2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/09/2025 | 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Elevating Family Voice: Bridging the Transition from Early Intervention to Preschool | 302
Elevating Family Voice: Bridging the Transition from Early Intervention to Preschool
The transition to preschool from early intervention can be a process full of anxiety and unknowns. This session aims to address these emotions head on by bringing together a group of families and professionals with experience in working with children who have combined vision and hearing differences to share stories, tips, and resources with session attendees. This collaborative interactive session is designed to foster an environment in which participants can engage in shared learning and leave with practical insights and resources to effectively support children and their families during their transition to preschool. This training also will continue to affirm families in elevating their voice for and with their child throughout the lifespan.
Throughout the instructional session, participants will hear key insights shared by families regarding their child’s transition to preschool services and learn innovative ways to use the effective, family-informed strategies, tools, and resources shared to support children with vision and hearing differences during their transition. This family centered approach will assist teams as they plan for a successful transition to preschool services that includes family stories, fact sheets, transition checklists, transition planning guides, and resources to ensure accessible communication methods, appropriate sensory accommodations, and adapted materials that facilitate a successful and inclusive transition process for each child.
**This session will be free for families. If you are a parent, reach out to register.online@usu.edu for the code to get this session free.**
Resources:
Preschool Transition Planning Checklist
https://www.nationaldb.org/media/doc/Preschool_Transition_Planning_Checklist.pdf
Transition to Preschool: Helpful Tips for Families
https://www.nationaldb.org/media/doc/Transition_to_Preschool_Helpful_Tips_for_Families.pdf
Early Intervention Module: Transition to Preschool Section
https://www.nationaldb.org/products/modules/pd/module-2/M2L4
Early Intervention Module: Parent Perspectives Section
https://www.nationaldb.org/products/modules/pd/module-2/parent-perspectives/
- Participants will recognize the diverse experiences during transition from early intervention to preschool of families who have children with vision and hearing differences.
- Participants will consider the family stories and identify the key elements of challenges and successes in the transition process.
- Participants will utilize family-centered strategies, tools, and resources that promote successful transitions from early intervention to preschool services shared during the session that can be applied to their personal life and work situations.
Presentation:
This presentation has not yet been uploaded.
Handouts:
3545975_18081EmmaFricke_1.pdf
3545975_18081EmmaFricke_2.pptx
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Donna Carpenter
(Co-Presenter), Kentucky Deaf-Blind Project, donna.carpenter@uky.edu;
Dr Donna Carpenter is the State Coordinator for the Kentucky Deafblind Project. She’s a certified teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Elementary Certified Teacher, Montessori Early Childhood Certified with her doctorate in Educational Leadership.
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.
Robert Hill
(Co-Presenter), South Carolina Deaf-Blind Project/SC Department of Educ., rhill@scsdb.org;
Robert has called South Carolina home for 6 years where he serves as the State consultant for students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing with the South Carolina Department of Education. Additionally, Robert is the state director for the State DeafBlind Project which is an interagency agreement between the South Carolina Department of Education and the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind.
Robert holds a Ed.S., in Special Education, M.A., in Deaf Education, and M.Ed. in Education and Administration (Curriculum and Instruction). He is currently pursuing a course work in a M.A. in Teaching of impairment. He also holds graduate certificates in Early Childhood Education and English as a Second Language.
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.
Danna Conn
(Co-Presenter), Tennessee Deaf-Blind Project, danna.conn@vumc.org;
Danna is the Project Coordinator for the Tennessee State Deaf-Blind Project
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.
Emma Fricke
(Primary Presenter,Co-Presenter), National Center on Deafblindness, efricke@helenkeller.org;
Emma Fricke is the Identification & Referral Lead at the National Center on Deafblindness (NCDB), a Technical Assistance and Dissemination grant through the US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. Prior to joining NCDB in 2018, she spent eight years working for state deafblind projects in Vermont and New York. Emma was an early childhood special educator before joining the Deafblind Technical Assistance Network.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from Helen Keller National Center.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Helen Keller National Center.
Nature: Employment.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.