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ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'The Parenting Journey: An Intimate Look at the Decision-Making Process from the Hands & Voices Perspective' Track: - Keyword(s): Parenting, Decision Making, Choices Learning Objectives: Apply principles which support families in an authentic and individualized manner through the decision making process Develop and utilize resources for families which incorporate tools for the decision making process Analyze and discuss word choices/semantics that are typically used in discussing the decision making process. Abstract: This open pre-session will focus on supporting families as they go through the decision making process - from a Hands & Voices viewpoint. Exploring the use of words such as ‘unbiased’, ‘choice’, and other frameworks in context to opportunities that families face when raising a child who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing will be discussed. Topics covered, from honest and open points of view from families, include: • Emerging Confidence over time - “We wake up one day feeling confident and then the next day with doubt...” • Walk a Mile in My Shoes – “ ‘Choices’ aren't just choices from a smorgasbord we can easily pick from. The decision making process is unique and complex for each family.” • Hindsight Happens – “As your child gets older they change in ways which throws the whole journey in a new direction.” • The Learning Curve: The 90 – 95% statistic – “Just because you are a hearing parent doesn’t mean you can’t make really good choices on behalf of your kids.” • The H&V Motto – ‘What works for your child is what makes the choice right.’ – Why this motto is still relevant in today’s generation of children/families. This session will be for all those that encounter families as they walk through the early days of discovery - and the responsibility we all share in supporting families in an authentic manner. Presentation: This presentation has not yet been uploaded or the speaker has opted not to make the presentation available online. Handouts: Handout is not Available
PRESENTER(S) / AUTHOR(S) INFORMATION
Sara Kennedy - Co-Presenter Colorado Hands & Voices      Credentials: Director      Other Affiliations: OT       Sara is a mom of four children, including a daughter who was born at home and later identified with a profound hearing loss. An occupational therapist by training, Sara has worked for Hands & Voices since 2000, currently serving as the Colorado chapter director and the editor for the quarterly newspaper, the Communicator, at the Headquarters level. Sara has a special interest in advocating for hearing screening in the homebirth community. She was a coauthor for the handbook Bridge to Preschool: Navigating a Successful Transition as well as articles and presentations on teaching our deaf/hh children about sex, promoting self advocacy, progressive hearing loss, and the decision process regarding cochlear implants. She finds parenting teenagers to be an even bigger challenge.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial - Terri Patterson - Co-Presenter GA Hands & Voices      Credentials: B.A.       Terri's experience as a former Early Intervention Parent Educator and a parent of a child with hearing loss has led her into the role of Executive Director of Georgia Hands & Voices. She and her husband, Matt, have two children: daughter Molly, and son, Riley, (who was identified with profound bilateral hearing loss at two months). Degreed in Social Sciences/Psychology, Terri is the Committee Chair for the Georgia Stakeholder’s UNHS Program. She also sits on the National EHDI 2011 Planning Committee, and is co-chair of the CDC’s Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Parent-to-Parent Subcommittee, as well as serving as parent representative to the AAHBEI (American Association for Home-Based Early Interventionists) governing board. Terri is co-author of the DECISION GUIDE TO COMMUNICATION CHOICES published by the CDC, and has spoken a numerous conferences including a plenary presentation at the National Summit on Deaf Education in 2008.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Janet DesGeorges - POC,Co-Presenter Hands & Voices, Headquarters      Credentials: N/A       Janet DesGeorges lives in Boulder, Colorado and is mom to Sara, who is hard of hearing. She is a co-founder of Hands & Voices, serving as the Executive Director since September 2011, and as the E.D. of the Flagship chapter of Hands & Voices in Colorado for 10 years prior to that. Ms. DesGeorges is the author on the chapter for Family Support in the NCHAM e-Book, the co-author of the book Educational Advocacy for Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing: The Hands & Voices Guidebook, and many other publications. Ms. DesGeorges received a program certificate from the MCH Public Health Leadership Institute in 2011 at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. Her areas of interest include Leadership Development for parents; Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Systems; Parent/Professional partnerships in Quality Improvement processes.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Lisa Kovacs - Co-Presenter Hands & Voices      Credentials: Coordinator, Guide By Your Side, Hands & Voices and Indiana Hands & Voices       Lisa is coordinator of the Guide By Your Side (GBYS) program for Hands & Voices where she provides support to state GBYS programs; she is also the coordinator for the Indiana GBYS program. Lisa has 4 children, including a son with hearing loss.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Karen Putz - Co-Presenter Hands & Voices      Credentials: B.S. in Counseling, M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling, Deaf Mentor in E.I., board member and founder of Illinois Hands & Voices, board member and Director of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infusion at Hands & Voices.       Karen Putz is a deaf mom of three deaf and hard of hearing kids. She works in early intervention as a Deaf Mentor and as the Director of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infusion at Hands & Voices.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. -             ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial - Helen Cotton-Leiser - Co-Presenter OR Hands & Voices      Credentials: parent       Helen Cotton Leiser and her husband, Walker are parents to daughters Ashlin and Mikaylin both with bilateral profound hearing loss. Having worked in fund development for non profits for 10 years (even starting one herself!) Helen has finally found her niche! Providing parents with the right resources and information is critical to Helen. As the Executive Director for Hands & Voices of Oregon and the Guide By Your Side Coordinator for Oregon’s EHDI program since 2009, Helen has built relationships statewide both professionally and with other parents. In her first year Helen organized the first bi-annual statewide Parent Conference providing parents education in several arenas. Advocacy is a passion for Helen and attending IEP’s fuels that passion.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -