2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
3/07/2023 | 10:10 AM - 10:40 AM | The Colorado Hearing Resource Coordinator (CO-Hear): The Family Lens | DECC 233
The Colorado Hearing Resource Coordinator (CO-Hear): The Family Lens
The Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (JCIH) refers to the family and professional as “partners” during early intervention (JCIH, 2019). Additionally, the JCIH 2013 Supplement identifies goals for supporting families in early intervention programs, which include: support in the informed decision making process, flexibility in ways to involve family members, support during transition, innovative models of service delivery, and language assessment and intervention. This supplement reinforces a few best practice principles, such as: timely support, accurate and up-to-date information, professional development and training, seamless access to and connections with service coordinators with specialized knowledge, and collaboration with home visiting programs recognized by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
These goals and best practice principles guide the Colorado Home Intervention Program and the work of the Colorado Hearing Resource (CO-Hear) Coordinator. The Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB) employs the CO-Hears, and works closely with our EHDI team and state Hands & Voices team to provide the most seamless journey possible for families. While our goal is a “seamless journey”, our system has barriers and challenges, which ultimately impact the family.
The CO-Hears, EHDI, and Colorado Hands & Voices are nationally known organizations, and Colorado’s system has previously been presented at conferences, but not often from the family perspective or with the family voice. CSDB, COEHDI, and Colorado Hands & Voices will come together in this presentation to discuss our system, the successes, the challenges, and the collaboration that is critical, all from the lens of the family.
- Participants will learn about the role of the CO-Hear as it relates to families, initial visits, supports and resources.
- Participants will identify challenges and roadblocks for professionals and families during these first contacts
- Participants will understand the multi-organization collaboration that is crucial for families.
Presentation:
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Presenters/Authors
Ashley Renslow
(), Colorado EHDI, Arenslow@csdb.org;
Ashley Renslow is the Early Education Coordinator with Outreach Programs at the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind. In her role, she coordinates the Colorado Hearing Resource Coordinator (CO-Hear) and Colorado Home Intervention Programs (CHIP) and the Colorado Shared Reading Project (CSRP). She also programmatically oversees the Early Literacy Events. A speech language pathologist by background, she has worked in Deaf residential Schools for 10+ years in varying roles, and has served local families as a CHIP facilitator (0-3 early interventionist). Outside of work, when she's not chasing her preschooler and toddler, Ashley enjoys being outside, traveling, and lounging with a good book.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Jami Fries
(), Colorado Hands & Voices, Jami@co-hv.org;
Jami Fries lives in Mead, CO with her husband, Eric, and two boys, Liam and Nathan. Nathan is profoundly deaf due to congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV), has Type 1 Diabetes, and struggles with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS).
Jami is the Executive Director of Colorado Hands & Voices, the Guide By Your Side Coordinator and is the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Plus and congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) Parent Guide. She is an advocate for cCMV awareness and education. Jami has presented at multiple National Conferences and local events regarding hearing loss and congenital CMV.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Heather Abraham
(), Colorado EHDI, habraham@coehdi.org;
Heather has worked in the field of education for 25 years. Her bachelor's degree is from the University of Colorado at Boulder in communication disorders and her master's degrees are from the University of Northern Colorado in deaf education early childhood special education and administration. She has worked as a teacher of the deaf at several schools in Colorado. She was previously a CO-Hear Coordinator and CHIP Facilitator for 18 counties on the western slope of Colorado before transitioning into educational administration. She worked as a Director of Outreach for the Washington School for the Deaf before returning to Colorado to become the Executive Director of Student Services for the Aspen School District for 12 years. Currently, she works as the Family Support and Engagement Coordinator for the Colorado EHDI system.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -