EARLY HEARING DETECTION AND INTERVENTION VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
MARCH 2-5, 2021

(Virtually the same conference, without elevators, airplane tickets, or hotel room keys)

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3/08/2020  |   1:30 PM - 4:30 PM   |  Families Entering Early Intervention: A Systems View   |  Chicago B

Families Entering Early Intervention: A Systems View

This interactive workshop will focus on some of the systemic challenges and solutions for families who have children who are deaf/hard of hearing entering early intervention services. Topic areas may include: current trends in eligibility for D/HH kids, turnover of Part C Coordinators and their knowledge of D/HH specific statewide supports; data collection considerations for the public and private sectors; insights from providers who engage with families who may not or do not choose to enroll in early intervention services; E.I considerations for specific populations: i.e. kids with unilateral hearing loss; deaf/hh plus; underserved populations. (i.e. perceived or real barriers to EI enrollment by families from cultural communities such as immigrant populations). Evidence-based resources and tools will be reviewed by participants in roundtable discussions to create action plans for their states/territories/ EHDI programs, including family-based organization considerations.

  • Explore the evidence-based practices and preferences of parents in what constitutes quality early intervention for children who are deaf/hard of hearing.
  • Provide concrete goals and objectives that EHDI systems can incorporate to fulfill the EHDI Act, Part C, and other legislative mandates towards effective intervention supports.
  • Address the ways in which parents with newly identified children who are D/HH access information, and decision making about Early Intervention, including why/when they say ‘no’ to services.

Presentation:
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Handouts:
Handout is not Available

Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference


Presenters/Authors

Janet DesGeorges (), Hands & Voices, janet@handsandvoices.org;
Janet DesGeorges lives in Boulder, Colorado and is Executive Director of Hands & Voices Headquarters. Janet has presented to groups worldwide about the experiences of families as they journey through life with a child with deafness or hearing loss. Ms. DesGeorges received a program certificate from the MCH Public Health Leadership Institute in 2011 at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. As an EHDI Systems advocate, Janet believes in the principles and guiding philosophies of Hands & Voices towards a parent-driven, professionally-collaborative approach when supporting families in the early years. Her areas of interest include Leadership Development for parents who participate in systemic improvement; Deaf Education Reform and Improvement; Children’s Safety and Success(preventing child abuse and neglect); Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Systems; and Parent/Professional partnerships in Quality Improvement processes.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.

Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.

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 -

Nonfinancial -

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 -

Nonfinancial -

Lisa Kovacs (), Hands & Voices , lisakovacs@handsandvoices.org ;
Lisa Kovacs is the Director of Programs for Hands & Voices Headquarters and the Director of the Family Leadership in Language and Learning (FL3) Center. She and her husband Brian have four young adult children including her son who is hard of hearing/deaf. Lisa was the 2019 Antonio Brancia Maxon Award for EHDI Excellence recipient. Her professional interest include; Parent Advocacy; Implementation of parent participation and engagement in systems building; Parent to Parent support; Deaf Education Reform; IDEA, ESSA, Part C and Part B Training to Parents, and Parent Leadership Training and Development.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.

Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.