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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'The Importance of Maintaining a Deaf/Hard of Hearing Community While in the Mainstream' Track: 7 - Family Perspectives and Support Keyword(s): Families, Community, Support, Mainstreaming, Action Learning Objectives: Participants will leave with a better understanding of the social issues Deaf/Hard of Hearing children face and feel connected to a larger community of people. Participants will be a part of a greater Call to Action to help our Deaf/Hard of Hearing children navigate their lives with greater ease. Abstract: Deaf/Hard of Hearing students educated in the mainstream and are often the only Deaf/Hard of Hearing student in their schools. Students and parents may feel isolated and the school staff and administration may have no prior experience with hearing loss. As parents, we have sought out ways to address social issues. There are a variety of ways that parents can support continuing connection with one another and with the larger Deaf/Hard of Hearing community. We will touch upon our efforts and experiences with parent groups; membership in organizations like Hands and Voices and AG Bell; social groups where kids can connect; family camps and sleep away camps; speech and language providers and TODs; searching for physicians and other professionals who have experience with Deaf/Hard of Hearing patients, and the importance of participation in conferences like EHDI. We intend for parents and professionals to talk about the issues that we know many of us face, but often don’t have the critical mass to address, in finding ways to help our kids navigate their lives with greater ease. Presentation: This presentation has not yet been uploaded or the speaker has opted not to make the presentation available online. Handouts: Handout is not Available
PRESENTER(S) / AUTHOR(S) INFORMATION
Lisa Weiss - Primary Presenter CueSign, Inc.      Credentials: Parent       Lisa lives in Denver, Colorado. One of Lisa's three sons is deaf as a result of auditory neuropathy. Despite hearing screening in the hospital shortly after his birth and consistent follow up with audiologists and speech therapists, Lisa's son was not identified with auditory neuropathy until he was almost three years old. Lisa has been using Cued Speech for ten years with her son who has bilateral cochlear implants, is learning to sign, and communicates using spoken language. Lisa currently serves as a board member of Colorado Hands and Voices, the Interpreter Advisory Board for the Colorado Department of Education, and as a Commissioner representing the parent community for the Colorado Commission of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial - Susan Fingerle - Co-Presenter Hands and Voices      Credentials: Parent       Susan Fingerle has an 11 year old son who is Hard of Hearing.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - Has a Personal (as a parent) relationship for Board membership.