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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'Early Access to Natural Language, the Launchpad for Successful Language Acquistion' Track: 3 - Language Acquisition and Development Keyword(s): natural language, early language acquisition, early intervention Learning Objectives: identify reasons for and recall the importance of developing natural language at birth. explain the importance of natural language at home and in the academic environment. apply several strategies of promoting early language acquisition at home Abstract: Language proficiency in deaf and hard of hearing children is a sincere and common desire for all individuals involved, from parents, audiologists, therapists and teachers. Access to natural language, from birth and throughout their early years, ensures that the deaf and hard of hearing child will acquire language at the same pace and depth of hearing children. It is the launchpad that our children rocket from. The launchpad is where access to natural language allows deaf and hard of hearing children to overcome their barriers and unlocks their potential for early literacy acquisition. As parents of deaf and hard of hearing children who are thriving with their natural language, we offer real life applications and strategies for the home and school environment. Real life applications, such as word walls, supplemental language materials, and child-led faciliation will be demonstrated. These strategies and application allow for early access to language and addresses a variety of language and learning needs. They lead to the development of a language rich environment, in which the deaf /hard of hearing child can naturally acquire language. Natural Language Acquisition will also be modeled by our children either live or in video. 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 - Beth Hamilton - Co-Presenter Texas State University & Lamar University      Credentials: M.Ed       Doctoral candidate. M.A. in Legal Studies, and paralegal certificate. M.Ed., Teacher Leadership and ITF certificate. B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (Art, Communication and Human Studies) and Conflict & Resolution Mediation.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial - Heidi MacGlaughlin - Co-Presenter Lamar University      Credentials: Texas teacher certification; Texas principal certification; Gallaudet University Early Childhood Education certification       Heidi M. MacGlaughlin is currently a doctoral student in the Deaf Studies Deaf Education Department at Lamar University. Her research interests center on language and literacy among young Deaf children. She works as a Curriculum Specialist at the Texas School for the Deaf, focusing primarily in the Early Childhood Education through 2nd grade. She also provides curriculum support to the Physical Education and Aquatics department. Heidi also directs her research on the topics of research ethics within Deaf communities and social justice.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -