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Lorem Ipsum Dolor Spring 2016
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meeting the unique challenges made one thing very apparent… to effectively address
this need, a collaborative relationship built on trust, shared expertise and resources
was necessary.
"Exponential gains in organization effectiveness are possible at the
intersection of team and spirit." Dr. Barry Heermann, Creator of Team Spirit, a
model for building high performing teams, made this statement in his 1997
publication, Building Team Spirit. His insight and model
could never be more truly realized than by the teaming
experience of the Southeastern Deaf-Blind Projects
challenged to meet the unique needs of access for students
with deafblindness and their families facing transition.
Driven by this need of service, the force in Team Spirit,
several states embraced the power of teaming resulting in improved service
(Transition Institute) and product (The Transition Toolkit).
In 2005, the South Carolina DB Project staff had a desire to connect their young
people with others with deafblindness. They were encouraged to contact the Georgia
DB Project who were sponsoring an annual weekend for young adults in partnership
with the Florida DB project. Together the state projects found that they could
introduce young people to a greater number of peers while sharing the responsibility
of identifying, training and financing interpreters, Support Service Providers (SSPs)
and materials, all crucial components of making the weekends accessible. Teaming in
this manner ensures young adults fully participate in the experience. (Team Spirit
aspects of Initiating: building trust and belonging)
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