2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
DUKE ENERGY CONVENTION CENTER
3/06/2023 | 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM | Perspectives from a Virtual Parent Community | DECC 236
Perspectives from a Virtual Parent Community
In many parts of the world, families of children who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) are disempowered in regards to taking the lead in their child’s hearing rehabilitation journey. This could be due to a variety of factors including, limited access to professionals who practice family-centered intervention, factors impacting healthcare disparities including cultural norms, bias and assumptions regarding the capacities of the families, based on socioeconomic status, and other demographic factors (Balarajan & Subramanian, 2011).
We believe that all families have the potential to be their child’s facilitator, advocate, team leader if they have the appropriate support (Moeller et al, 2013). Through our virtual organization, parents and caregivers connect remotely with the interventionist individually and in small groups to learn about supporting their child’s communication development within their community. What started as group parent education sessions in 2019 and 2020, evolved into the formation of a parent community in 2021.
The community members, a majority in multiple cities in India and the subcontinent, have been a consistent source of support and information for each other. Through this virtual network of families, families of newly diagnosed children have connected with those further along in their journey. While other models of parent to parent support exist in many parts of this world, this community is a rarity in the Indian context. Fueled by a desire to transform the current intervention system to make it more family-centered, members of the parent community are taking active steps. In this presentation, experiences of family members, the challenges they have experienced, and the actions they are taking to create change within their communities will be shared. Participants will be able to consider the application of our lessons in their settings.
- Describe the formation of parent led virtual communities
- Explore the benefits families derive from engaging in a virtual community with other families
- Examine how professionals might support families to become catalysts for change
Presentation:
3420032_15583UmaSoman.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Uma Soman
(), Listening Together, uma.soman@listeningtogether.com;
Dr. Uma Soman is an educator of deaf or hard of hearing students and a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist, Auditory-Verbal Educator (LSLS Cert. AVEd). Over the last twenty years, Dr. Soman has worked directly with children and families in a variety of settings. She has also worked with graduate students and mentored professionals pursuing Listening and Spoken Language Specialist certification.
Currently, Dr. Soman serves in two roles. She is the co-founder and the Director of Listening Together, a nonprofit organization that advances the education and rehabilitation of children who are deaf and hard of hearing around the world through parent empowerment, professional development, and public awareness. She is also an assistant professor in the Communication Disorders and Deaf Education Department at Fontbonne University in St. Louis, MO, USA. In both of these roles Dr. Soman works to prepare teachers, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists to work with children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families in a variety of settings. Dr. Soman has served on the boards of OPTION Schools and AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from Fontbonne University.
Nonfinancial -
• Has a Professional (Co-Founder & Director)
relationship for Board membership,Other volunteer activities.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Fontbonne University
Listening Together.
Nature: Salary
Listening Together - Board Member, Director of Programs (unpaid).
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Uma Mididaddi
(), Listening Together, uma.mid@listeningtogether.com;
Uma Mididaddi is the parent of a young adult who is a bilateral cochlear implant user. She is the Board President of Listening Together, a nonprofit organization that advances the education and rehabilitation of children who are deaf or hard of hearing through parent empowerment, professional development, and public awareness around the world. Having raised her children in India and the US, Uma brings a unique perspective to the opportunities and disparities in access to supports and services for children who are deaf and hard of hearing.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
• Has a Professional
relationship for Board membership.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.