West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

Residents celebrated the luck of the Irish on Thursday evening with the annual St. Patrick's Day Party. Musical chairs and the photo booth were the main attractions of the evening along with many residents pretending to be a Mr. and Mrs. Leprechaun. #BlackBearFamily2023.

Follow this link to access the goalball tournament at VSDB this weekend! Go Black Bears! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VW37PXvmhDc

WVSDB Day buses will not run tomorrow due to impending weather. Homegoing buses will run as scheduled. Staff should report as usual or use leave. The PBIS event for tomorrow will be postponed until next Friday.

On Tuesday, WVSDB Tapestry and Mountaineer Melodies students performed for the WV Legislature. In case you missed it, we have added the performances to our YouTube channel. Way to go Black Bears! We are very proud of you! https://youtu.be/ud0HQCRKlkg

West Virginians receiving continuous Medicaid coverage was one of the benefits of a pandemic-era law, proving to be a lifeline to children and families and helping to bring down the overall uninsured rate. The provision however is set to expire on April 1, and the regular Medicaid renewal process will resume. Now, even eligible children could lose coverage due to difficulties in the renewal process, like staffing. Parents: Be on the lookout for mailed renewal notices so that you can complete and submit them in a timely manner. Our students cannot afford to lose coverage. What does “unwinding” mean? “Unwinding” is the process by which states will resume Medicaid eligibility renewals for all enrollees and states will be able to terminate Medicaid enrollment for individuals who are no longer eligible. How are my healthcare benefits affected? Individuals enrolled in Medicaid since March 2020 are still enrolled today, and will be at least through April 1, 2023 when the continuous enrollment provision ends. When states resume redeterminations and disenrollments, individuals may be at risk of losing Medicaid coverage or experiencing a gap in coverage, even if they remain eligible for coverage. It is very important to complete and return your renewal form when received to prevent any delays in coverage. What needs renewed? The Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) will send renewal notices and requests for information to enrollees. When enrollees respond, agencies will process the cases, renew coverage for those who remain eligible, and notify those who are no longer eligible that their coverage will end. If enrollees don’t respond, their coverage will end. When will Medicaid enrollees begin receiving notifications for renewals? Enrollees will begin receiving renewal letters in February 2023. Medicaid renewals will be staggered over the next 12 months. Enrollees will receive notices sent to their current mailing address when their renewal is due. Be sure to watch for letters from DHHR and to complete the renewal forms. What happens when you don’t renew in time? Failure to complete renewal can result in loss of your healthcare coverage. Under federal law, individuals have 90 days from the date the case was closed to provide the Medicaid agency with all required information, Medicaid benefits can be reinstated without going through the application process if the individual continues to meet the eligibility criteria. If the required documentation is not submitted within the 90 day period to complete the redetermination process, the individual will be required to reapply for Medicaid benefits and a gap in healthcare benefits is likely to occur. Where can I find more information about the Marketplace? If you were found ineligible for Medicaid and/or WVCHIP, your application has been sent to the Federally Facilitated Marketplace to be evaluated for healthcare coverage. The Marketplace will be sending you a notice with information about how to apply. If you would like additional information about the Marketplace process or next steps, West Virginia also has a program called WV Navigator that can provide free enrollment assistance in Marketplace health insurance plans. You may contact WV Navigator at (304) 356-5834 or visit the WV Navigator Website. https://acanavigator.com/wv/home

Check out these summer opportunities to increase braille skills in students. These camps are offered by the NFB: https://nfb.org/programs-services/nfb-bell-academy

WVSDB's Tapestry and Mountaineer Melodies will be performing for the WV Legislature tomorrow morning at 11:00. They will also be accepting a citation in honor of Deaf Awareness Day with the West Virginia Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 10:30. Tune in to the House of Delegates YouTube channel to watch the performance live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYYQtkZxan4

Last evening the residential students and staff participated in a mock diner, where residents worked on job skills, manners in a restaurant setting, communication skills, money, management, and team building. The Big Claw Diner serves breakfast foods that were prepared by the residents and staff who worked in the diner kitchen. #BlackBearFamily2023

Xander, WVSDB Senior, was given a personal tour of Rocky 106.1 FM Classic Rock radio station in Cumberland, MD by the host of the morning show, Tim Martin. Xander is interested in IT and Broadcasting and will be attending Fairmont University in the fall.

Check out the latest episode fo the Bear Necessities: Now with ASL interpreting! https://youtu.be/onGf0IPYSd4

HKNC Informational Session Date: Wednesday, March 8, 2023 Time: 11:30am-12:30pm EST Register here: shorturl.at/noq67 Register today! Curious about the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC)? Learn about HKNC’s comprehensive vocational rehabilitation services for individuals who are DeafBlind at its headquarters in Sands Point, NY, through its onsite and virtual assessment and training opportunities. Expanded HKNC field services, including DeafBlind employment specialists and youth services coordinators, provide inclusive options for local services. HKNC’s network of regional representatives connects DeafBlind individuals, their families and service providers with all that HKNC has to offer. Check out the Helen Keller National Center website to learn more about its mission, services, programs and how to connect! https://www.helenkeller.org/hknc/ This session will have live American Sign Language interpreting and captioning. Questions? Contact Cynthia Ingraham at cingraham@helenkeller.org

Below you will find a list of jobs available for application as of February 21. Please note that postings will end for SY23 after March 6. SY24 posts will begin in late March/early April along with summer opportunities. Auxiliary: Application Deadline - February 27, 2023 Residential Care Specialist - Male +26 (200 days) Professional: Application Deadline - February 27, 2023 Teacher - American Sign Language Teacher - General Science 5-AD/Biology 9-AD Teacher - Social Studies 5-AD/Visually Impaired PK-AD Application Deadline - March 6, 2023 Orientation and Mobility Specialist Registered Nurse (220 days) Teacher - English 5-AD Communications and Public Relations Coordinator (261 days) Service: Application Deadline - February 27, 2023 Substitute General Maintenance / Plumber Substitute Mechanic Application Deadline - March 6, 2023 LPN (2 positions) 210 days General Maintenance / Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanic - 261 days Please share this information with anyone who may be qualified for the vacancies. Full job descriptions are available on the Vacancies page of the WVSDB website - https://www.wvsdb2.state.k12.wv.us/. The application link is - https://wvde.us/apply/.

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