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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'Current Trends in Early Intervention Service Provision in North Carolina' Track: 3-Early Intervention and Beyond Audience: Primary Audience: Secondary Audience: Tertiary Audeince: Keyword(s): Part C, early intervention, North Carolina, parent survey Learning Objectives: 1. Distinguish how child or family factors can relate to current trends in early intervention 2. List three strategies and techniques to implement when surveying families on outcomes and satisfaction with services Abstract: In North Carolina, the eligibility criteria for enrollment in Part C early intervention services does not exclude infants and toddlers based on the severity or laterality of hearing loss. As such, the state’s early intervention population represents a widely diverse array of children ranging from minimal hearing loss to profoundly hearing impaired. While universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) has led to earlier diagnosis and intervention for most families of children with hearing loss, others struggle to attain desired services based on the unique needs of their child or family. Prior to the state-mandated establishment of UNHS in 1999, national surveys reported disparities in the provision of early intervention based on child-related factors such as severity of hearing loss (Harrison & Roush, 1996; Meadow-Orlans, Mertens, Sass-Lehrer, & Scott-Olson, 1997). For many families, this reduced access to desired intervention services can critically jeopardize the benefits of early detection and/or amplification. The present investigation reports current trends in IFSP development and early intervention service provision from 100 parents of children with hearing loss who were enrolled in or are currently receiving services in North Carolina. It examines whether child-specific factors (e.g. unilateral hearing loss, presence of additional special needs) may contribute to delays in access to intervention or the receipt of desired services for families. The study also considered how family-related factors such as racial-ethnic background and the amount of perceived social support relate to access of desired services. The findings from this project will identify priorities to improve the access of comprehensive and coordinated follow-up care for families of infants and toddlers with hearing loss. Handouts: Handout is not Available
SPEAKER INFORMATION
PRESENTER(S): Aneesha Pretto - UNC-CH      Credentials: Ph.D.,CCC-SLP       Aneesha Pretto, Ph.D, CCC-SLP, is a certified speech-language pathologist who has served children with hearing loss in the home, clinic, preschool, and elementary settings. In December 2010, she attained her doctoral degree from the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill in Speech & Hearing Sciences. While at UNC, Aneesha served as principal investigator for the Survey of Infant & Toddler Services in North Carolina. Later in 2010, she became the acting coordinator for the LENA Project, a part of UNC’s Outcomes of Children with Hearing Loss Study: a multi-year investigation of children with mild to severe hearing loss. She also holds a certificate in survey methodology from the Howard W. Odum Institute for Research in Social Sciences at UNC. Joni Alberg - Oberkotter Foundation      Credentials: Ph.D.      Other Affiliations: Adjunct Faculty, Department of Allied Health Sciences, Speech and Hearing Sciences, UNC-Chapel Hill       Joni Alberg. Joni joined the Oberkotter Foundation as Family Support Programs Officer on October 1, 2014. Previously, she served as Executive Director of BEGINNINGS For Parents of Children Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. in NC from 1999 until October 2014. BEGINNINGS provides emotional support, information, and technical assistance to parents throughout North Carolina who have children from birth through age 21 with a hearing loss. Joni holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Special Education from Florida State University and a Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Alberg has more than 30 years professional experience as a special education teacher, administrator, researcher and business executive.   AUTHOR(S): Aneesha Pretto - UNC-CH      Credentials: Ph.D.,CCC-SLP       BIO: Aneesha Pretto, Ph.D, CCC-SLP, is a certified speech-language pathologist who has served children with hearing loss in the home, clinic, preschool, and elementary settings. In December 2010, she attained her doctoral degree from the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill in Speech & Hearing Sciences. While at UNC, Aneesha served as principal investigator for the Survey of Infant & Toddler Services in North Carolina. Later in 2010, she became the acting coordinator for the LENA Project, a part of UNC’s Outcomes of Children with Hearing Loss Study: a multi-year investigation of children with mild to severe hearing loss. She also holds a certificate in survey methodology from the Howard W. Odum Institute for Research in Social Sciences at UNC.