EARLY HEARING DETECTION AND INTERVENTION VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
MARCH 2-5, 2021
(Virtually the same conference, without elevators, airplane tickets, or hotel room keys)
Part C eligibility criteria for children who are D/deaf and hard of hearing
Through a coordinated effort by various stakeholders at the state and federal level in 2018, 6,432 infants were identified through EHDI programs in the United States (CDC, 2020). For children who are identified as D/deaf and hard of hearing, early intervention services have been shown to benefit development (Yoshinaga-Itano, 1999; 2003; 2013). Delineated in the third component, C, of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part C Early Intervention (Part C EI) is federally-mandated state-organized developmental support for children and families in the form of early intervention services (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990). At the federal level, these services are described, but the systems of implementation, and specifically eligibility criteria to receive services, for each state can vary.
This study collected the hearing specific eligibility criteria for children in over 80% of locations that report yearly EHDI data to the CDC. At a broad level, the repository of state eligibility criteria for children who are D/deaf and hard of hearing may be useful for state agencies interested in changing their policies as well as parent support services in supporting parents in identifying how to enroll in early intervention in a specific state. Statistical analysis is being conducted looking at the impact of eligibility criteria on reported enrollment. This study is an update to the current knowledge about eligibility criteria for children who are D/deaf and hard of hearing to Part C EI. As well, this is the first analysis to look at the impact of state eligibility criteria on Part C EI enrollment for children who are D/deaf and hard of hearing specifically.
- As a result of this activity, participants will be able to describe the variability in Part C services across the United States.
- As a result of this activity, participants will be able to summarize the statistical results of the analysis regarding the impact of edibility criteria and enrollment in early intervention, as reported to the CDC.
- As a result of this activity, participants will be able to compare the Part C eligibility criteria in their area as compared to other locations in the country.
Poster:
23278_13495Torri AnnWoodruff.pdf
Presenter: Torri Ann Woodruff-Gautherin
Torri Ann Woodruff, Ph.D. is the LEND coordinator for the UConn UCEDD and CT LEND. Passionate about bolstering the voices of stakeholders, Torri Ann implements qualitative methods to highlight the power and value of individual voices in making change. Torri Ann is interested in the intersection of public health, early intervention, and family support. She is currently preparing her dissertation looking at the use of family education to support early intervention enrollment.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment,Other activities from University of Connecticut.
Nonfinancial -
• Has a Professional (Student Representative )
relationship for Volunteer membership on advisory committee or review panels.
Kathleen M Cienkowski, Ph.D. CCC/A is an Associate Professor and Department Head of SLHS at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Cienkowski studies the benefits of AR among patients with acquired hearing loss and their families. Her work has been funded by National Institutes of Health and the Veterans Administration. She is the Past-President of the Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology, Past-Coordinator for the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) Special Interest Group 7: Aural Rehabilitation and Its Instrumentation. She currently serves a audiology discipline coordinator for the UCONN LEND and co-investigator for the UCONN Pediatric LEND Supplement grant.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -