2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/16/2026 | 10:05 AM - 11:05 AM | Better Together: ASL and LSL Professionals on the same team | Daytona
Better Together: ASL and LSL Professionals on the same team
A balanced approach to early language acquisition in ASL and spoken language involves participation from specialists on either end of the communication continuum - visual language specialists and hearing/spoken language specialists. In the relationship-based nature of our work in early intervention, families benefit from working in partnership with both language experts together on the same IFSP team. On Wisconsin’s multi-disciplinary EI team, the ASL and LSL Professionals partner together, learn from one another, and jointly support families throughout the statewide Part C program. Priorities for this collaboration include differentiated family support/coaching, monitoring language acquisition over time (both spoken and visual language assessments), and introducing/supporting a language plan over the course of an IFSP. Join this presentation to learn about scenarios in which an ASL-LSL partnership was essential to optimal child/family outcomes. Instead of the traditional either/or, this presentation will provide a framework for emphasizing and embracing the benefit of both visual and hearing/spoken language acquisition for children 0-3. Join us and consider how a similar model of collaboration might look within your own programming.
- Participants will identify key components of success in a collaborative partnership with both ASL and LSL professionals on the same IFSP team, joining visits together.
- Participants will examine real-life early intervention scenarios when ASL and LSL partnership successfully met the unique needs and/or desired outcomes of families.
- Participants will reflect on professional boundaries and purposeful teamwork in their own programming/services for children who are DHH.
Presentation:
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Handouts:
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Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Christina Vorreyer-Davis
(Co-Presenter), Wisconsin Sound Beginnings, vorreyec@uww.edu;
Christina Vorreyer-Davis, M.S., and currently a PhD student at Walden University, is a Deaf educator and passionate advocate specializing in American Sign Language (ASL) development and early childhood education. She became a Nationally Certified American Sign Language Assessor and Trainer and has since provided both in-person and virtual trainings across the country. For over a decade, Chrissy has served as an early intervention provider for DHH children and their families, including roles within the Deaf Mentor Program and Early Intervention Services. Her work focuses on language acquisition, family support, and early developmental outcomes.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from University of Wisconsin, Whitewater.
Nonfinancial -
• Has a Professional
(Contract as a trainer)
relationship for Other volunteer activities.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Nature: I am currently employed by the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. I have no additional financial or non-financial disclosures to report.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Lauren Burke
(Primary Presenter), Wisconsin Sound Beginnings, BurkeLA01@uww.edu;
Lauren is the Wisconsin Sound Beginnings CARES Communication Specialist with an emphasis in Listening, Speech, and Spoken Language. Lauren has worked within the Wisconsin Birth to 3 Program as a primary provider and in-home speech and language pathologist. As a member of Wisconsin's state-wide EHDI early intervention team, she is passionate about supporting infants and toddlers who are D/deaf or hard of hearing alongside and in partnership with their Birth to 3 team and their families. Lauren has experience using the primary provider model, coaching, and teaming practices. Lauren began her career as an Early Childhood Special Education teacher before pursuing speech and language.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Wisconsin Sound Beginnings Program .
Nature: Employed as staff with Wisconsin Sound Beginnings Program. .
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.