2024 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 17-19, 2024 • Denver, CO
| Two Years Later: Ongoing Assessment of Improving EHDI Websites
Two Years Later: Ongoing Assessment of Improving EHDI Websites
In 2021, a review of the 50 state plus DC EHDI websites was conducted that focused on four areas: hearing loss information, hearing technology, communication options, and resources. The findings were presented at the 2022 EHDI and CI2022 conferences, and published in the Journal on Early Hearing and Intervention. An initial update on 20 states was presented at the 2023 EHDI Conference. This presentation will focus on overall trends and how organizations can better support EHDI programs in maintaining comprehensive, unbiased websites. It will also discuss the initial work for the GAO study on websites required by the 2022 legislation.
The 2017 EHDI legislation requires that information provided to families be accurate, comprehensive, and evidence-based allowing families to make important decisions for their children, including decisions on hearing technologies and languages. The 2022 legislation reinforced this by calling for a GAO study on state EHDI websites. Parents need timely information to make informed decisions regarding the early needs of their children who are deaf and hard of hearing. The 2021 review found that while some states utilized their EHDI website to effectively provide comprehensive and accurate information to parents and others, most sites fell short. The late 2022/early 2023 review of 20 states revealed improvement in some states but issues remain. Nonetheless, the websites remain an important opportunity for families seeking information on options for their children who have been identified as deaf or hard of hearing.
Attendees will benefit from greater understanding of the possible pitfalls in assembling web-based information, what improvements were made from 2021 to year 2023 (in some cases because the review called attention to needed improvements), what is still needed, and the possible impact of the GAO study. Suggestions will be made on how to support improvements in web-based information in the future
- Identify paths to improve information provided to families via the state EHDI Website.
- Classify ways other states have addressed and/or improved information over multiple years.
- Understand the importance of unbiased, comprehensive information on websites have in supporting families and the need to advocate for improvements.
Presentation:
3478265_16276NicholeWestin.pdf
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Nichole Westin
(Primary Presenter), American Cochlear Implant Alliance, nwestin@acialliance.org;
Nichole Westin MA has been the Director of Government Affairs at the ACI Alliance since 2018. She has worked in advocacy since 1998 when she began her career working for the U.S. Senate. Ms. Westin has successfully managed policy campaigns at both the federal and state levels on issues ranging from export sales to payroll taxes to school nutrition. Since joining ACI Alliance, Ms. Westin has worked on a variety of parent support issue and provided one on one support on complicated insurance questions. She also leads the two advocacy networks, including CI CAN which is devoted solely to sharing the experiences of consumers and families. Ms. Westin enjoys using her experience within the federal government and other non-profits to educate people on being effective advocates for their priority policy issues.
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.