2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/12/2025 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Family Support in Urban and Rural Communities | 304/305
Family Support in Urban and Rural Communities
Family Support in rural and urban communities is crucial in bridging the gap between medical and educational services and underserved populations. The aim to decrease children's loss to follow-up must go beyond identification. We recognize significant barriers to access due to factors including but not limited to geographical isolation, limited resources (financial and technological), and an overall lack of programming for children with different hearing levels before age three. This presentation will discuss the importance of cultural brokering, fostering partnerships, and will feature the lived experience of a family who is currently receiving family support services in rural Tennessee. Participants will learn strategies aimed at finding success in these targeted areas of outreach.
- Identify barriers to access.
- Identify ways to access resources and support.
- Identify cultural differences.
Presentation:
3545975_18073LeahWilliamson.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Leah Williamson
(Primary Presenter), Family Voices of Tennessee/ PEARS , leah_w@tndisability.org;
Leah Williamson is the Program Coordinator for the PEARS program. Leah is the parent of a child born with a profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. After completing her service with the US Navy in 2008 she decided to call Memphis home. As a parent of four children, she has first-hand experience in navigating the early intervention system in Tennessee. Her eldest son, Malcolm, was identified at 3 years old at US Naval Hospital Bangor. The family was immediately connected to resources but not to other families with the same experience. She understood the need to connect with other parents and children. Malcolm uses ASL and also has a cochlear implant. He attends Tennessee School for the Deaf in Knoxville, TN. Leah is a fantastic role model for other parents and understands the unique needs of each individual family and child with hearing loss.
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.