2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/11/2025 | 9:40 AM - 10:10 AM | FCEI-DHH Structure Principles: Considerations for Addressing EI Provider Competencies and Promoting Teamwork among Professionals | 306/307
FCEI-DHH Structure Principles: Considerations for Addressing EI Provider Competencies and Promoting Teamwork among Professionals
As a whole, the special issue on FCEI-DHH is intended to guide and inform best practices in supporting young children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. One of the papers in that volume, the FCEI-DHH: Structure Principles (Szarkowski et al., 2024) highlights the necessity of having structures in place to optimize outcomes for children who are DHH and their families. This presentation will emphasize two of the FCEI-DHH: Structure Principles: Trained FCEI-DHH Providers (Principle 7) and Teamwork Among Professionals (Principle 8). This work can be accessed, free of charge, here: https://academic.oup.com/jdsde/article/29/SI/SI86/7616231
This presentation will strive to advance understanding of the FCEI-DHH Structure Principles (especially Principles 7 & 8) and will explore with participants various ways that the recommendations offered in the publication can be implemented. Join us as we collectively strive to “raise the bar” in the provision of EI for children who are DHH and their families!
Presenters include a lead author of the FCEI-DHH special issue, an EI Provider with extensive experience in working with DHH young children and their families from diverse backgrounds, an EI/Early Childhood professional who has facilitated parent-infant programs and taught DHH toddler classes and parent education, and an administrator working to align provision of EI supports for DHH children and families with the FCEI-DHH special issue recommendations.
- 1. Define and differentiate, in one’s own words/signs, the three types of competencies necessary for EI Providers working with DHH children and their families.
- 2. Discuss current “teamwork processes” in one’s EI system and delineate at least two ways those processes either align or do not align with recommendations offered in the FCEI-DHH Structure Principles.
- 3. Identify at least 2 areas in one’s own competencies/skills set that are “in need of improvement” to meet expectations for being a Trained FCEI-DHH Provider. Develop a plan for discussing this with a supervisor and/or for seeking additional training to address areas of need.
Presentation:
3545975_18273EmilyWojahn Small.pdf
Handouts:
3545975_18273EmilyWojahn Small.pdf
3545975_18273EmilyWojahn Small_1.pdf
3545975_18273EmilyWojahn Small_2.pdf
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Amy Szarkowski
(Primary Presenter), University of Massachusetts Boston, Amy.Szarkowski@gmail.com;
Dr. Szarkowski is a psychologist who specializes in supporting children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. She was on the Writing Team for the FCEI-DHH special issue.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary,Grants for Employment,Teaching and speaking from University of Massachusetts Boston.
Nonfinancial -
• Has a Professional
(Advisory Board)
relationship for Board membership.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with University of Massachusetts Boston
Boston Children's Hospital
.
Nature: Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) training grants
Hands & Voices FL3 Center Advisory Board.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Jennifer Clark
(Co-Presenter), University of Hawaii's Comprehensive Service Center, Jennifer.Clark.dhh@gmail.com;
Jennifer Clark received her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Disorders and Deaf Studies: Sign Language Interpreting, from California State University, Fresno and her Master’s Degree from Gallaudet University in Deaf Education: Family Centered Early Education. Since 2010, Jennifer has been working an Early Childhood D/HH/DB Specialist in the state of Hawaii.
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.
Emily Wojahn Small
(Co-Presenter), Gallaudet University, emily.wojahn@gallaudet.edu;
Emily (Wojahn) Small, a hearing teacher of the deaf by training, has been a classroom teacher, early intervention provider, and regional hearing resource coordinator in Hawaii and Colorado. Emily is currently the program coordinator for DC's EHDI Program while pursuing her PhD in deaf education with a specialization in early intervention at Gallaudet University. Having spent most of her career and higher education in Deaf-centric spaces, Emily is fluent in American Sign Language and an advocate for deaf rights and language access.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with .
Nature: .
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Nicole Hutchinson
(Co-Presenter), Maryland/DC Hands & Voices, nbhutchinson@gmail.com;
Nicole Hutchinson is a teacher of the deaf with a focus on early intervention. She has a BA in Linguistics: American Sign Language from the University of California, San Diego and a MA in Deaf Education: Family-Centered Early Education from Gallaudet University.
Nicole’s passion is family support programs for Deaf and hard of hearing (D/HH) children and their families. She is an advocate for early language access and providing unbiased information to families to support them as they make decisions for their D/HH child.
Nicole has worked with DHH infants, toddlers and their families for 15 years. She was formerly at The River School in Washington DC, where she coordinated the Parent-Infant Program for D/HH infants, toddlers & their families, and taught preschool for 12 years.
Nicole currently works at Kendall Demonstration Elementary School in Washington, DC in the Parent-Infant Program. She also serves as a board member of the Maryland/DC Hands & Voices chapter and volunteers with the Washington DC EHDI stakeholders group.
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.