2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/11/2025 | 2:15 PM - 2:45 PM | North Dakota’s Journey from Co-Existing to Collaborating, focusing on Language Acquisition | 302
North Dakota’s Journey from Co-Existing to Collaborating, focusing on Language Acquisition
The recent emphasis on language acquisition has provided ND EHDI stakeholders with a clearer direction, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of the roles within the ND EHDI system. This new focus reveals how these roles intersect to support families and children with hearing differences throughout their developmental journey.
Consistent and active collaboration is essential in building a comprehensive system of care. While ND EHDI stakeholders have collaborated in various capacities, there is now a greater need for a standardized and unified approach. By establishing and implementing agreed-upon practices, stakeholders can move beyond merely co-existing to engaging in true, meaningful collaboration.
The ND Newborn Screening program, ND EHDI program, Part C Program, and Parent Infant Program at the North Dakota School for the Deaf/Resource Center will share their journey on how they strengthened their collaboration efforts to improve the ND EHDI system and their future plans. Participants will gain insight into collaborative actions taken to coordinate system of care improvements. Participants will be able to identify two actions to implement for better systems coordination. Participants will be able to list two key activities necessary to create systems changes when working across organizations.
- Participants will gain insight into collaborative actions taken to coordinate system enhancements.
- Participants will be able to identify two actions to implement for better systems coordination.
- Participants will be able to list two key activities necessary to create systems changes when working across organizations.
Presentation:
3545975_18237JoyalMeyer.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Joyal Meyer
(Primary Presenter,Co-Presenter), ND Department of Health Newborn Screening, jbmeyer@nd.gov;
Joyal Meyer serves as the Newborn Screening and Follow-up Director within the ND Department ofHealth and Human Services. Ms. Meyer has been employed with the department since 2011 and hasserved families who have children with special health care needs, including infants diagnosed withgenetic/hereditary disorders or hearing loss. Ms. Meyer is a member of the Title V Maternal and ChildHealth Block grant team and is responsible for the overall program function, policies and legislativeresponsibilities for newborn screening. Ms. Meyer also serves as the State Early Hearing Detection andIntervention (EHDI) coordinator and has been working with the EHDI program since 2015.
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.
Jerusha Olthoff
(Co-Presenter), ND EHDI / NDCPD / MSU, jerusha.olthoff@minotstateu.edu;
Jerusha Olthoff is the ND EHDI Program Director and has been with the program for the past 17 years. She began her career with the ND EHDI program as a data/follow-up coordinator becoming the Program Director in 2015.
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.
Jordan Anderson
(Co-Presenter), ND Part C EI Specialist, Joaanderson@nd.gov;
Jordan Anderson is the Early Intervention Specialist for the State of North Dakota, where she focuses on enhancing services for children and families through collaboration, program development, and professional training. With over eight years of experience as an Early Interventionist and two years as a program director, Jordan brings a wealth of knowledge to the field. She is also a part-time instructor at the University of North Dakota, teaching courses in Early Childhood Special Education and Autism Spectrum Disorder, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of North Dakota.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
• Has a Professional
(I am employed by the state of ND and on the EHDI Advisory Board)
relationship for Board membership.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with State of ND Health and Human Services.
Nature: I am in the EHDI State Advisory Board.
Nonfinancial -
Non-Financial relationship with State of ND Health and Human Services.
Nature: I am in the EHDI State Advisory Board.
Nicole Swartwout
(Co-Presenter), Parent-Infant Program/ND School for the Deaf, nicole.swartwout@k12.nd.us;
Nicole Swartwout is the Outreach Director for the Parent-Infant and School-Aged Outreach Program for the ND School for the Deaf/Resource Center. She serves on the EHDI Advisory Committee and on the ND Chapter of Hands & Voices.
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.
Shelby Clark
(Co-Presenter), ND EHDI/NDCPD/MSU, shelby.l.clark@minotstateu.edu;
Shelby Clark is an early intervention speech-language pathologist for the Minot Infant Development Program (MIDP) at the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities (NDCPD). Ms. Clark has worked with MIDP since 2019 and joined the North Dakota Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) team in 2023. Ms. Clark is a Minot State University graduate, holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language Hearing Association, and maintains state speech-language pathology licensure in North Dakota, Missouri, and Wisconsin. She completed the Utah Regional Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities program in 2023 and has extra training in pediatric feeding disorders and sensory processing.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities.
Nature: N/A.
Nonfinancial -
Non-Financial relationship with North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities.
Nature: N/A.
Donna Sorensen
(Co-Presenter), ND School for the Deaf, donna.e.sorensen@k12.nd.us;
Donna Sorensen is the Superintendent at the North Dakota School for the Deaf/Resource Center. She has taught and/or been an administrator in deaf mainstream programs and Deaf schools in 4 states and 2 countries. Her background is Parent-Infant and Early Childhood programs. She has taught elementary and middle school and completed an ASL Interpreter Training Program. She is a life-long learner!
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Christine Brigden
(Co-Presenter), ND EHDI/NDCPD/MSU, Christine.Brigden@minotstateu.edu;
Ms. Brigden has worked in various roles for the State of North Dakota for over 24 years. She joined NDCPD in 2012 as a research associate and is an ND-licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker. Since 2017, she has been an ND EHDI Follow-up Coordinator, ensuring timely hearing care and access to EI Services. She has worked to improve care coordination and service for DHH children and their families.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -