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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Presenter Information:
Presenter 1: Name: Maryann Swann

Affiliation:

Maryann Swann is the Director of the Family Education and Early Childhood Department at the Maryland School for the Deaf. She manages this state wide program that provides center based services as well as home visits. Ms. Swann serves as the Co-chair of the Maryland Newborn Hearing Screening Council and Chair of the Frederick County Infant and Toddler Local Interagency Coordinating Council. Ms. Swann participated in the Maryland Infant and Toddler Program 2006-2007 Early Intervention Leadership Academy. She brings over twenty years of experience as a direct service provider to infants, toddlers and their families. Ms. Swann has presented at state and national conferences on a wide variety of topics related to services for families with deaf and hard of hearing infants and toddlers.
Presenter 2: Name: Lori Moers
Affiliation:

Presenter 3: Name: Deborah Marquez
Affiliation:
Deborah Marquez is a supervising teacher in the Family Education/Early Childhood Dept at the Maryland School for the Deaf. She is responsible for managing the center-based services at the Columbia Campus. In addition she supports teachers working at the center and also on home visits plus assists the director with program development and implementation. Ms.Marquez has worked previously as a home visit teacher and a parent group facilitator in the dept and also supervised practicum students for Gallaudet University. Prior to coming to MSD, Ms. Marquez worked as a teacher for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program in the DODDS system in Germany, plus the Albuquerque,NM school system.
Presenter 4: Name: Mary Ann Richmond
Affiliation:
Mary Ann Richmond is a family education/early childhood teacher working for Maryland School for the Deaf. She assumes responsibilities of several facets of the family education/early childhood department; she facilitates parent group meetings, conducts home visits, teaches American Sign Language and serves as a deaf mentor for the families. She is one of the advisory council members for the Maryland Universal Newborn hearing Screening program representing Maryland Association of the Deaf. She has given lectures on communication strategies, emerging literacy and bilingual education for young deaf/hard of hearing children.
Presenter 5: Name: Cheri Dowling
Affiliation:
Cheri Dowling is Director of Advocacy for the American Society for Deaf Children and Parent Coordinator of the Maryland State Family Support and Resource Center. She is the parent representative on the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Council of Maryland, was recently appointed as the parent representative Maryland Advisory Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, she serves as a member of the Maryland State Parent to Parent Steering Committee and she is a member of various other committees. Cheri also served as the President of the Maryland School for the Deaf PTCA at the Maryland School for the Deaf for 5 years and has served as Treasurer for 2 years. Cheri lives in Woodbine, MD with her husband and their two children, 14- year old, Patrick, who is Deaf and 11- year old, Ryan, who is hearing.
Author Information:
Author 1: Name: Maryann Swann
Affiliation: Director, Family Education and Early Childhood Department,Maryland School for the Deaf
Author 2: Name: Lori Moers
Affiliation: Supervising Teacher, Family Education and Early childhood Department, Maryland School for the Deaf, Frederick
Author 3: Name: Deborah Marquez
Affiliation: Supervising Teacher, Family Education and Early Childhood Department, Maryland School for the Deaf,Columbia
Author 4: Name: Mary Ann Richmond
Affiliation: Teacher, Family Education and Early Chilhood Department
Author 5: Name: Cheri Dowling
Affiliation: Parent Coordinator, MD Family Support and Resource Center
Abstract Information:
Title: It’s not about turf or territory…it’s about listening to a family
Primary Track: 3-Early Intervention
Keyword(s): parents, professionals, collaboration, respect, tools

Abstract:

This dynamic presentation will focus on the skills and tools that service providers can use when working with families of newly identified deaf and hard of hearing infants. Agencies can work together to develop collaborative service plans that are reflective of a partnership with families. Early Intervention services can be provided by a network of professionals working together across disciplines and jurisdictions with respect and sensitivity to support a child and their family in achieving outcomes. Active listening strategies will be provided as a guide to the development of functional IFSP outcomes for infants who are deaf or hard of hearing. Resources and supports will be provided to participants focused on the development of IFSP outcomes that support families and children. Central to the presentation is the critical role of Deaf professionals in the service delivery model as well as the role of the parent coordinator from a state wide family support center. The importance of providing services to families that are culturally competent, sensitive and respectful of the family will be the cornerstone of this presentation.
Presentation(s): Not Available
Handouts: Not Available