2024 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 17-19, 2024 • Denver, CO
3/19/2024 | 9:40 AM - 10:05 AM | Cornerstones for Kindergarten Readiness | Mineral A
Cornerstones for Kindergarten Readiness
What information is available for parents, families, early educators (i.e., caregivers) on hearing, vision, and communication development? Do they feel confident in their knowledge of vision, hearing, communication and language milestones? Do they know where to start?
The Cornerstones for Kindergarten Readiness Project was conceptualized to enhance programs such as Early Intervention and Early Childhood Education; by offering modules that are accessible, interactive, and educational in the following development areas: Communication, Language, Hearing, and Vision- for parents and professionals to use. These tools are meant to educate and empower caregivers to monitor and support child development within these areas. The modules provide confidence for caregivers to advocate for children's needs. This can improve timely identification and intervention, leading to well rounded development for children and kindergarten readiness.
- Participants will be able to identify the benefits of self-guided online resources to support for Home Visiting programs; Early Intervention and Early Childhood Programs.
- Participants will be able to describe typical development in each of the domains.
- Participants will be able to state at least two demographics that would benefit from on demand learning modules which may reduce the effects of systemic disparities.
Presentation:
3478265_16257HannaSwearinger.pdf
Handouts:
3478265_16257HannaSwearinger.pdf
Transcripts:
3478265_16257HannaSwearinger.docx
Presenters/Authors
Claire Conrady
(Primary Presenter,Author), Tri County Special Education Association , claire.conrady@gmail.com;
Claire Conrady is native to Lincoln, Illinois, where she currently resides. She attended Eastern Illinois University to receive her Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders and Sciences as well as her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. She is an ISHA and ASHA member and loves learning any and all information regarding speech pathology (Enneagram Type 5)! Her favorite areas to treat include phonological processes as well as expressive/receptive language disorders! She currently works for Tri County Special Education Association where she services four schools, preschool through eighth grade.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Illinois Hands & Voices.
Nature: Illinois Hands & Voices is funded by support of Illinois EHDI.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Hanna Swearinger
(Co-Presenter,Author,Co-Author), Illinois Hands & Voices GBYS/ Illinois EHDI , hswearinger.gbys@gmail.com;
Hanna Swearinger is the mother of two boys, the youngest has bilateral hearing loss and wears hearing aids. She currently lives in Central Illinois with her husband of over 10 years and their children. She is a Parent Guide with Illinois Hands & Voices Guide By Your Side. Hanna’s lifelong passion is advocating for and supporting others. Her professional background is in mental health and case management for adults with developmental disabilities. She has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont in Psychology and Sociology.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Illinois Hands & Voices .
Nature: Illinois Hands & Voices is funded through Illinois EHDI.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Carrie Balian
(Co-Presenter,Author,Co-Author), Illinois Hands & Voices Guide By Your Side, cbalian6@outlook.com;
Carrie Balian is the mother of five children. Her oldest child, Jack, was born deaf. Carrie and her husband, Andre, have been married for over 25 years and reside in Island Lake, IL. She has been the Coordinator of her state Parent to Parent support program, IL Hands & Voices Guide By Your Side (GBYS) for over 13 years. In continuing her ventures of representing families of children that are deaf and hard of hearing, Carrie has presented to groups nationwide and co-authored several publications including the NCHAM e-book. Carrie is currently serving as a board member on the Illinois Universal Newborn Screening Advisory Council and Illinois Hands & Voices. She is also an editor for JEHDI (Journal of Early Hearing Detection & Intervention) publications, participated on the Illinois Universal Newborn Hearing & Screening Advisory Board and Illinois Deaf Task Force. She has also participated as a parent professional on the NICHQ (National Institute for Children’s Healthcare Quality) national and statewide learning collaborative teams. In 2021, Carrie graduated from the Hands & Voices L2L (Leadership to Leadership) development cohort and in 2022 was awarded the EHDI Family Leadership Award. Carrie had the pleasure of participating in two national projects: FEHDI (Family EHDI) to help determine data points and definitions for family-based organizations for grant reporting purposes and VSV/Virtual Site Visit team that created materials and information to help support families before and after newborn hearing screening and the hospital teams that carry out newborn hearing screening. Carrie has also been recognized and awarded both nationally and locally for her support, commitment, and leadership in the field. Her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Ginger Mullin
(Co-Presenter,Author,Co-Author), Illinois Department of Public Health, ginger.mullin@illinois.gov;
Dr. Ginger Mullin has a Bachelor’s degree Communication Disorders. She also holds a Master’s and Doctoral degree in Audiology. She has worked in pediatric audiology and the EHDI system since 1995 and became Illinois’ EHDI coordinator in 2005. During that time she has been the principal investigator for both the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants/ cooperative agreements. She has received specific training in pediatrics, public health, data management and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI). As the EHDI Coordinator, Dr. Mullin has worked at the state and national level to promote newborn hearing screening, audiology diagnostics, targeted intervention, family-to-family support, stakeholder education and ongoing surveillance through age 3. She has presented regionally and nationally on pediatric assessment, amplification, the EHDI system of care, and partnering with families She has been part of the leadership teams for the Newborn Hearing Screening Training Curriculum (NHSTC), EHDI-PALS, Virtual Site Visit Project (VSV), as well as the national EHDI Meeting. She has severed in many capacities, including the President for the Directors of Speech and Hearing Programs in State Health and Welfare Agencies. She is the co-leader of EHDI Chats a national forum for EHDI Coordinators to meet monthly and share seamlessly while stealing shamelessly from one another to enhance state programs. She has been nominated several time for the Antonio Maxon Award at the National EHDI Meeting and received the Seaver Vision Award. Dr. Mullin was also a key leader for the EHDI and GBYS program which received the Generating Real Action by Cultivating Engagement (GRACE) Award from Expecting Health and Baby’s First Test. Dr. Mullin sits on the Illinois Universal Newborn Screening Advisory Committee and the Illinois Interagency Council on Early Intervention to guide work for children with low-incidence sensory disabilities.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Illinois Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program .
Nature: The EHDI program is funded by HRSA and CDC.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.