2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference
March 13 - 15, 2022
4/15/2014 | 2:15 PM - 2:45 PM | Rural Training Innovation in the Pacific Islands | Grand Ballroom 6 | 8
Rural Training Innovation in the Pacific Islands
This presentation details the elements of an innovative model of on-site, practice-driven early intervention (EI) training carried out in May, 2013 in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) as part of the Republic's successful EHDI Program launched just three years earlier. The model seeks to avoid the weaknesses of traditional training for rural program providers in which they travel to workshops to acquire information and skills and then return to independently apply new knowledge to their cultures and caseloads--an expensive model that may not lead to significant change in practice. The extreme remoteness of The Republic of the Marshall Islands, scare funds, and the limited opportunity of personnel to access training they need requires the most effective model possible. Local service providers must acquire critical information and skills in a short time and implement them immediately. Over a period of two weeks, seminars, practicum and case study are interwoven within an interactive cycle of observation, practice in their own caseloads, discussion, assessment and planning. Professionals and families participate together in much of the training. The model's content in Levels I - III can be adapted for specific families and trainees ranging from providers new to EI and hearing loss to those with relevant background. We anticipate that conferees in rural and remote areas with limited access to critical resources will be able to utilize this model that highlights the core areas of family support; family communication strategies that promote language and auditory-vocal development; and, assessment-driven language intervention. Highlights of the very successful RMI EHDI Program will also be reviewed along with its collaboration with the following stakeholders: RMI Ministry of Education; RMI Special Parents Association; the Hawaii and Pacific Deaf--Blind Projects; Deaf World Teach; and, the Gallaudet Regional Center, Hawaii.
- Describe the elements of short-term, on-site, practice-driven early intervention training.
- List the core areas of short-term early intervention training for deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing.
- Identify components of a rural EHDI program that are critical to effective short-term practicum-driven teacher training.
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Presenters/Authors
Nancy Rushmer
(Primary Presenter,Author), University of Hawaii, Center on Disability Studies, KRAMISRN@aol.com;
Nancy Rushmer has worked for over 40 years in early intervention with young children with hearing loss and their families. She co-founded a private EI/DHH agency that later produced the first textbook in the field –Parent-Infant Habilitation--; one of two early childhood curricula for infants and families—Parent-Infant Communication; and provided Master’s level training for Infant-Family Specialists-D/HH for 25 years. Nancy continues to provide training for families and professionals throughout the U.S. and the Pacific. Nancy and colleagues have worked to lower the age of identification of hearing loss since 1971 when they began training medical personnel in the Hardy Noisemaker Screening techniques for Well-Baby exams.
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Chinilla Peter
(Co-Presenter), Republic of the Marshall Islands EHDI Program, chinilla@hawaii.edu;
Chinilla is the EHDI Program Coordinator for the Republic of the Marshall Islands. She also serves as part-time EHDI Early Interventionist and participates in ongoing early intervention training. Previously, Chinilla has held the positions of Deputy Director for Finance for the Ministry of Health, and Performance Improvement Manager for the NPHII Program (National Public Health Improvements Initiative) also at the Ministry of Health, Republic of the Marshall Islands.
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Agnes Flood
(Co-Presenter), Republic of the Marshall Islands EHDI Program, weijane2010@gmail.com;
Agnes is the Supervisor of Newborn Hearing Screening for the RMI EHDI Program. She participates in Early Intervention training including sessions with families where her medical background is important. She also serves as Supervisor of the Outpatient Department, Majuro Hospital, Ministry of Health, RMI. Agnes has served as Quality Assurance Officer for the RMI Ministry of Health.
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Wendy Switalski
(Co-Presenter), Center on Disability Studies, wendy@audiologysystems.com;
For the past nine years, Dr. Switalski has provided dedicated pediatric audiological services to the children and people of American Samoa. With a long history as a private practice audiologist and a more recent history of industrial audiology, she has maintained a fierce dedication to serving the underserved - whether in American Samoa or the West Bank. Her humanitarian audiological contributions have been robust!
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