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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'Early Intervention for the Youngest Little Ones: Meeting the Unique Challenges of Infants Under 6 Months of Age' Track: 4 - Early Intervention Keyword(s): Teaming, infants, assessment, partnerships Learning Objectives: Identify the unique challenges faced when providing early intervention to families with infants under 6 months of age List assessment instruments that can be utilized to determine a baseline and monitor progress Survey early intervention providers regarding their needs relative to providing intervention with this population Abstract: With the advent of universal newborn hearing screening, and the success of programs in identifying these children at an increasingly younger age, early intervention programs are faced with the unique challenges of working with infants and their families at younger and younger ages. For professionals who were trained to work with toddlers, it can be a bit daunting to begin intervention with an infant who is 6 months old – much less those who are 3, 2, or even 1 month of age! Few professionals have been trained to meet the needs of these very young children and their families; few systems are prepared to support them. Assessment measures that are appropriate for infants who are deaf and hard of hearing are few. An awareness of the stress that may exist with the parents of any newborn, which is often heightened by the presence of a diagnosis, is often lacking. Effective early intervention begins with the understanding that supporting the development of the child is dependent on understanding and supporting the family and supporting the strengths of each family in order to support the child’s development and language acquisition. This presentation will explore the unique challenges faced when working with young infants and their sleep-deprived parents, and provide some observations, solutions, and possible considerations based on experience providing these services in Colorado. 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
Dinah Beams - Primary Presenter Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind      Credentials: M.A.      Other Affiliations: Colorado Home Intervention Program       Dinah Beams is the program coordinator for the Colorado Home Intervention Program (CHIP), a statewide, in-home, family-centered early intervention program for families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing that is part of the Outreach Department of the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB). Previous experience includes working as an Outreach Specialist at Beginnings for Parents of Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing in North Carolina and as both a classroom and itinerant teacher in Colorado. Dinah is the author of the CHIP Parent Manual and the Curriculum for Sign Language Instructors, and co-developer of materials for the Integrated Reading Project, part of CSDB’s Early Literacy Development Initiative for young children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Dinah also serves on the board for Colorado Families for Hands and Voices.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Denise Davis-Pedrie - Co-Presenter Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind      Credentials: M.A. CCC-Sp. Speech/Language/Hearing Pathologist      Other Affiliations: Colorado EDHI Regional Team member       Denise Davis-Pedrie is a speech-language pathologist and teacher of the deaf with a specialist certification in Infant/Toddler Special Education. She is a Colorado Hearing Resource Coordinator with the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, supporting families with newly identified children, birth to three years of age. Additionally, Denise has more than 20 years of experience as a preschool teacher for children with hearing loss in an inclusive classroom. Denise is a member of the Board of Directors for Colorado Families for Hands and Voices.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -