2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/10/2025 | 2:25 PM - 2:55 PM | Implementing an Effective Bilingual Bimodal Early Childhood Program | 321
Implementing an Effective Bilingual Bimodal Early Childhood Program
The Children’s Center for Communication/Beverly School for the Deaf is known for their expertise in educational programming for deaf children with additional needs. They recently added an inclusive bilingual bimodal early childhood program that expands on this expertise. Implementing evidenced based practices in early childhood education, principles of the development of ASL and Spoken Language, and family centered programming, this program supports children in the exploration of language opportunities while honoring family and child choice. The program’s learning environment offers three connected classrooms joined by two doors. Classrooms offer instruction and interaction in ASL, Spoken Language, or a Multi-Modal Approach. Families choose where their child starts their day and for an extended period of each day the child chooses which room they will spend their time in, and in essence, making choices of how they will communicate. Data is collected on the child's choices and shared with families. The Deaf /Hearing team of specialists form an interdisciplinary collaborative team focused on offering a program rich in language experiences and social emotional growth. The presenters will share a diverse deaf/hearing team of professionals built this program and utilized models from other programs, consultations, language planning, family centered principles and the classroom environment to learn from each other and their students. The assessment process will be shared as well as how the team analyzes data. The presenters will share strategies for successful implementation learned in this first year of implementation. Parents will share the benefit of letting children lead as they explored language and communication opportunities and how this process resulted in overall positive outcomes for their children.
- Identify critical areas of need in implementing an effective bilingual bimodal early childhood program.
- will be able to explain the benefits of child choice in an effective bilingual bimodal early childhood program.
- will be able to explain the benefits of bilingual bimodal programming for children who are deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing
Presentation:
3545975_18291KarenHopkins.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Karen Hopkins
(Primary Presenter,Author), Children's Center for Communication/Beverly School for the Deaf, karenhopkins@cccbsd.org;
Dr. Karen Hopkins is the Executive Director of The Children's Center for Communication/Beverly School for the Deaf.. She brings over 30 years of experience as a collaborative teacher of the deaf, special educator, early interventionist and educational administrator to her work with Deaf and hard of hearing children. Her work with families, coupled with her own personal experience as a Deaf adult and parent of a daughter who is hard of hearing have inspired her to create systems that empower families. Karen oversees early intervention and statewide educational programming for children who are Deaf or hard of hearing birth to age 22 at CCCBSD. She is active in many organizations and boards, the Hands & Voices HQ Board of Directors and is involved with international FCEI programming including the Deaf Leadership International Alliance. Karen is the Board President of Hands & Voices Headquarters. Karen's current research is focused on perspectives of family empowerment in early intervention systems for Deaf and hard of hearing children.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with CCCBSD.
Nature: Executive Director.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Emily Davis
(Co-Presenter), Children's Center for Communication, egkrull@gmail.com;
Emily is a parent of a deaf child in the preschool at The Children's Center for Communication/Beverly School for the Deaf.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Alexandra Arnow
(Co-Presenter), The Children's Center for Communication/Beverly School for the Deaf, alexandra.arnow@gmail.com;
Alexandra is the mother of a child in the preschool program at the Children's Center for Communication/Bevelry School for the Deaf
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Julie Minch
(Co-Presenter), The Children's Center for Communication/Beverly School for the Deaf, julieminch@cccbsd.org;
Julie is the teacher in the ASL classroom of the Bilingual Bimodal preschool at the Children's Center for Communication/Beverly School for the Deaf
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -