2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
3/10/2020 | 1:45 PM - 2:15 PM | Early Access to Interpreters Benefits Children in EHDI Systems | Chicago B
Early Access to Interpreters Benefits Children in EHDI Systems
Anecdotal evidence suggests that early interpreter use benefits language acquisition, access to incidental learning, and self advocacy skills in dDeaf and Hard of Hearing children. Two mothers, one Deaf and one hearing, will share their successes and challenges in early interpreter use. When one or more parent of a D/HH child uses an interpreter, that child is able to access the information in the environment from birth. They also are able to see self advocacy and interpreter usage modeled from a young age. This benefits the child, not only in seeing those specific skills modeled, but also by allowing access to world knowledge and incidental learning that might otherwise be inaccessible. Hearing parents are often confronted with uncertainty about the appropriate age to request an interpreter for their child. If an interpreter isn't requested, the child misses out on the opportunity for incidental learning, world knowledge, participation in their health care, and advocacy training among other things. When a hearing parent does request an interpreter for a prelingual child, they often confront barriers to the provision of that service for a myriad of reasons. This presentation will address the benefits of early exposure to interpreters and help begin discussions with parents and professionals about the critical need to provide accessible communications from birth forward.
- Participants will understand the importance of early interpreter use in accessing incidental learning
- Participants will consider the role early access to information plays in the development of self advocacy skills
- Participants will be more supportive of requesting and providing interpreters for children in EHDI settings
Presentation:
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Handouts:
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Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Mah-rya Proper
(), Colorado Hands and Voices, mah.rya@cohandsandvoices.org;
Mah-rya Proper began her journey in the world of early identification in 1995 with her undergraduate honors thesis under Christy Yoshinaga-Itano. She published three articles on the importance of early identification under her maiden name, Mah-rya L Apuzzo. She has been a certified sign language interpreter since 2002. She became the parent of a D/HH child in 2005 with the birth of her first son and received services through the Colorado Home Intervention Program. She still works as an ASL-English interpreter and as a Guide By Your Side with Colorado Families for Hands & Voices. She has a total of four children, one is D/HH and three are hearing. When she isn't meeting with a family or providing communication access, you will find her in the Colorado mountains recharging her soul.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Kathryn Sevier
(), none, catspaws25@gmail.com;
Kathryn Sevier is a deaf, native signer and parent to two deaf boys attending Rocky Mountain Deaf School. Her family received services through Colorado’s EHDI system (Shared Reading Project, Colorado Home Intervention Program, and in-home Speech-Language Pathology services). Prior to having children, she worked thirteen years for the US Forest Service. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology at Gallaudet University and a Master of Science in Ecology at Colorado State University. Currently, she works for the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind as a Colorado Shared Reading Program Liaison. She has served on boards for RMDS, Colorado Association for the Deaf, and Deaf Overcoming Violence through Empowerment (DOVE) and volunteered with Colorado Families for Hands & Voices and International Hearing Dog, Inc. Her connections to the Deaf and Hearing communities underpin her passion to provide comprehensive support and information to parents of deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -