2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference
March 13 - 15, 2022
3/07/2023 | 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM | Promoting the Power of Siblings for Natural Language Development | DECC 212
Promoting the Power of Siblings for Natural Language Development
When a small child is identified as deaf or hard of hearing often there are one or more siblings or other similar age family members in the home. These young children can be excellent language role models who are effective active or passive participants in play therapies. Sometimes, they come into this role naturally and other times it requires a bit of guidance. In either case, children who are deaf and hard of hearing thrive when everyone in the home promotes a fun, active and language rich environment throughout the day. In this presentation, early interventionist Judy Alonzi and parent-leader and EHDI champion Valerie James Abbott will reflect on their shared EI experience. Abbott’s oldest child (age 6) was recognized and utilized as an in-home language model to help their youngest child (age 2 - who had a late-identification hearing loss) relearn auditory and verbal skills and improve delayed language and cognitive development. Citing the methodologies of the Family Guided Routines Based Intervention model, presenters will discuss ways in which EI providers can promote sibling involvement with families. They will also review the positive impact that siblings and other young family members can contribute within diverse and/or underserved communities. The lessons learned in this presentation can be utilized for families choosing American Sign Language, Cued Speech, Listening and Spoken Language, or a combination of these.
- Participants will understand why all young children can be excellent language role models
- Participants will develop strategies for families to engage siblings in everyday language building activities
- Participants will understand the role siblings play in some historically underserved communities
Presentation:
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Handouts:
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Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Valerie Abbott
(), Center for Family Involvement at VCU; Late Onset Hearing Loss Awareness Campaign, valeriejamesabbott@gmail.com;
Valerie James Abbott is a parent-advocate, an award-winning author, and an EHDI-champion who serves as co-chair of the Virginia EHDI Advisory Committee. She works at the Center for Family Involvement at Virginia Commonwealth University, supporting the needs of families of children who are deaf and hard of hearing and leading projects that support the goals and objectives of Virginia EHDI. She has served on the board of Virginia Hands & Voices and in 2021 she founded the National Late Onset Hearing Loss Awareness Campaign with Justin Osmond, CEO of the Olive Osmond Hearing Fund. Valerie has published several articles online and in print about raising a child with a disability that have gained nationwide attention. Her children’s book Padapillo won (bronze) in the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award and is based on the true story of how her family discovered and came to terms with their daughter's late onset hearing loss.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Royalty options or other ownership interest for Other activities from Self - Valerie James Abbott.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Judy Alonzi
(), Grafton Integrative Health Services, alonzijudy@gmail.com ;
Judy Alonzi is an Infant Developmental Specialist/Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at the Henrico and Chesterfield Infant Early Intervention programs. She's served infants and young children for more than 30 years including working as a deaf and hard of hearing itinerant teacher, developmental therapist, sign language interpreter and consultant in a variety of settings, including public schools; preschool through high school, a state school for the deaf, and home-based services. Judy has a BS from the University of Alabama as a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing with a concentration on speech and oral education. Graduate work in the field of teaching deaf and hard of hearing from Georgia State University and a M.Ed. from Virginia Commonwealth University in Early Childhood Special Education. Additionally she has 15 years in specialized post-graduate training in Listening and Spoken Language therapy. Currently a Communicative Sciences and Disorders Advisory Committee member at Longwood University, a member of the adjunct faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University as an instructor in the Early Childhood Special Education Graduate Program, and in June 2022, was elected co-chair of the Virginia EHDI Advisory Committee. Judy has recently joined on with Grafton Integrative Health Services as program manager for Grafton Special Services; a newly developed program to serve children throughout the 40 Infant and Toddler Connection agencies in the state of Virginia.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -