2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/16/2026 | 3:10 PM - 3:40 PM | Investing in Your State to Build Intervention Support for Children Who are d/DHH and Their Families | City Terrace 10
Investing in Your State to Build Intervention Support for Children Who are d/DHH and Their Families
Two of the challenges in the Louisiana EHDI system center on the lack of knowledgeable providers who can support children who are identified as deaf or hard of hearing and their families, and ensuring all families are provided consistent and unbiased information that empowers them to make informed decisions for their families. We were provided with an opportunity to address this challenge with the award of EHDI Innovation funding offered by HRSA. Utilizing multiple avenues to collect input from parents whose children are D/HH, and the lived experience of D/HH adults, an outline of priority topics was created, and evolved into a 10 session webinar series featuring state and national subject matter experts. The sessions were aimed at building knowledge of existing Part C intervention providers, and equipping specialized providers (teachers of the deaf) to potentially enroll as new Part C providers. At the project’s conclusion, about 28% of attendees completed the entire series and 5 new teachers of the deaf enrolled as Part C providers.
- Describe methods for gathering input on what families need to know when their child is identified as d/DHH.
- Consider ways to expand the skillset of existing intervention providers and increase the number of specialized providers available to support families.
- Explore potential incentives for existing and new providers.
Presentation:
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Presenters/Authors
Dana Hubbard
(Primary Presenter,Co-Presenter), Louisiana EHDI Program, Dana.Hubbard@la.gov;
Dana Hubbard, MEd, is the program manager for the Louisiana Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (LA EHDI) program, housed in the Louisiana Department of Health. She has a background in speech and hearing, as well as human development and family science. Dana has over 23 years of extensive and varied experience as a certified teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing, which includes early intervention support and education to families and children birth to age 3 in the Part C system and state school for the Deaf, as well as classroom and individual instruction with students, and their families, from ages 3-22, itinerantly and as coordinator of a district program for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, and in her role as EHDI program manager.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Louisiana Department of Health - Office of Public Health - Bureau of Family Health - Louisiana Early Hearing Detection and Intervention.
Nature: The Louisiana Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program is the recipient of grant funding support from the Health Resources Services Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Maternal Child Health Bureau Title V grants.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Terri Ibieta
(Co-Presenter), Louisiana EHDI Program, terri.ibieta@la.gov;
Terri Ibieta, MEd, is the EHDI Coordinator for the Louisiana Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program and has worked with the EHDI program for the past 20+ years. She is a certified teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing with 15 years of experience providing early intervention services to children who are deaf or hard of hearing and providing family education and training. She has also taught deaf/hard-of-hearing children in preschool and elementary educational settings.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Margaret Berry
(Co-Presenter), Louisiana EHDI Program, Margaret.berry@la.gov;
Margaret Berry, B.A., is the Early Intervention Coordinator for the Louisiana Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (LA EHDI) program. Prior to joining LA EHDI, Margaret worked as a preschool deaf education teacher in the public school system and as a parent educator for a state outreach program. After 33 years, she retired from these positions and has been with the LA EHDI program for the past 12 years.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -