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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'How Young Deaf Children Benefit from Rhymes and Rhythms' Track: 3 - Language Acquisition and Development Keyword(s): Nursery Rhymes, Language Acquisition & Proficiency Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to list out the benefits of phonological awareness for children, and identify the barriers deaf and hard of hearing children experience at school and home. Participants will be able to incorporate rhymes and rhythms into their lives as parents, teachers, or mentors while interacting with deaf and hard of hearing children. Participants will know where to find valuable educational resources designed for deaf and hard of hearing children, and know how to utilize them in the classroom or at home. Abstract: Studies after studies have revealed the benefits of phonological awareness for hearing children hence the popularity of nursery rhymes in early childhood programs and curricula. Rhymes and rhythms increase young children’s executive functions and memory skills, contribute to vocabulary growth and language proficiency (Nash & Donaldson, 2005), boost natural language acquisition, and is strongly linked to reading achievement (Adams, 1990; Stanovich, 1992). Most young deaf and hard of hearing learners do not have the same kind of access to rhymes and rhythms as hearing children do. This presentation by a dynamic and experienced team of an educator, linguist, and a family therapist will introduce educational resources available to ensure that deaf and hard of hearing children thrive with language via rhymes and rhythms. 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
-             ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial - Jonathan McMillan - Primary Presenter,Co-Presenter,Author,POC Hands Land      Credentials: M.A. in Sign Language Education B.A. in Sociology B.A. in Communication Studies      Other Affiliations: National Association of the Deaf Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf American Society for Deaf Children       Hailing from Washington, D.C., Jonathan McMillan has a Master’s Degree in Sign Language Education and two Bachelor’s Degrees in Sociology and Communication Studies. Being an inveterate traveler, he has participated in various organizations such as AmeriCorps, Global Deaf Connection and World Federation of the Deaf to promote better education and quality of life for Deaf youth throughout the world. In addition to his extensive outreach work in India, Kenya, Venezuela, Finland, and USA, he spent a year as a visiting Research Assistant at Boston University for an ongoing research to assess ASL knowledge and its relationship to English reading in Deaf Children. With a team of people who specialize in Education, Linguistics, and Family Therapy, he is currently working on a project that focuses on developing ASL Rhymes and Rhythms digital resources for young children. He is presently a lecturer with the Communication Studies department at Gallaudet University.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Amanda Sortwell - Co-Presenter San Diego Youth Services      Credentials: M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy, IMF 83339. B.A. in Family and Child Studies, and National Certified Counselor.      Other Affiliations: Deaf Community Services of San Diego, San Diego Youth Services, San Diego County Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Deaf Women United, California Association for the Deaf, American Counseling Association, and the National Association for the Deaf.       Amanda hails from Fresno, California. She has a Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and is a national certified counselor. She has a passion in Early Intervention services for the deaf and hard of hearing children. Amanda also loves performance and resides in San Diego, California as a Mental Health Clinician.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Leala Holcomb - Co-Presenter University of Tennessee, Knoxville      Credentials: Master's of Education- Special Education      Other Affiliations: National Leadership Consortium on Sensory Disabilities (current fellow)       Leala used to be a preschool and family education teacher working with young Deaf and Hard of Hearing children and their families. Leala created a new enterprise called Hands Land with two other colleagues focusing on developing educational resources through rhymes and rhythms. Leala is currently a first year Ph.D. student at the University of Tennessee conducting research on the benefits of rhymes and rhythms for young Deaf and Hard of Hearing children. Leala also provides professional consultations to schools inside and outside the United States.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial - Has a Professional (Cooperating a project to create educational resources for young children) relationship for Volunteer employment.