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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'Empowering Families through a Hands & Voices Guide By Your Side (GBYS) and Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) Collaboration ' Track: 1 - EHDI Program Enhancement Keyword(s): follow - up, family support Learning Objectives: 1. The learner will understand how EHDI and GBYS work together on behalf of families with children who have hearing loss. 2. The learner will comprehend the impact of very early GBYS follow-up with families on motivating families to proceed on the next steps of their journey. 3. The learner will identify potential barriers as well as solutions for integration of family support into the EHDI process. Abstract: The presenters will discuss a shift to very early post-diagnosis follow-up with families because of a successful collaboration between a Hands & Voices GBYS program and a State EHDI program. A State EHDI Coordinator and GBYS Parent Program Coordinator will discuss the use of GBYS parent-to-parent support and mentoring through the EHDI program from the point of diagnosis to enrollment in early intervention. The presenters will discuss follow-up processes as well as the flow of information between EHDI and GBYS. Objectives and content typically included in the initial post-diagnosis phone call with the family will also be shared. One year after the initiation of GBYS in this state, nearly 100% of families are opting to be enrolled in GBYS and are matched with a GBYS Parent Guide. Come find out how the collaborative work between EHDI and GBYS supports, empowers and motivates parents and enhances EHDI follow-up! 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 Kovacs - Hands & Voices      Credentials: Parent      Other Affiliations: Indiana State Department of Special Education Advisory Council, National Deaf Education Summit Committee, American Academy of Pediatrics EHDI Task Force       Lisa lives in Greenwood Indiana with her husband Brian and 4 children. Her son has Auditory Neuropathy. Lisa is one of the founding board members for Indiana Hands & Voices and has been with the organization for over 8 years. She is currently the Program Coordinator for Guide By Your Side(GBYS). She is also the Director for GBYS Hands & Voices Head Quarters. She has extensive training in Educational Advocacy and Parent Support. Lisa serves on several councils and committees; Indiana Department of Education Special Education Advisory Council, National Deaf Education Summit Committee, and American Academy of Pediatrics EHDI Task Force. Lisa has a passion for training parents and helping them recognize their strengths and abilities in order to make informed decisions for their child and family. Lisa wants to see that all children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing have the opportunity to reach their full potential.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial - Gayla Hutsell - Guignard - Co-Presenter Indiana EHDI      Credentials: M.A.,CCC-A/SLP,CertAVT      Other Affiliations: Consultant for the National Center for Hearing Assessment & Management       Gayla Hutsell Guignard is the EHDI Program Director for the State of Indiana. Gayla is an audiologist, speech-language pathologist and Listening and Spoken Language Specialist (LSLS Cert AVT). Prior to EHDI, Gayla worked for the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) and was employed for several years with Child Hearing Services, a program of the University of Tennessee's Audiology and Speech Pathology department.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -