The PASS Project

08/27/2026

INSAIL is just around the corner! 🎉

In just a few short weeks, we’ll gather in Carmel for the inaugural Indiana Sensory Access, Inclusion, & Learning (INSAIL) Conference on September 14–15, and we would love to have you there!
If you work with students who are blind/low vision, Deaf/hard of hearing, or Deafblind in any capacity, INSAIL was designed with you in mind.

You can look forward to:
✨ Two days of engaging, relevant professional learning
🤝 Opportunities to connect with colleagues from across Indiana
💡 Practical ideas and resources you can take back to your students
🏢 An expanded exhibit hall featuring organizations and resources
📱 Our Sched conference platform to help you explore sessions and build your schedule

Registration is still open, but time is running out!

https://passprojectisu.org/index.php/insail-2026

We’ve been working hard to make this inaugural conference a meaningful and exciting experience for everyone who attends, and we don’t want you to miss it.

We’ll see you September 14–15!

2026 Indiana Sensory access, Inclusion, & Learning Conference September 14-15, 2026 Audience : BLV Teachers, DHH Teachers, Early Interventionists, Special Education & Classroom Teachers,...

08/19/2026

🎉 Nominations are OPEN for the PASS Project’s 2026–2027 BLV & DHH Teacher Mentorship Program! 🎉

We are thrilled to welcome our second cohort of new Blind/Low Vision (BLV) and Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH) teachers!

This FREE program is designed for Indiana teachers in their first year as a BLV or DHH teacher and will continue throughout the 2026–2027 school year.

New to the field? You don’t have to figure it all out on your own! Each mentee will be thoughtfully paired with an experienced mentor who can provide support, share resources and expertise, answer questions, and help navigate the unique challenges of being a new BLV or DHH teacher.

What does the program include?
• Thoughtful mentor-mentee pairing
• An optional in-person kickoff
• Ongoing mentorship and support throughout the school year
• Targeted mini professional development sessions offered by the PASS Project and experienced mentors
• A supportive professional community of BLV and DHH educators
Know a first-year BLV or DHH teacher who would benefit from mentorship? Nominate them today!
Are you a first-year BLV or DHH teacher? You can ask someone to nominate you or nominate yourself!

Nomination Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfbdbWqpjansFQtVjJvLt3BMEoEhOq_CmBIRj1uLxN013ryQQ/viewform?usp=header

Help us spread the word and connect Indiana’s newest BLV and DHH teachers with the support they deserve!

We can’t wait to welcome our second cohort!

08/18/2026

📣 INSAIL Conference Registration Closes August 31!

We are less than 2 weeks away from the registration deadline for the inaugural Indiana Sensory, Access, Inclusion, and Learning (INSAIL) Conference! 🎉

If you haven’t registered yet, there is still time! Join us September 14–15 at the 502 East Event Centre in Carmel, Indiana for this exciting new conference focused on access, inclusion, and achievement for individuals with sensory loss.

👉 REGISTER FOR INSAIL: https://passprojectisu.org/index.php/insail-2026

📅 Explore the Conference Schedule
We are excited to be using Sched as our conference platform this year! You can preview the sessions and explore the current schedule here: https://event426a6bb589a5119.sched.com/

Please note that there may still be some changes to sessions and the schedule between now and the conference. Any updates will be reflected live on our Sched event page.

Already registered and paid? 🎟️ You will receive an invitation from Sched in the next few days to begin building your conference schedule!

🤝 Exhibitors & Sponsors Wanted!
We are continuing to expand our exhibit hall and would love to connect with individuals and organizations interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at INSAIL.

Know someone who would be a great fit? Please share this opportunity with them! https://passprojectisu.org/index.php/insail-2026-sponsors

🏨 Need a Hotel?
We have a room block at the nearby Drury Plaza Hotel, and the hotel has graciously extended our room block through this Friday, August 21!

Reserve your room using the link below or by calling 1-800-325-0720:

http://www.druryhotels.com/bookandstay/newreservation?groupno=10173966

We are so excited to bring this new event to a new location and can't wait to welcome everyone to INSAIL 2026!

Questions? Reach out to us—we’re happy to help!

2026 Indiana Sensory access, Inclusion, & Learning Conference September 14-15, 2026 Audience : BLV Teachers, DHH Teachers, Early Interventionists, Special Education & Classroom Teachers,...

07/29/2026

If you have not already heard, The PASS Project, with assistance from the Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education, is launching a brand new coaching program for educational interpreters in Indiana, INterpretED.

We are seeking both coaches and practitioners. The coach application is due today, and the nomination for practitioners will close on August 7th.

Please check our website for all of the details as well as the Coach Application form and Practitioner Nomination Form. https://passprojectisu.org/index.php/ei-mentoring-program

Please reach out to me at [email protected] or Laura Leffler at [email protected] with any questions!

07/21/2026

The 2026 Summer Institute for Educational Interpreters is off to a great start! We are happy to welcome presenter Tia Ivanko to Indiana, and our attendees are excited to learn from her and each other

07/13/2026

Educational Interpreters- check your email for an exciting, new opportunity through the PASS Project, with assistance from The Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education!

07/06/2026

The 2026 Summer Institute for Educational Interpreters is in just over two weeks! We are so excited to share this video from our presenter, Tia Ivannko.

https://youtu.be/I1ixMR0o40Q

You can still register at: https://passprojectisu.org/index.php/2026-summer-institute-for-educational-interpreters

Tia Ivanko, M.S., NIC, ADAC, shares a little more about the 2026 Su...

06/17/2026

Registration for the 2026 Indiana Sensory Access, Inclusion, & Learning Conference is officially open!

We cannot wait to see you all on September 14th and 15th at 502 East Event Centre in Carmel! The link below has registration, additional details, and hotel block information.

As a reminder, we are combining two of our previous conferences, Indiana Vision Conference and Indiana Conference on Deaf Education, into one, dynamic event.

We are so excited to share that Dr. Andrea Forcum (Educator Andrea) is joining as our Keynote Speaker!

Andrea Forcum is an author, comedian, teacher, and advocate for teachers. She taught in the high school classroom for nine years, teaching at both public and private institutions. During her time teaching, Andrea learned (often through her own mistakes) how to build relationships, engage with students, and manage her stress through finding joy in the classroom life. Andrea’s book, They Never Taught Us That is a no-nonsense guide of pragmatic teaching strategies and hilarious, heart-felt stories from the classroom.

Andrea’s comedic and inspiring keynote will focus on sustainable teaching practices to avoid burnout and reestablish resiliency in teaching.

Reach out of you have any questions and tag a colleague who should join you!

https://passprojectisu.org/index.php/insail-2026

06/09/2026

We are offering a few EIPA Written and Performance tests in July and August on Indiana State University's campus in Terre Haute!

Visit https://www.classroominterpreting.org/assessments to book your test.

EIPA offers two comprehensive tests to assess the skills and knowledge of educational interpreters. EIPA also has developed a screening tool for school systems to obtain general feedback about an interpreter's skill during the hiring process.

05/26/2026

Registration is still open!