15th ANNUAL EARLY HEARING DETECTION & INTERVENTION MEETING
March 13-15, 2016 • San Diego, CA
3/14/2016 | 3:20 PM - 3:50 PM | Topical Session 3 | Pacific Salon 6/7 | 4 - Early Intervention
Maine's Family Centered Exploration of Communication Opportunities
Parents of children with varied hearing levels are often faced with the challenge of choosing a form of communication for their child within weeks of a diagnosis. Families often make these decisions without knowing the opportunities that are available to them. Families may only be exposed to specific communication opportunities, based on their geographic location and proximity to trained professionals.
The early childhood specialists at the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing have developed a presentation method in conjunction with the intake process for Maine's early intervention services. This ensures all families throughout the state receive the same information in a family centered manner.
Using an overview of the continuum of communication exposes families early to the basics of Auditory Oral/ Auditory Verbal (Listening and Spoken Language), American Sign Language, Bilingual Bimodal, Cued Speech, Pidgin Sign Language/ Manually Coded English and combined approaches. Significant importance is placed on the presentation of communication opportunities in an unbiased manner. This allows the families to make decisions based on the information and family outcomes, not based on the opinions of professionals.
After the initial presentation, families guide the discussion for a more in depth look at each communication opportunity, including the necessary elements and resources for each. This includes levels of auditory and visual access, expectations for family involvement, Deaf mentors, and trained professionals. Families are then supported in developing a communication plan, which leads to identifying necessary supports, providers and resources to help meet their goals.
Ongoing language assessments guide the family and their team, to monitor progress toward outcomes, and provides the framework for reviewing the family communication plan semiannually which is used to determine if additional interests or opportunities have become a priority for the family.
- Participants will be able to explain the process of presenting an overview and in depth information of the continuum of communication opportunities available to families of children who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
- Participants will be able to identify the value in providing unbiased and complete information and the continuum of opportunities early in the intervention process.
- Participants will be able to explain how to use ongoing language assessment to evaluate progress and to review families’ knowledge base of communication opportunities through a semiannual communication plan.
Presentation:
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Presenters/Authors
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ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Karen Hopkins
(Primary Presenter,Author,POC), The Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, karen.hopkins@mecdhh.org;
Karen Hopkins is the Director of Early Childhood Education and Family Services at The Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Karen coordinates early intervention services for children birth through age five throughoutt the state of Maine, which includes The Parent Infant Toddler Program, and the Bilingual Bimodal Preschool Program at MECDHH. She serves on the Maine Hands & Voices Board, the Maine Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory Board and Maine's Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children, and has served on the National EHDI meeting planning committe and the National Deaf Mentor Program Committee with NCHAM.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Pam Lovejoy
(Co-Presenter), MECDHH, pam.lovejoy@mecdhh.org;
Pam Lovejoy is a member of the Early Childhood and Family Services team at The Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She also collaborates with the Part C Early Intervention teams on Maine's Midcoast. Pam is a certified Teacher of the Deaf and holds a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education and Deaf Education from Gallaudet University. She also has a graduate certificate through the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants, Toddlers and Families Interdisciplinary Program at Gallaudet University.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Kristen Shorey
(Co-Presenter), MECDHH, kristen.shorey@mecdhh.org;
Kristen earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Regular & Special Education in 1993 from Wheelock College. She completed her Master’s Degree in Special Education in June 2012. Kristen is a certified Special Educator and Teacher of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing. She has worked in the field of early intervention and special education for 23 years. She also has extensive experience working with children on the autism spectrum, those that use augmentative communication, as well as children with multiple disabilities. She is a strong advocate and is excited to work with families across Maine to identify children with dual sensory needs.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Nonfinancial -