The Cochlear Implant Education Center (CIEC) is a unit of the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University. It is an educational resource center created in 2000 to share information about cochlear implant technology and its role in the education and lives of children who are deaf from birth through high school-aged. The CIEC has a unique focus in exploring and sharing considerations and practices related to the development and use of both spoken language and signed language for children using cochlear implant technology.
The CIEC has several resources, publications, and presentations on topics related to language, communication, and educational practices for children with cochlear implants which are available to professionals and families throughout the nation. The CIEC also provides supports to students with cochlear implants enrolled in the demonstration schools of the Clerc Center. The CIEC does not provide cochlear implant surgical services or mapping services for cochlear implant technology. For more information, see the CIEC Frequently Asked Questions.
This document, developed at the Cochlear Implant Education Center at the Clerc Center, assists parents and educators in navigating their way through the extensive "forest" of information about cochlear implants. Information is formatted into modules on a variety of topics. It is available in English or Spanish.
The staff of the Cochlear Implant Education Center (CIEC) is available to provide presentations related to language, communication, and educational practices for children with cochlear implants. Find more information on the On-site Training page or contact: Debra Nussbaum, Manager, Projects-Language Development and Communication Support, at Debra.Nussbaum@gallaudet.edu.
Online course for audiologists. One hour. Includes discussion about factors that impact student outcomes, effective educational placements and supports, and recommended planning considerations for students with cochlear implants who may be enrolled in any educational setting. CEUs available. Presented by Debra Nussbaum, Project Manager, Language Development and Communication Support.
The Cochlear Implant Education Center hosted a national conference, "Cochlear Implants and Sign Language: Building Foundations for Effective Educational Practices," from April 15-17, 2009. One hundred professionals (30 from mainstream programs, 50 from schools for the deaf, and 20 from national organizations and university training programs) came together to address this important topic impacting deaf education. The conference offered a range of presentations, panels, and work groups that covered issues related to trends, challenges, effective practices, and future initiatives to address practices inclusive of spoken language and sign language for children with cochlear implants.
This Sharing Ideas paper includes a compilation of the issues, ideas, and strategies that emerged from the April, 2002 conference Cochlear Implants and Sign Language: Putting It All Together. The document includes the presentation texts from the meeting, a summary of the issues, ideas, and resources that surfaced during discussion groups, as well as identified useful resources.
For more information, contact:
Debra Nussbaum Manager, Projects-Language Development and Communication Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center Gallaudet University 800 Florida Ave. NE Washington, DC 20002 202-651-5638 E-mail: Debra.Nussbaum@gallaudet.edu
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