15th ANNUAL EARLY HEARING DETECTION & INTERVENTION MEETING
March 13-15, 2016 • San Diego, CA
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A Precise Path to Early Intervention in Texas
Track: Workforce Issues
Currently in Texas, there is no formal certification or designated university training for early interventionists. There is a need for more specialized providers to serve young children that are deaf and hard of hearing and their families, yet there is no clear path to equip professionals for service. By promoting awareness of early intervention as a field, and promoting specialized training and certification, the quality and availability of these services could be improved. Regardless of chosen method of communication, age of intervention is proven to be pivotal for speech and language outcomes in deaf and hard of hearing children. Understanding how early interventionists in Texas are currently being trained and how this needs to change is critical to creating a new generation of highly trained professionals.
This concept was explored by looking at certifications and outcomes in other states early intervention programs, and examining current opportunities for training in various disciplines in Texas. We developed a “roadmap” for students who are interested in working in early childhood intervention in Texas. This roadmap identifies various routes to interdisciplinary training at the graduate and undergraduate level, recommended practicum experiences, potential certifications, and potential employers and work settings. Consultation with both the Texas Education Agency and the Department of State Health Services, as well as university programs and other EHDI stakeholders, helped guide the development of the model. We examined how the path to becoming an early interventionist differs in other states and proposed ways to clarify the path in Texas.
Authors: Sara Eakerns, Sarah Kelly, Ellen Kiser, and Sarah Songer
Affiliations: Texas Woman’s University
Presenter(s): Sara Eakerns, Sarah Kelly, Ellen Kiser, and Sarah Songer
Key Words: Early Intervention, Certification, Training, Pre-Service
- Describe current challenges for early intervention in Texas
- Summarize paths to becoming an early interventionist in Texas.
- Discuss options to clarify the path to becoming an early interventionist in Texas.
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Presenters/Authors
Sara Eakerns
(Co-Presenter,Author), Texas Woman's University, seakerns@twu.edu;
Sarah Eakerns is an undergraduate student at Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas. She will graduate in May of 2016 with Bachelors of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a focus on speech-language pathology.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Sarah Kelly
(Co-Presenter,Author), Texas Woman's University, skelly7@twu.edu;
Sarah Kelly is an undergraduate student at Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas. She will graduate in May of 2016 with Bachelors of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a focus on speech-language pathology.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Ellen Kiser
(Co-Presenter,Author), Texas Woman's University, ekiser@twu.edu;
Ellen Kiser is an undergraduate student at Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas. She will graduate in May of 2016 with Bachelors of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a focus on speech-language pathology.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Sarah Songer
(Co-Presenter,Author), Texas Woman's University, ssonger@twu.edu;
Sarah Kelly is an undergraduate student at Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas. She will graduate in May of 2016 with Bachelors of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a focus on speech-language pathology.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -