions, contact: info@fsdbk12.org
đź“ş Watch the FSDB Performance Livestream
| | RMTC-DHH provides Tech Notes as a free resource to teachers, professionals, and families around the state in order to pass along potentially useful information and expand the knowledge and opportunities available to educators and families of children who are deaf/hard of hearing. This email was funded by the Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services through federal assistance under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B funds and through an agreement with the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. The information included does not reflect any specific endorsement by any parties involved. | | | | |
