Strengthening and building better classroom access for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, the Guam Department of Education kicked-off a two-day training in partnership with the National Deaf Center. 

It was just a few weeks ago that advocates from the deaf and hard of hearing community spoke out, sharing passionate feedback about access within the Guam Department of Education.

Advocate Kevin Lizama Reyes said, “I’m the only person standing up for people with disabilities, especially the deaf community—and I’m wondering, who’s going to help me?”

In response to those concerns, GDOE assistant superintendent of special education Tom Babauta says steps are already underway—including a partnership with the National Deaf Center to provide specialized training. That effort taking shape in a two-day training session kicking off Monday, designed to strengthen classroom access for deaf and hard of hearing students by supporting interpreters working in K–12 settings.

Overseeing the program is Elizabeth Calvo, a program coordinator IV with GDOE's Special Education Division, who manages the deaf and hard of hearing program. “There are three main outcomes as a result of participation in the 2-day training session," she said.

Those outcomes include being able to describe the role of interpreters in K–12 educational settings, apply effective strategies for preparing for classroom instruction and supporting accessibility, and implement student-centered practices that enhance meaningful classroom access.

The training comes at a time when resources remain limited.  Currently, there are only four educational interpreters and two staff members in school aide positions who function as interpreters supporting students in the classroom.

So what impact could this training have on growing that number? Calvo says it is part of a broader strategic plan—one that aims to provide the necessary qualifications for existing aides to move into educational interpreter positions, while also building a stronger pipeline of future interpreters.

She said, “Part of that plan is to support those currently working in the capacity as an educational interpreter in our deaf and hard-of-hearing program. But we also want to expand that pool of educational interpreters, and we’re opening the training to the community. We reached out to the Guam Community College. My understanding is that there is a current cohort of students who will be prepared by the end of the spring semester to be able to go out. Hopefully, they apply here at the division and will have a greater pool of skilled professionals working in our interpreter education field.”

Calvo adds that another key component of the strategic plan is the development of a testing site for individuals seeking certification as educational interpreters.

The two-day training is happening at GDOE Headquarters on December 30.