2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/11/2025 | 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM | Supporting Families Through the EHDI Process: Insights from Parents and Best Practices for Engagement | 315/316
Supporting Families Through the EHDI Process: Insights from Parents and Best Practices for Engagement
When a child is diagnosed as deaf or hard of hearing, the lives of their family are significantly impacted. For Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs, the focus is on prompt screening, diagnosis, and intervention. But what about the parents and caregivers? What are their priorities, and how can we ensure they remain engaged throughout the process?
In this session, we will share findings from a study that gathered insights directly from parents about the challenges and successes they faced as they navigated the journey from screening to diagnosis, amplification, and communication and language choice. The supports and services families receive through early intervention should align with the long-term goals parents have for their child.
The evidence from this study, including feedback from parents, can serve as a valuable indicator for those working with families—whether they are professionals, other parents, or individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Best practices in parent coaching will be discussed to demonstrate how EHDI programs, service providers, and policymakers can effectively support families.
- The learner will recognize the importance of establishing a clear and supportive pathway for families from initial screening through early intervention services.
- The learner will demonstrate their ability to ask parents/caregivers about their long-term goals for their children and demonstrate respect for their responses.
- The learner will identify and develop a plan to implement at least two new best practices in parent coaching in their daily work with families
Presentation:
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Handouts:
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Transcripts:
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Presenters/Authors
Gayla Guignard
(Primary Presenter), Alexander Graham Bell Association, gguignard@agbell.org;
Gayla Guignard has served as Chief Strategy & Programs Officer for the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) since 2015. By training and credential, Gayla is a certified audiologist, certified speech-language pathologist and certified Listening and Spoken Language Specialist in Auditory-Verbal Therapy. In addition to her work at AG Bell, she has worked as a direct service provider, clinical audiology, speech-language pathology and deaf education university supervisor, State Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Coordinator, and as the inaugural director of Indiana’s Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education (CDHHE). She has served in numerous leadership roles on national committees and work groups and has extensive experience in grant writing and management. Additionally, Gayla has been involved in several research projects and has also presented on Listening and Spoken Language and related topics internationally. Gayla’s current work is focused on bringing knowledge forward about listening and spoken language and related areas for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. She is deeply interested in systems that serve individuals and families and was a consultant with the EHDI national technical assistance center grantee [the National Center on Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM) located at Utah State University and directed by Karl White, Ph.D.) from 2007 to 2013. More recently, Gayla participated as a member of a U.S. Department of Health & Human Services EHDI Task Force and currently serves on the American Academy of Pediatrics Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Provider Education Center Advisory Committee and the Hands & Voices Family Language, Learning and Leadership Advisory Committee. Early Hearing Detection and Intervention. In 2023, Gayla represented AG Bell as a proud member of the Hands & Voices work group that created the Community Code of Kindness (https://agbell.org/our-people/ ) and has presented on “the Code” with Hands & Voices and the American Society for Deaf Children. Located in Washington, DC, AG Bell has members in 55+ countries and works with its network of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, parents/family members and professionals. Through her work at AG Bell, Gayla engages in national and international work to realize potential and improve outcomes for all deaf or hard of hearing individuals.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from AG Bell.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with AG Bell.
Nature: salaried employee.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Joni Alberg
(Co-Presenter), Alexander Graham Bell Association, joni@yalealberg.com;
Joni Alberg, PhD, has over 40 years of experience in special education. For the past 24 years she has focused her work on children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. Her diverse roles have included classroom teacher, state agency administrator, researcher, nonprofit executive director, lobbyist, and consultant. Currently, Joni works as an independent consultant, providing expertise in public policy, chapter engagement, and program development for the Alexander Graham Bell Association. Throughout her career, she has been a dedicated advocate for parents, ensuring that their rights are upheld.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Consulting fee for Consulting from AG Bell.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Nature: Consultant .
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.