2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference
March 13 - 15, 2022
Exploring the Intersectionality of Autism, Deafness, and Bilingualism: A Case Study on Implementation of Best Practices in Early Intervention
This session presents a case study describing the use of evidence-based practices in early childhood for young children who come from bilingual families and are deaf or hard of hearing and diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Close attention is given to the perceived variables in which individual family support program team members believe impact their ability to address the child’s needs across the intersectionality of bilingualism, deaf and hard of hearing and autism spectrum disorder. Intersectional recommendations are drawn from DEC recommended practices and high levels of family engagement. Research questions from this descriptive case study include 1. Are best practices within early childhood, for young children from bilingual families, who are deaf or hard of hearing, and for young children with autism, implemented to address the unique needs of a young child who is diagnosed as deaf and autistic?
2. What are the perceived and real challenges that prevent the implementation of best practices, drawn from across the discipline areas of early childhood, bilingualism, autism and deaf/hard of hearing, by practitioners and parents?
- Through the case study results, participants will understand the impacts of Bilingualism, DHH and ASD on child development and be able to identify how family dynamics and family-child relationships are affected.
- Through the case study, families and practitioners will explore and identify strategies that improve professional family-collaboration for positive child/family outcomes for bilingual families who have children that are DHH and diagnosed with ASD.
- Through the case study participants will be able to explain the intersectionality of the health systems and the early intervention/education systems, identifying the characteristics of the disconnect and overlaps between these systems and what is required to align both systems for more effective support of the child who is bilingual, DHH and ASD.
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Presenter: Karen Lange
After working for over 25 years in the early intervention and early childhood special education field, including 15 years of work with young children who are deaf or hard of hearing, Karen is now pursuing a doctorate degree in special education at the University of Arkansas and has recently been accepted as a scholar in the Leaders for Transition (L4T) grant program. As a student, Karen is expanding her knowledge of family centered practices, deaf education, autism and serving dually diagnosed children in early childhood inclusive settings. She recently completed a year as a Leaders in Education for Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) trainee, continues to serve as the State Interagency Coordinating Council moderator, is a member of the Division of Early Childhood Personnel Preparation committee and participates in system change initiatives to improve child find and early childhood inclusive services in Arkansas. And as an aRPy Ambassador, Karen seeks to share information about the Division of Early Childhood’s (DEC) recommended practices and the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA)’s practice improvement tools for families and practitioners who have young children with a disability or who are at risk for developing a delay. Karen’s developing research agenda includes interdisciplinary collaboration and system improvement in early intervention and early childhood, personnel development, deaf education for young deaf and hard of hearing children, inclusive practices, autism and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). More information on the aRPy Ambassador program can be found at: https://ectacenter.org/decrp/arpy_ambassadors.asp or through the DEC website: https://www.dec-sped.org/dec-recommended-practices
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.