2024 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 17-19, 2024 • Denver, CO
| Iowa Family Support Book Club for Tots
Iowa Family Support Book Club for Tots
EHDI Family support programs create opportunities for families to engage with each other and learn about aspects of their child’s hearing differences (HD). The Iowa Book Club for Tots program was created by Heather Dirks, Family Support Coordinator. This program allows families the opportunity to learn sign language from a Deaf adult by reading different books each month. Families feel empowered to learn how to start signing with their child in a fun and collaborative environment. Many families return each month to continue learning together, which reinforces the sense of community for parents who are learning about their child’s communication abilities and hearing differences. Early reading creates opportunities for families to engage in early aspects of communication, and encourages listening, turn taking, vocabulary development and other language skill development. Iowa’s Book Club for tots allows parents of children with HD to interact with a Deaf adult, who can teach different signs and give practical advice and suggestions for encouraging the development of ASL skills. The EHDI Family Support Program partners with the Iowa School for the Deaf to virtually record Deaf adults reading books, which allows parents to refer to videos at a later date for additional reading and signing interaction with their child. The Iowa EHDI Family Support Program is financially supported by HRSA grant monies; however, the program has used additional funding through community block grants to support buying books for families to read during and again after book club meetings. This creates ongoing opportunities for parents and children to engage, communicate and play together while supporting early aspects of language skill development and literacy.
- Participants will recognize alternative modes of engaging the Deaf Community to support families with children diagnosed with HD (Hearing Differences).
- Participants will identify funding sources needed to support EHDI Family Support Programs and Activities beyond HRSA financial support.
- Participants will be able to engange in learning about total communication systems for engaging in play with their child with hearing differences.
Presentation:
3478265_16337HeatherDirks.pdf
Handouts:
3478265_16337HeatherDirks.pdf
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Heather Dirks
(Primary Presenter), Iowa Deafblind Project and Iowa EHDI, heather.dirks@iaedb.org;
Heather Dirks is a mom to four children, the oldest of which is Deafblind. She works for both the Iowa Deafblind Project as the Family Engagement Coordinator as well as Iowa EHDI as the Family Support Coordinator. Her experience in raising a child who is deafblind with multiple disabilities has given her the unique ability to relate to other families with similar circumstances. Her passion is in helping families find support and resources for their children and she really enjoys being able to support families in both of her roles.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.