2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
3/16/2026 | 3:10 PM - 3:40 PM | Bridging Cultures, Building Trust: Sucess Stories on Supporting Spanish-Speaking Families in the CHARGE Community | Clearwater
Bridging Cultures, Building Trust: Sucess Stories on Supporting Spanish-Speaking Families in the CHARGE Community
Spanish-speaking families often face unique barriers when navigating early intervention and deaf-blind services. Familia CHARGE was created to bridge those gaps through culturally responsive engagement, community connection, and empowerment. In this session, participants will learn how peer-led support, language access, and authentic relationship-building help Spanish-speaking families thrive. Presenters will share practical strategies, lessons learned, and resources that participants can use to improve inclusion and strengthen outreach in their own family support programs. We will also share how this group went from the sidelines to taking a lead role in our coummunity.
- Identify how language and culture impact engagement and participation for Spanish speaking families in early intervention and deaf-blind support programs.
- Identify effective outreach and communication strategies that foster trust and empowerment among Spanish speaking families.
- Apply lessons learned from Familia CHARGE to develop culturally responsive, family centered practices in their own programs
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Presenters/Authors
Lourdes Quintana
(Primary Presenter), CHARGE Syndrome Foundation, lourdes@chargesyndrome.org;
Lourdes, born and raised in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, has dedicated her life to supporting families of children with different abilities. Her passion for advocacy comes from her personal experience growing up with a sibling who had Cerebral Palsy.
She earned a Bachelor’s in Clinical Psychology from the University of Sacred Heart and began her career leading wellness programs for young children. Lourdes later completed a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology at Albizu University.
In 1999, she moved to Orlando, Florida, where she worked as a Mental Health Therapist. She then joined the Developmental Center for Infants and Children, specializing in early intervention services for children with developmental delays. Lourdes helped families integrate strategies to support their children’s development in areas such as language, motor skills, and social-emotional growth.
Over 16 years, she partnered with organizations like Silent Hope, the Down Syndrome Foundation, and United Cerebral Palsy, earning recognition, including the 2012 Don Quijote Award for Professional of the Year. Lourdes has also served on several boards, advocating for better funding for essential services.
Currently, Lourdes works as the Outreach and Engagement Manager for the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation, helping families and professionals access critical resources and support. She is part of the CHARGE Network for Deafblind International and has led multiple initiatives to engage Spanish-speaking families.
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.