2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference
March 13 - 15, 2022
3/07/2023 | 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Fathering a Deaf or Hard of Hearing Child: An Onboarding Checklist for Dads | DECC 203/204
Fathering a Deaf or Hard of Hearing Child: An Onboarding Checklist for Dads
*Fathers of children who are deaf and hard of hearing have consistently been an underrepresented population in Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) systems. Mothers are more likely to attend early intervention (1) and parent support services, are the focus of far more research studies (2), and are more likely to become engaged in systems work on a local, state, and national level (3). However, fathers are involved in decision-making about and the raising of children who are DHH, even if they are not as visible.
With the goal of tapping their wisdom, the EHDI Parent to Parent Committee formed a Fathers’ Task Force, convening a diverse group of fathers representing a variety of communication and educational options, as well as range of lived experiences. For six months, these experienced fathers shared with Committee members their insight about what was uniquely important for fathers who are just started their journey to know. The result is the collaborative creation of an onboarding checklist for new dads, with fresh tips for professionals in the intentional inclusion of fathers.
In this session, several fathers from the Task Force will share the Onboarding Checklist, how it can be used with new fathers, and how important it is to gain diversity of family input to create better services for children who are D/HH. Several Parent Committee members will explain the process of creating the document and invite ideas for future materials.
* ” Fathers” is inclusive of any person who identifies as playing a father figure role in the life of a child who is deaf or hard of hearing.
(1) https://academic.oup.com/jdsde/article/24/2/84/5266414
(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8527996/
(3) https://www.handsandvoices.org/fl3/resources/pdfs/data-impact/Y1-Y2_Compare_Survey_02Jun2022.pdf
- • Explain 1 – 2 benefits to input from fathers about services for their child who is D/HH.
- • Share 2 recommendations from the Fathers’ Task Force to fathers new on their journey.
- • Identify 2 ways the Onboarding Checklist for Fathers can be used in EHDI systems.
Presentation:
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Presenters/Authors
Candace Lindow-Davies
(), Hands & Voices Headquarters, Candace@handsandvoices.org;
Candace is the mother of an adult son who is deaf plus other health concerns. For 16+ years, she developed and directed parent support services for MN Hands & Voices. May 2017, she became the Director of Outreach for Hands & Voices HQ and has served on the Core Management Team of the Family Leadership in Language in Learning or FL3 Center. She has developed materials for and provided technical assistance/training to family-based organizations in the US, US territories and China. She is passionate about supporting the needs of children/adults who are deaf/hh plus other health issues, creating health and employment equity, as well as ensuring families have access to adults who are deaf and hard of hearing. She is a Core Member of the Fostering Joy project, focusing on the joys of raising children who are D/HH.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Tony Ronco
(), H&V, T_Ronco@hotmail.com;
Tony is married & the father of two young adults; one hearing and one deaf. His deaf daughter is now Junior at Gallaudet. He has been deeply involved in parent to parent support, and has served in numerous parent based organizations. Tony is trained & certified change agent, a professionally licensed engineer and a manager.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Sara Kennedy
(), Hands & Voices, Sara@handsandvoices.org;
Sara is a mom of four children, including a daughter who was born at home and later identified with progressive loss. An occupational therapist by training, Sara has worked for Hands & Voices since 2001 as the editor for the quarterly newspaper, the Communicator. Sara has a special interest in advocating for hearing screening in the homebirth community. She was a coauthor for the Virtual Waiting Room web presence at Hands & Voices, the handbook Bridge to Preschool: Navigating a Successful Transition as well as articles and presentations on teaching our deaf/hh children about sex, promoting self-advocacy, progressive hearing loss, and the decision process regarding cochlear implants. Sara transitioned out of her role as Director of Colorado Hands & Voices since 2011 at the end of February 2022. She finds her new consulting role with her young adult children rewarding and challenging.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.