| Presenter Information: |
| Presenter 1: |
Name: Lisa Crawford
Affiliation: Texas School for the Deaf
Lisa Crawford,
Parent Liaison
Educational Resource Center on Deafness
Austin, TX
Lisa Crawford is a Parent Liaison in the Educational Resource Center on Deafness in Austin, TX. In this position she helps facilitate the organization of a statewide parent network of families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing and works to increase access to resources for families through outreach activities. She is a parent/professional member of the Texas Deaf and Hard of Hearing Leadership Council: Birth to Three, the Texas National Agenda Committee (TNAC) and is a co-director for the TX Hands & Voices chapter. Lisa is the parent of two daughters, one of whom is deaf and attends the Texas School for the Deaf.
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| Abstract Information: |
| Title: |
Ethical Bias: Addressing Professional Obligations when Communicating with Families |
| Primary Track: |
6-Family Issues
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| Keyword(s): |
concept of bias, unbiased, family |
Abstract: |
This interactive session will examine the concept of bias as it pertains to communication modalities available to families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Professionals are typically told that they must provide unbiased information to families. Is this always possible and what exactly does it mean?
As a parent of a child with a hearing loss and a parent/professional who works with families, this presenter will explore the ethical dilemmas that professionals encounter when providing services. She will also present her personal/professional perspective regarding what information may be acceptable to share, and in what context.
The results of a parent survey will be shared which explores parent experiences regarding professional bias, how families made their communication choices, what information they found helpful and/or harmful, and what information they perceived as biased and why.
Suggestions will be offered about how to provide information to families about communication options and how to become a partner in their journey, ultimately resulting in the family taking the lead in seeking out information.
The following questions will be discussed with participants.
1. Is it truly possible, as a professional, to be completely unbiased when providing services to families?
2. Is it the professional's role to decides when a family is “ready’ for specific information?
3. How do we define “unbiased”.
4. Is it ever your professional obligation to divulge your biases to a family?
5. Should professionals acknowledge what they don’t know? |
| Presentation(s): |
Not Available
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| Handouts: |
Not Available
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