2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference
March 13 - 15, 2022
3/14/2022 | 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM | Integrating Deaf and Hard of Hearing Professionals' Expertise in EHDI Programs | Room 2
Integrating Deaf and Hard of Hearing Professionals' Expertise in EHDI Programs
Dr. Julie Rems-Smario will be moderating a panel of four Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) professionals. EHDI leaders are Ariel Louise Meltzer of New Jersey, Karen Kelley Hopkins of Maine, and Sheri Ann Farinha of California. As the missing “voice” in the EHDI system, DHH leadership may be the solution to eradicate the following challenges in the EHDI system: language deprivation, Deaf identity development struggles, and social isolation in mainstream schools. With panelists’ narratives, stakeholders and families of the EHDI systems have the opportunity to listen to the DHH professionals’ knowledge of healthy Whole Deaf Child strategies with best practices for families. In addition, as former DHH children, the DHH professionals have profound insight to help families understand and recognize which current EHDI and Part C practices may be effective and which practices are not effective for young DHH children.
DHH panelists will share how they have regular collaborations between their state’s EHDI service providers and DHH professional organizations. For instance, the California Department of Education (CDE)Deaf Education Office and LEAD-K Family Services are DHH professionals who co-host monthly statewide EHDI stakeholders meetings with several DHH members included as facilitators and leaders. During these meetings and interactions on the state level, DHH professionals utilize their expertise, navigational skills, capital, trauma knowledge, and resources to improve the EHDI systems and Part C programs. These improvements with DHH professionals’ experience, expertise, and knowledge can help strengthen DHH infants’ and young children's early language and education opportunities in the EHDI system.
- The participants will learn about wealth of contributions made by a panel Deaf and Hard of Hearing professionals who work in the EHDI system
- The participants will gain insight of Deaf and Hard of Hearing professionals' experience navigating through the EHDI system.
- The participants will comprehend and recognize the gaps of Deaf and Hard of Hearing professionals' expertise in the EHDI system
Presentation:
3353554_15091julierems-smario.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Karen Hopkins
(), The Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing/Governor Baxter School for the Deaf, karen.hopkins@mecdhh.org;
Karen Hopkins is the Executive Director of The Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing/Governor Baxter School for the Deaf and the principal investigator of Maine's HRSA grant. She brings over 30 years of experience as a collaborative teacher of the deaf, special educator, early interventionist and educational administrator to her work with Deaf and hard of hearing children. Her work with families, coupled with her own personal experience as a Deaf adult and parent of a daughter who is hard of hearing have inspired her to create systems that empower families. Karen oversees early intervention and statewide educational programming for children who are Deaf or hard of hearing birth to age 22 throughout the state of Maine. She is active in many organizations and boards in Maine, the Hands & Voices HQ Board of Directors and is involved with international FCEI programming including the Deaf Leadership International Alliance. Karen is the Board President of Hands & Voices Headquarters. Karen's current research as she finalizes her doctoral journey is focused on perspectives of family empowerment in early intervention systems for Deaf and hard of hearing children.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary,Grants for Management position from HRSA Maine Educational Center for the Deaf.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Sheri Farinha
(), NorCal Services for Deaf and HH, SFarinha@norcalcenter.org;
Sheri A. Farinha serves as CEO, NorCal Service for Deaf & Hard of Hearing, since 1993. Ms. Farinha is a nationally known as a strong civil rights advocate for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the areas of education, employment, services for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence. Sheri is the Principal Investigator for CA's 20-047 HRSA grant steering the EHDI program: LEAD-K Family Services. Ms. Farinha’ s expertise also includes leadership development, legislative and system advocacy, and management in the nonprofit sector.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Ariel Meltzer
(Virtual), New Jersey Department of Health, ariel.meltzer@doh.nj.gov;
Ariel Meltzer is the New Jersey Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (NJ EHDI) Coordinator for the New Jersey Department of Health. Ariel is a Licensed Social Worker in the state of New Jersey. Ariel graduated from Columbia University School of Social Work with a Master of Clinical Social Work and a focus on children/families and policy. Ariel attended Rochester Institute of Technology and National and Technical Institute for the Deaf and pursued a Master of Deaf Education. Previously, Ariel has worked as a School Social Worker, a Clinical Social Worker, and a Teacher for the Deaf. In addition to being a passionate LSW, Ariel enjoys rock climbing, Pilates, hiking, traveling, volunteering, being by the ocean, and spending time with family.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Julie Rems-Smario
(Virtual), California Department of Education, jsmario@csdf-cde.ca.gov;
Dr. Julie Rems-Smario, Ed.D works as an Early Language and Education Consultant in California at CORE, California School for the Deaf, a program of State Special Schools and Services at the Department of Education. Julie's work includes working as a co-director of California's Early Hearing Detection and Intervention, training Early Start professionals on how to develop language milestones goals for IFSP/IEP, supervising SB 210 data, developing resources for families of Deaf children, and providing technical assistance to Early Childhood Education professionals. During her free time, she volunteers as one of the Public Relations Director of a national campaign, Language Equality, and Acquisition for Deaf Kids (LEAD-K).
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.