2024 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 17-19, 2024 • Denver, CO
3/18/2024 | 10:35 AM - 11:00 AM | Deaf and Hard of Hearing Engagement in EHDI and Early Intervention Systems | Mineral A
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Engagement in EHDI and Early Intervention Systems
Three states now have forefront Deaf leadership in the early intervention and education policies for Deaf babies and children: Maine, California, and Texas. All three states have the inclusive value and respect for Deaf individual's leadership and wealth of personal and experiential knowledge in newborn hearing screening and early intervention. State EHDI programs are tasked with embedding Deaf and hard of hearing adults into their EHDI systems but are unsure of the best way to do so. Finding Deaf and hard of hearing adults in your community begins with connections with Deaf and hard of hearing adults and relationship building. Come learn how to develop a system of Deaf and hard of hearing engagement in your State’s EHDI program. This presentation will foster deeper understanding of the importance of early connection to Deaf and hard of hearing adults in your state’s EHDI and early intervention system. By giving real examples of processes, programs and specific ideas for implementation, participants will be able to take information back to their states and encourage their state EHDI programs and part C agencies to implement similar processes. Come enjoy a session with Deaf adults, who lead work in EHDI systems and Early Intervention programs!
- Participants will be able to describe how Deaf leadership and embedding Deaf and hard of hearing adults into a statewide EHDI system benefits families of Deaf and hard of hearing children.
- Participants will be able to identify ways to embed Deaf and hard of hearing Adults into their state's EHDI and early intervention processes.
- Participants will identify simple system changes to ensure Deaf and hard of hearing children have the opportunity to meet Deaf and hard of hearing adults.
Presentation:
3478265_16403JulieRems-Smario.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
3478265_16403JulieRems-Smario.docx
Presenters/Authors
Karen Hopkins
(Co-Presenter), 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 Employment from The Children's Center for Communication/ Beverly School for the Deaf.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with The Children's Center for Communication/Beverly School for the Deaf.
Nature: Employment.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Sheri Farinha
(Co-Presenter), 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 exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Julie Rems-Smario
(Primary Presenter), 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 exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with .
Nature: .
Nonfinancial -
Non-Financial relationship with .
Nature: .
Ryan Hutchison
(Co-Presenter), Texas Department of State Health Services, ryan.hutchison@dshs.texas.gov ;
Ryan Hutchison has been statewide coordinator for the Texas Early Hearing Detection and Invention program since 2019. Ryan served as a gubernatorial-appointed governing board member for the Texas School for the Deaf from 2015-2019 until accepting the TEHDI coordinator position. Before joining the TEHDI program, Ryan led the development of innovative, virtually-based human service programming providing culturally and linguistically competent resources for deaf and hard of hearing job seekers and learners across the US as Vice President of CSD Neighborhood.
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.