EARLY HEARING DETECTION AND INTERVENTION VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
MARCH 2-5, 2021
(Virtually the same conference, without elevators, airplane tickets, or hotel room keys)
3/19/2018 | 3:35 PM - 4:05 PM | Act 177, Supporting Age-Appropriate Language Development for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf-Blind Children in Hawaii | Capitol 7
Act 177, Supporting Age-Appropriate Language Development for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf-Blind Children in Hawaii
In 2016, Hawaii’s Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community organized an effort with the purpose of ensuring that deaf, hard-of-hearing and deaf-blind children enter kindergarten with language and literacy skills necessary to acquire knowledge and academic competencies equivalent to their hearing peers. As a result, Senate Bill 2476 was introduced by Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland and members of the Deaf and Blind Task Force. The bill passed and was enacted into law as Act 177, “Supporting Age-Appropriate Language Development for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf-Blind Children in Hawaii.”
The purpose of Act 177 is to:
1) Enhance early learning services to support age-appropriate language development for children from birth to age five years who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or deaf-blind, and
2) Establish the Early Language Working Group (ELWG) whose purpose is to investigate issues related to resources and tools for parents of children who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or deaf-blind, and to make recommendations for improvements to the statewide system of services that support age-appropriate language development.
Achieving cultural diversity within the group’s membership was key to its success. The 17-member ELWG consisted of parents, professionals and community members who represented individuals who communicate using American Sign Language, oral language, and other modes of communications; who use hearing aids and cochlear implants; and who are deaf-blind.
The ELWG met once a month to examine, research and make recommendations to the state legislature on: 1) a resource guide for parents, that included language milestones, 2) tools used to assess and plan language development, 3) data on language and literacy development, 4) improvements that support age-appropriate language development, and 5) improvements concerning transition of children from the Department of Health Early Intervention Services to the Department of Education.
- Describe the legislative process which led to the formation of Hawaii’s Early Language Working Group
- Explain the importance of diversity of the composition of members in the Early Language Working Group in contributing to its success
- Identify key stakeholders who can help with planning, organizing, introducing and testifying on legislation to promote language and literacy skills of children who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, and deaf-blind
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Presenters/Authors
Colin Whited
(), Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB), colin.whited@doh.hawaii.gov;
Mr. Whited is a graduate of Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. with a BA in Government and minors in History and Business Administration. In 2015, he was appointed by the Governor of Hawaii to the Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB), serving on the Communication Access and Legislative Committees. He currently is employed at DCAB as the Communication Access Specialist. Colin is responsible for providing technical assistance to the public related to communication access for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind persons, and people with speech disabilities. He administers the State Interpreter Screening Test, drafts administrative rules, and conducts talks related to communication access and empowering Deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind people in the community to become self-advocates. In 2016, he was appointed by the Hawaii Director of Health to serve on the Hawaii Early Language Working Group.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Dale Matsumoto-Oi
(), Hawaii Department of Health, dale.matsumoto-oi@doh.hawaii.gov;
Dale Matsumoto-Oi received her Master’s degree in Audiology from the University of Hawaii and Doctor of Audiology degree from A.T. Still University. She has been an Audiologist with the Hawaii Department of Health since 1988 and is currently with the Children with Special Health Needs Branch, providing audiological services to children age birth to 21 years old.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Po Kwan Wong
(), Newborn Hearing Screening Program, pokwan.wong@doh.hawaii.gov;
Po Kwan Wong received her Master Degree in Public Health at the University of Hawaii. She has worked at the Hawaii Department of Health, Children with Special Health Needs Branch for 18 years in various capacities, with the focus on early childhood preventive health. She is a certified trainer for Child Care Health Consultants, she has presented at the early childhood conferences and has conducted training at various preschools. She has been working with the Hawaii Newborn Hearing Screening Program since 2009 and is an advocate for parent engagement, early detection and intervention.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Jennifer Clark
(), Hawaii Department of Health Early Intervention, Jennifer.Blohm@doh.hawaii.gov;
Jennifer Clark received her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Disorders and Deaf Studies: Sign Language Interpreting, from California State University, Fresno and her Master’s Degree from Gallaudet University in Deaf Education: Family Centered Early Education. Since 2010, Jennifer has been working with D/HH/DB children (birth-3) as the Early Intervention Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Specialist for the Hawaii Department of Health.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.