2025 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 9-11, 2025 • Pittsburgh, PA
DAVID L. LAWRENCE CONVENTION CENTER
Award Winner/Nominee Details 2025
Gayla Guignard
We appreciate the opportunity to nominate Gayla Guignard for the 2025 Antonia Brancia Maxon Award for EHDI Excellence. Throughout her career, Gayla has exemplified the legacy of Dr. Maxon in her dedication to early hearing detection and intervention. Her commitment to family engagement and to outstanding early intervention services is reflected in her work as a leader at the state, national and international level. As parents of children who are deaf and as professionals serving children and families, we are so grateful for Gayla’s outstanding contributions to EHDI excellence.
As the EHDI Coordinator in Indiana, Gayla was an early adopter and champion for families through parent-to-parent support with Indiana Hands and Voices. Through her initiatives families received equitable and timely support and access to resources and information was provided within two days. Gayla fully believed in and paved the way for parent leadership; not just inviting parents to the table but ensuring that parents were supported and provided with training to be thought leaders and change agents in the EHDI system.
Every single child is Gayla's priority. During her time in Indiana, she did not want to see one baby slip through the cracks. Through her creative efforts as Indiana EHDI Coordinator, loss to follow up dramatically decreased. Gayla developed a strong foundation during her time as the Indiana EHDI Coordinator and her good work has lived on in the program.
As the Chief Strategy Officer at the Alexander Graham Bell Association, Gayla has created programming that reflects her awareness of the vital importance of early intervention and her commitment to families, children and the professionals who provide early intervention services. With a parent, Gayla developed the Parent Support Line which offers families a quick connection to a parent consultant with information, resources and encouragement. Ongoing virtual Parent Chats provide content and shared support. Gayla coordinates the annual Listening and Spoken Language Symposium which provides the latest research and content to enhance the services provided by early interventionists, teachers, speech-language pathologists and audiologists. For the last eight years she has been awarded NIH funding to develop a research symposium.
Gayla recognizes the critical need for ongoing professional learning for those working in early hearing detection and intervention and in collaboration with colleagues she has designed offerings including mentoring and webinars to support the knowledge, skills and efficacy of early intervention providers. Gayla frequently serves as an advocate for the rights of children and families with influential government agencies, organizations and schools. She is a valued partner, appreciated for her expertise, dedication and collaborative nature.
Gayla is a compassionate, determined, and honest leader whose passion and fearlessness have made a lasting impact on the EHDI system both in Indiana and nationally. Her contributions embody the spirit of Dr. Maxon's early work in EHDI, reflecting a deep commitment to advancing the field and improving outcomes for families and children.