DHH Round – UP

  • Wednesday, September 30, 2026
  • The Sunny Spur Corn Maze (formerly Green Acres) in Casper, WY.

Get lost in the fun and join us for the maze, games, activities, and friends!

The Purpose
At its core, Round-Up (formerly WYHI) was created to break down barriers and build a stronger, more connected community. For years, its vital purpose has been to bring together students, teachers, interpreters, and families for events designed to:

  • Reduce Isolation: Navigating the world as a Deaf or Hard of Hearing individual—or supporting someone who does—can sometimes feel lonely. Round-Up events create a space where the goal has been that no one feels isolated.
  • Promote Real Connection: It gives peers, families, and professionals a unique opportunity to meet, share experiences, and form lasting bonds.
  • Grow Knowledge: Through collaborative events, attendees deepen their understanding of Deafness, Hearing Loss, and offer opportunities to interact with fewer communication barriers.
  • Provide Access to Role Models: One of Round-Up’s most beneficial missions is connecting youth with Deaf and Hard of Hearing role models, showing students what is possible and giving families a vision for a bright, successful future.

Student Virtual Meet-Up

The WY DHH Outreach Student Virtual Meet Ups are monthly online gatherings hosted by the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) specifically for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students across the state. These sessions are designed to combat the “lonely island” feeling many DHH students experience in mainstream schools by connecting them with peers who share similar lived experiences.

Time: 1:00 – 1:45 p.m.

  • Community Connection: Safe social space for students from various school districts to interact and realize they are not alone
  • Self-Advocacy Skills: Focus on empowering students to understand their hearing loss and articulate their needs in the classroom and beyond.
  • Consistent Schedule: 3rd Thursday of each month during the school year
  • Age-Appropriate Learning: discussions and activities specifically planned for different age groups
  • Accessibility: Students in even the most rural parts of Wyoming can participate without travel
  • Expert Support: Led by the WDE DHH Outreach team, ensuring the environment is both supportive and linguistically accessible.

Launchpad

The “Launchpad” Transition Series is a multi-part online workshop series designed to prepare and empower D/HH students as they prepare for independence and life after high school. The series is connected to the DHH Extended Core Curriculum and  breaks down critical post-secondary-to-adult transition concepts into engaging, digestible learning blocks. Each session is structured around a compelling opening concept, a practical real-world activity, and an empowering key takeaway to ensure actionable learning.

An Invitation to DHH Students (Grades 8-12)
We cordially invite Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students in grades 8 through 12 to participate in this virtual training series. Whether you are just beginning to think about high school graduation or are actively preparing to step into the world of work or college, the “Launchpad” series is designed for you. Come connect with peers, gain valuable self-advocacy tools, and build the confidence needed to launch successfully into the next chapter!

Core Pillars & Curriculum Scope
The series is strategically designed to address the foundational pillars of adult transition:

  • Self-Advocacy & Determination: Teaching students to understand their legal rights, to navigate the shift from high school to adulthood, and to actively lead their own transition planning.
  • Financial & Functional Literacy: Demystifying real-world economics, budgeting, and managing everyday living expenses.
  • Workplace & Academic Readiness: Decoding professional communication, soft skills, and navigating accommodations in post-secondary pathways or employment.
  • Independent Living & Community Integration: Building essential life skills for daily survival, including basic nutrition, and navigating your day to day life.
  • Social Safety & Networks: Developing strategies to recognize healthy relationship boundaries, manage peer dynamics, and establish reliable adult support systems.
Contact
Betsy Tengesdal

DHH Program Consultant

Parents