An Overview on Visual Communication and Sign Language Checklist
Description: This workshop is intended for a wide audience (e.g., early childhood professionals, early interventionists, speech-language pathologists, paraprofessionals, Deaf mentors, etc.). The workshop will introduce participants to evaluating children from birth to five years of age who communicate using American Sign Language (ASL). The workshop will address the importance of Deaf children’s sign language acquisition and the current research in sign language acquisition in young children. In addition, the workshop will introduce the VCSL: Online, the electronic evaluation system. The Visual Communication and Sign Language Checklist (VCSL), is the world’s first and only standardized assessment tool for measuring American Sign Language growth and development for Deaf and hard of hearing children from birth to age five. The participants will have the opportunity to learn important considerations when evaluating young children who communicate in ASL and how an evaluator gives and scores the VCSL. The workshop is conducted in ASL only; however, interpreting services along with FM systems may be provided for those who wish to be acquainted with the assessment tool.
VSCL Evaluator Training Workshop
Description: The VSCL Evaluator Training is designed for those who wish to obtain VCSL: ASL Evaluator Certification. The participants will have the opportunity to learn how to give and score the VCSL of young signing children from birth to 5 years of age via the VCSL: Online portal. To qualify to participate in the training, participants must possess fluency in academic and social ASL in order to be able to evaluate young children’s signing. The workshop is conducted in ASL only.
Qualifications & Criteria
In order to qualify for the VCSL Evaluator Training, applicants must provide evidence of the following:
American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI*) 4 or above
Completion of a master’s degree in deaf education, early childhood education, special education, or related field. A bachelor's degree and experience will be considered.
Three years experience providing direct services to children and families birth to five years of age
Currently employed in a field where your primary role is providing direct services to signing children and families birth to five years of age
Objectives of the VCSL Evaluator Training: 1. To provide information on how to assess the signing skills of young children using the VCSL, 2. To determine the ASL skills of the children being evaluated based on the results of the basal and ceiling scores to analyze and discuss the importance of using the norm tables in order to make evaluation judgments and to facilitate children’s language development 3. To describe how scaffolding can be used to promote the children’s language acquisition 4. To practice writing reports using examples of assessments from fictitious children 5. To reflect upon and describe how this checklist has had an impact on your thinking and plans for designing language activities for Deaf children.
After successfully completing the VCSL Evaluator Training, the participants will obtain a proof of training certificate and be eligible to apply for VCSL Evaluator Certification. Please visit a website, www.bilingualece.org and click on “CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING” menu for Certification Overview and Process for Visual Communication Sign Language: ASL Evaluators only.