2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
3/15/2022 | 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM | Bringing It All Together: The Role of Deaf Professionals in Early Intervention | Room 1
Bringing It All Together: The Role of Deaf Professionals in Early Intervention
Meeting a hard of hearing or deaf individual often occurs through the birth of one’s child. As a result, parents are uncertain of where to begin their journey. Parents are faced with various support options and recommendations by professionals to pursue auditory support through technical devices and perhaps spoken language. The child’s acquisition of any language modality may not be addressed immediately due to the parents’ focus of following up on recommendations for hearing loss screening and diagnosis. Once a confirmation of a diagnosed hearing loss, the journey is frequently followed by the process of hearing aid fitting and/or cochlear implants. During this critical time, infants and families need to begin their life changing journey toward robust language development, which is foundational to cognition and socialization of the child.
As Deaf Development Specialists (D-DS) and Deaf Mentors, we incorporate the New Mexico Family Infant and Toddler SSOOPPRR coaching model with families as we provide an encompassing umbrella of services. We support each family’s decisions, ranging from various assistive technology, language modalities, developmental outcomes that may include language delays, behavioral, social skills as well as incorporating interactive communication by supporting language acquisition. We ensure a collaborative approach within our EIDS program as well as with providers from other agencies to ensure the language acquisition, developmental outcomes as defined by the family are being met. Support includes but not limited to advocacy, language acquisition, recruiting fathers in F2F- Family to Family events within NMSD programs, language assessments, referrals, and information related to community resources as well as state or national resources.
- Ensuring a collaborative relationship between D/HH Adults, the family and agencies.
- Coaching with supporting language acquisition per family's choice.
- Language acquisition has many facets, and all can be explored and supported.
Presentation:
3353554_14886KathleenAranda-Myers.pdf
Handouts:
3353554_14886KathleenAranda-Myers.pdf
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Joseph Lopez
(InPerson), New Mexico School for the Deaf- EIDS (Early Intervention Developmental Services Department, joseph.lopezIII@nmsd.k12.nm.us;
Joseph Lopez aka “JoJo” born and raised in Riverside, California and attended the California School for the Deaf Riverside(2004) and Gallaudet University(2010/2017) Alumni. He has a B.A in Communication Studies and M.A in Sign Language Education. JoJo currently lives in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and he is working as a Deaf Mentor for Early Intervention & Developmental Service at New Mexico School for the Deaf. He is an Adjunct Instructor for ASL Levels 1 & II at New Mexico State University. He also works for ASL Connect: Families for Gallaudet University and is an active advocate in his community. He serves on the boards for Raíces del Rio Grande, New Mexico Mano A Mano, and Council de Manos. He loves to socialize, enjoys hiking, coffee, taking pictures, and most of all spending quality time with family.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Kathleen Aranda-Myers
(InPerson), New Mexico School for the Deaf - EIDS (Early Intervention Developmental Services Department), Kathleen.arandamyers@nmsd.k12.nm.us;
Kathleen Aranda-Myers graduated with a Master's degree in Social Work and obtained a career as a School Social Worker. Her focus was providing socio-emotional and transitional services for D/HH middle and high school students and their families. She also continued to provide contract services for a Community Agency to support independent life skills for D/HH adults. Following the birth of her second child, she took an hiatus to raise two sons, followed by a third son, yet remaining involved in community outreach. Today, she volunteers in raising awareness for hearing loss, cochlear implants, and serves as a Vice President for a non-profit agency. Since July 2019, she has been working at New Mexico School for the Deaf within the Early Intervention Developmental and Services Department (NMSD-EIDS) as a Development Specialist. In her personal time, she enjoys gardening, music and crafting.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.