Building a Community of Caring The WATCH Project Using Technology to Promote Communication and Collaboration within the Early Intervention System Juliellen Simpson-Vos, M.Ed, Joshua J. Alexander, MD The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine

( TelAbility ( An Internet-Based Telehealth Program For Young Children with Disabilities

WATCH Wake Area Telehealth Collaborative Helping Children with special needs

Building a Community of Practice “ A group of people who share a concern, set of problems, or passion about a topic and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interaction on an ongoing basis.”

Inclusive Child Care Centers n Learning Together n Lucy Daniels Center n Project Enlightenment n Tammy Lynn Center n White Plains Children’s Center

Residential Care n Hilltop Home n Tammy Lynn Center

Service Programs n Community Partnerships for Children n Learning Together n Pediatric Therapy Associates n Easter Seals UCP- Children’s Therapy Services n Project Enlightenment n Lucy Daniels Center n Developmental Therapy Associates

State Agencies n The Raleigh Children’s Developmental Services Agency (ages birth-3) n Wake County Preschool Services (ages 3-5)

Expanding WATCH n Carolina Pediatric Dysphagia n Governor Morehead Preschool

Current Programming Website Content /Expertise Directory List serv Newsletters Videoconferencing

Wake County Services and Resources for Children 0-5 webpage

What will the webpage do? n The webpage will act as a searchable database where anyone can select specific fields to find the services they need. n Agencies that match their needs will be sorted and listed. n When you click the link for the agency all the agency data will be provided.

Other Website Features n Expertise Directory n Handouts n Links n Calendar n Books n Articles n Videos n More!

n 2005 = 60 n 2007 = 280+ Expertise Directory

n 2005= 29 n 2007= 230+

Electronic Newsletter Subscribers= 375+ n Website Updates n Event Listings n Center Descriptions n Article Reviews n Tips and Topics n Project Updates

Videoconferencing

Videoconference Usage Statistics 12/05-08/07

Videoconferences By Type

Past Professional Development Sessions n Sensory Processing Disorder n Feeding Strategies n Taming Temper Tantrums n Adapting Toys for Children with Special Needs n Osteogenesis Imperfecta n Understanding ADHD n Constraint Induced Therapy n Over Active Children n Electrical Stimulation and Brachial Plexus Therapy n The Uses of Standardized Testing in EI n Supporting the Spirited Child and Their Families

The WATCH Fall Professional Development Series n Gross Motor Development Trends for Children with Visual Impairments n Approaches to Autism/Intervention Strategies n Ethical Dilemmas in Early Intervention n The Pros and Cons to Theratogs (Discussion) n First Flex Representative n The Uses and Benefits of Music Therapy for Children with Special Needs n Using Chiropractic Services for Children with Special Needs n Red Flags for Speech and Language Disorders/Gesture Development

In total, over the past 34 months of the WATCH Project: n Over 1200 people have participated in videoconference sessions n The average satisfaction rating for video conference sessions is 4.3 (out of 5) n The average comfort level for video conference sessions is 4.6 (out of 5)

WATCH Benefits for Providers n Responsive to their needs and interests n Provides increased professional development and education opportunities n Offers opportunities for increased collaboration with other locations and professionals n Allows sites to establish mentoring relationships with other therapists or teachers n WATCH sites can schedule clinic or consultation time via the video conference unit n Evaluations/assessments/meetings can be held between parents, therapists, CDSA staff n Reduces travel time and costs

Quote from WATCH Service Agency Director : n “Juliellen, Some days things can be very difficult with the day to day demands of patient care and administration of a practice but your educational options on the Telability Website along with your organization skills and your communication skills are a very positive exciting thing for a provider. It is so much easier to participate in these sessions because: 1.They are on practical topics of interest 2.They are on a Friday, not in the middle of a patient care day. 3.They are well organized and the handouts are sent by you ahead of the presentations 4. You take care of the registration and curriculum outlines and the speaker organization 5. The scope of the presentations are well organized for the time segments allowed 6. They are free, and obviously very appreciated. “

WATCH Benefits for Parents n The ability to schedule video clinic or consultation time with a MD, therapist, or specialist who has access to a video conference unit. n The opportunity to schedule meetings, evaluations, or assessments with teachers, therapists, CDSA Child Service Coordinators, or other administrators or specialists who have access to a video conference unit. (ex. IFSP update meetings, questions, etc) n Reduces travel time and costs. Eliminates the need to find parking, wait in waiting rooms, and navigate hospitals or service agencies. n Increased collaboration and communication with everyone involved in the child’s care. n Increased learning opportunities for parents and teachers.

Challenges n Lack of technical knowledge and support at sites n Sustainable funds to cover the costs of high speed internet connection to operate units at each site n Hosting large multipoint video conference sessions n Buy in/consistent participation from all sites n Establishing a public network/technical support issues

Lessons Learned n Need for consistent, knowledgable, easily accessible IT support person n Public network system has been unreliable. n A border controller may help reduce the current unpredictability of our exisiting system. n Specified project director position is necessary to coordinate communication and activities within the project and be point person for IT problems n Needs assessments of each site and frequent communication with WATCH Members has allowed our project to take an organic and responsive approach n The WATCH network is made up of sites with specific expertise to help meet the collective needs of the members n Professional development and small group case study discussions have been of great interest, have proven very successful and have been well attended n Despite the convenience, it’s still hard to convince therapist to conduct consults and clinics via videoconference even when providing monetary reimbursement

What are people saying about WATCH? n “The best thing about WATCH is knowing that there are people who can provide an answer for a family if you don’t have one. It’s wonderful having one place you can got to ask questions, find experts, and find out what is going on in the local community for the special needs population. It provides a bit of “one stop shopping” that makes my job easier and things less stressful for the families I serve.”

n “Instead of all competing or working as separate entities, WATCH allows for us all to come together for the greater good of the child and family.”

Other End-user Locations

Future Goals

Questions? Juliellen Simpson-Vos, M.Ed Joshua J. Alexander, MD TelAbility/WATCH 1101 Weaver Dairy Road Suite 202 Chapel Hill, NC