2024 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 17-19, 2024 • Denver, CO
3/18/2024 | 3:10 PM - 3:35 PM | Deaf Autism Family Day: Collaborative Innovative Family Support | Capitol 4
Deaf Autism Family Day: Collaborative Innovative Family Support
The co-occurrence of reduced hearing and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can significantly complicate developmental outcomes. Families often report stress (Wiley et al, 2018) and difficulty accessing information and resources to support their child’s unique needs (Wiley, Gustafson, Rozniak, 2014). Their previous experiences with deafness and with autism informs their perspectives and needs (Young et al, 2019). Furthermore, families report a strong need to connect with other families of deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) children with co-occurring ASD to reduce stress and identify resources to better navigate systems (Wiley et al, 2014). However, families often share that events tailored to DHH children or events supporting autistic children do not meet their child or family’s needs. In recognition of the unique support needs for families of DHH children with ASD, our interagency planning team with representatives from a local chapter of Colorado Hands & Voices, Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, a local pediatric hospital, and a local ABA clinic developed an annual family-friendly event tailored to this population’s unique strengths and needs. Using pictures and videos as well as personal anecdotes from past attendees and the presenters, this presentation will describe this nature-based event, highlighting grass roots efforts to draw upon resources available within the community. Attendees will be provided with a how-to guide to support other teams in developing similar events, including a planning timeline and to-do list, example waivers, visual supports and activities, and registration templates.
- Summarize 3 key elements of nature-based inclusive family support activities
- List 3 take away strategies that could be applied to planning a similar event for DHH children with developmental disabilities
- Identify key resources/stakeholders in participant's region who could be recruited to help build similar family support opportunities
Presentation:
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Handouts:
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Transcripts:
3478265_16250DeborahMood.docx
Presenters/Authors
Deborah Mood
(Primary Presenter), Colorado Children's Hospital, DEBORAH.MOOD@childrenscolorado.org;
Deborah Mood, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist with Developmental Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She has a Ph.D. in school psychology from University of Northern Colorado and a specialist degree in school psychology from Gallaudet University. Dr. Mood completed a LEND psychology postdoctoral fellowship at JFK Partners, University of Colorado School of Medicine, after completing an APA accredited psychology internship at the University of Minnesota. She specializes in working with children who are deaf and hard of hearing as well as children with a variety of developmental disabilities including autism spectrum disorder.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Grants for Independent contractor from MCH.
• Receives Grants for Independent contractor from NIH/NIDCD.
• Receives Honoraria excluding diversified mutual funds,Speaker for Other activities from Phonak.
• Receives Salary for Employment from University of Colorado Anschutz.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with University of Colorado- Denver- employment
NIH/NIDCD grant/research support
MCH/LEND grant support
Phonak- past honoraria.
Nature: University of Colorado- Denver- employment
NIH/NIDCD grant/research support
MCH/LEND grant support
Phonak- past honoraria.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Robin Getz
(Co-Presenter), CHIP (Colorado Home Intervention Program), rlgetz@csdb.org;
Robin Getz, MA, is a Colorado Hearing Resource Coordinator (CO-Hear) with the CHIP (Colorado Home Intervention Program) program through the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind. She supports urban families with newly identified children, birth to three years of age. Profoundly deaf from birth, Robin began her formal education in Puerto Rico at a bilingual Spanish/English school for Kindergarten and 1st grade before moving back to NYC where she was born. She has lived in many places nationally, and internationally as a child. She earned a double major in Psychology; and Communication Disorders and Speech Sciences for her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and holds two Master's Degrees: Mental Health Counseling from Gallaudet University, and Deaf Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Robin began her professional career as a licensed Mental Health Therapist (LPC), which she practiced for about 8 years until she realized her heart was in the early intervention field. She has worked as an early interventionist with the CHIP program for 23 years with families from diverse cultures. She enjoys reading, traveling, and trying new ethnic foods
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.
Brenda Elliott
(Co-Presenter), Colorado Hands & Voices, brenda@co-hv.org ;
Brenda Elliott is an early childhood music educator and is a parent of four children tow of whom were born with reduced hearing levels and identified as newborns. Her eldest, born in 1996, was not referred for early intervention (EI) services, so grew up without support and accommodations until the age of seven. In 2007, when her youngest was born d/hh, her family received a timely referral to EI and participated in the CO Home Intervention Program (CHIP) and connected with CO Hands & Voices. These contrasting experiences have fueled her passion for connecting families with EI and accommodations and services for school-aged children who are d/hh.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Other financial benefit for Independent contractor from CO Families for Hands & Voices.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with CO Families for Hands & Voices.
Nature: Contractor.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Jennifer Hills
(Co-Presenter), University of Northern Colorado, hill2249@bears.unco.edu;
Jennifer is the clinical director of Deaf and hard of hearing services for Springs Learning Community (SLC). The clinic offers services in natural environment-based applied behavior analysis. Prior to her current position, she was a teacher of the Deaf for 8 years. She is working on her PhD in special education, with research interests in Deafness with autism. Jennifer lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and adult son who is Deaf.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from Springs Learning Community.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Springs Learning Community.
Nature: We send volunteers and craft items from our Applied Behavior Analysis company to work at Deaf ASD day.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Shaun DeLisa
(Co-Presenter), CO Hands & Voices, shaun.delisa@gmail.com;
A. Shaundelle “Shaun” DeLisa, M.Ed. is a 6th grade Science and Social Studies teacher in Castle Rock, Colorado. Shaun has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Colorado State University, but her passion for learning and supporting students led her to go back to school to get her master’s degree. She has a M.Ed. from Arizona State University. Shaun has 6 kids and was introduced to Hands and Voices after the birth of her now 15 year old Deaf+ son. Today, she is Board President of Colorado Hands & Voices.
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.