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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'Creating a Program of Family Focused, Web based Resources' Track: 8-Program Evaluation and Quality Assurance Audience: Primary Audience: Secondary Audience: Tertiary Audeince: Keyword(s): Family, Intervention, Adjustment,CochlearImplants,Communication Learning Objectives: 1. Understand what families feel would be helpful resources to aid their personal adjustment and their understanding of issues related to raisng a deaf or hard of hearing child 2. Understand how to use different forms of web accessible resources to meet the needs of families and professionals 3Be better able to create a program of materials which respond to families needs, in part using the provided web accessible materials Abstract: This presentation focuses on web-accessible media and materials that can benefit families who are raising deaf and hard of hearing children and the providers who serve them. A desire to translate research advances and insights gathered through clinical practice challenged our interdisciplinary team to create and share resources which would meet the needs of families and professionals. Several such resources will be presented, all of which were designed directly in response to needs suggested by feedback from parents. One series of on-line seminars captures basics in providing effective early intervention services for infants with hearing loss. The Building Blocks “webinars” cover the compelling evidence for providing early access to language, through the visual modality, by optimizing access to sound through amplification, and/or by cochlear implant technology. Succinct information responding to questions parents frequently ask is captured on-line in “Targeted Topics,” covering medical, audiological, intervention, and communication access. An innovative Experience Journal website highlights experiences shared by parents, children, siblings, and clinicians in their own words. Contributions from all these groups, which are reviewed by a panel of parents and professionals, discuss feelings surrounding the diagnosis of hearing loss, resources families have found helpful, and decisions families confront in raising young children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Another project resulted in creation of a series of DVDs which are made available to parents and which can be shared with others who care about the child (members of the extended family, day care providers, family friends). The content of these films reinforce information provided during clinical appointments with “family-friendly” explanations of cochlear implants, preparation for cochlear implant surgery, and child reactions to having cochlear implants. Ways to access all these materials will be shared. Handouts: Handout is not Available
SPEAKER INFORMATION
PRESENTER(S): Betsy Kammerer - Children's Hospital, Boston      Credentials: Ph.D. Psychologist       Betsy Kammerer, Ph.D. is a clinical and neuropsychologist with research and clinical interest in the cognitive and emotional development of deaf and hard of hearing children. She works in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program and Neuropsychology Program at Children's Hospital Boston and is on the faculty of Harvard Medical School.   AUTHOR(S): Terrell Clark - Children's Hospital Boston      Credentials: PhD licensed psychologist       BIO: Terrell A. Clark, PhD, a contributing author for this resource, is director of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. Her endeavors through this program include teaching, supervising, conducting research, and providing clinical assessments with babies, school-aged children, and teens. As a pediatric psychologist at Boston Children’s, she is appointed as a senior associate in the Department of Psychiatry (Psychology) while at Harvard Medical School, she is an assistant professor of psychology. She has also taught at Tufts University in the Department of Child Development for many years, given numerous national and international presentations, served as an advisor to agencies and organizations on matters affecting deaf and hard of hearing children, and received regional and national recognition for her work. Garland Waller - Boston University      Credentials: Assistant Professor       BIO: Garland Waller is an Assistant Professor in the Film and Television Department at Boston University's College of Communication. She created Hothouse Productions, a student-run, client-driven production company. Ms. Waller has won numerous TV and media awards including Best Social Documentary at the New York International Independent Film Festival and five New England Emmys Greg Licameli - Boston Children's Hospital      Credentials: MD       BIO: Dr. Licameli is an otolaryngologist at Boston Children's Hospital.