2024 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 17-19, 2024 • Denver, CO

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3/19/2024  |   9:40 AM - 10:35 AM   |  Language Acquisition Data Project   |  Capitol 2

Language Acquisition Data Project

Early access to language plays a critical role in language acquisition and development. Language proficiency is central to the development of the whole child, school readiness, and long-term outcomes. The Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (ASDB), Arizona’s Part C provider of services for infants and toddlers who are deaf/hard of hearing, blind/visually impaired, and deafblind, collects and stores data on language acquisition/outcomes in their student information system. ASDB’s student information system communicates directly with the Arizona Department of Education’s database that collects and stores data on all students across Arizona, preschool through grade 12. The team of stakeholders will share a) the pros and cons of bridging a birth to age three database with a preschool through grade 12 database, b) the short term and long-term goals, and c) the progress that has been made thus far.

  • Participants will learn about the collaborative approach between EHDI and its stakeholders in pulling together data across federal and state programs.
  • Participants will learn about the language assessments used to monitor children’s language acquisition and development and their selection criteria.
  • Participants will learn about the process of selecting and defining data elements, collecting and analyzing language acquisition data, and using findings to inform public policy and student outcomes.

Presentation:
3478265_16422KendraBenedict.pdf

Handouts:
Handout is not Available

Transcripts:
3478265_16422KendraBenedict.docx


Presenters/Authors

Kendra Benedict (Primary Presenter,Co-Author), Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, kendra.benedict@asdb.az.gov;
Dr. Kendra Benedict is the statewide director of the Early Learning Program under the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (ASDB). Her program provides IDEA Part C and B services for children, birth to age five, who are deaf/hard of hearing, blind/visually impaired, and deafblind. She has served in this position since 2019. Dr. Benedict also serves on the stakeholders committee for the Arizona Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program. Dr. Benedict holds principal and teacher certification from the State of Arizona, a Ph.D. and an M.A. in Special Education from the University of Arizona, and a B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Northern Arizona University.


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.

Laura Hocknull (Co-Presenter,Author,Co-Author), Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, laura.hocknull@asdb.az.gov;
Laura Hocknull is a Supervising Teacher for the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind's Early Learning Program. ASDB-ELP provides IDEA Part C services for Arizona children birth to age 3 who are Deaf/hard of hearing, blind/visually impaired, and deafblind. ASDB-ELP works in partnership with the Arizona Early Learning Program (AzEIP), Arizona's statewide Part C coordinator. Laura holds teacher certification from the State of Arizona, a M.S. in Deaf Education from McDaniel College in Westminster, MD, and a B.S. in Elementary Education from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS. Go, Gorillas! Laura has served as a Teacher of the Deaf for 29 years. She began her career at the Mississippi School for the Deaf before relocating to Arizona. Laura has been working in early intervention for 25 years. She has been in the role of Supervising Teacher, overseeing the delivery of services in Maricopa County specific to children with hearing differences, and has served as an Arizona EHDI Stakeholder since 2012.


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.

Lylis Olsen (Co-Presenter,Co-Author), The EAR Foundation of Arizona, lylisolsen@msn.com;
Lylis Olsen is the State EHDI Coordinator in Arizona. She is a pediatric audiologist with 35years of experience. She also has a Master's degree in Public Health and has 28 years experience in state newborn hearing screening programs. She works with the EAR Foundation of Arizona on education, advocacy and promoting services for families and their children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Lylis also manages the HEAR for Kids, a unique program that serves as a safety net for children in need of loaner cochlear implants or hearing aids, permanent hearing aids or access to all levels of diagnostic audiology services.


ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.

Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

AAA DISCLOSURE:

Financial -
Financial relationship with The EAR Foundation of Arizona.
Nature: none.

Nonfinancial -
Non-Financial relationship with The EAR Foundation of Arizona.
Nature: none.