Pre & Post Meeting Sessions

Pre-Meeting Sessions are $40 each unless otherwise noted.
*Some sessions have a maximum attendance capacity.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

EXPLORING INFANT & FAMILY MENTAL HEALTH, EHDI & YOU
(*Max. 25) 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (lunch break on your own)
Presenters: Rebecca Martin, Elizabeth Seeliger
We will explore Infant & Family Mental Health (IMH) concepts & their application to the lives of families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. We will discuss key IMH topics such as the transition to parenthood; the importance of attachment; interruptions in early relationships; maternal sensitivity & responsiveness; the emotional life of a baby; & how our early experiences impact us & our work with children & families.

MORNING SESSIONS – 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon

COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT & PLANNING PROFILES FOR CHILDREN WHOARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING
Presenters: Katie Brennan, Catherine C Carotta
Assessment of children who are deaf and hard of hearing requires exploration of the factors supporting a holistic view of the child. An assessment framework will be modeled to assist interventionists and families in fostering auditory development and language competence for children who use sign and spoken language.

CONSENSUS PROCESS: BUILDING UNITY & ALIGNMENT
(*Max. 60)
Presenter: Tony Ronco How does your state EHDI team make decisions? What if the issue is controversial and there is diversity of thought? This session will look at the definition, theory and practice of consensus decision- making, and provide EHDI teams and others some grounding in this topic.

EARLY CHILDHOOD HEARING OUTREACH (ECHO) INITIATIVE
Presenters: Will Eiserman, Jeff Hoffman
The focus of this pre-session will be to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the importance of periodic early childhood hearing screening and its connection to core EHDI goals and objectives; settings where periodic early childhood hearing screening is already occurring and where it may be successfully initiated; web-based resources to support hearing screening planning, training, and implementation; and, issues that must be addressed as a part of establishing periodic screening programs.

THE HANDS & VOICES ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT TRAINING (ASTRA) – LAYING THE FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN WHO ARE DEAF/HARD OF HEARING
Presenters: Cheryl Deconde-Johnson, Janet DesGeorges, Lisa Kovacs
This session will feature the foundational elements needed to ensure that families with young children identified in the EHDI system are prepared for the education system, and for professionals who support them - including the introduction of the H&V ASTra Program, a training for advocates.

AFTERNOON SESSIONS –2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. except noted*:

WHAT TO EXPECT FOR A CHILD’S AUDITORY DEVELOPMENT
(*1:00-4:00pm)
Presenters: Virgi Mills, Mary Kay Therres
This presentation will review the auditory hierarchy of skills and timelines of expectations for acquisition of these skills. Specific monitoring tools will be discussed with case studies presented for hands-on application.

BABY BEATS: AN EARLY INTERVENTION APPROACH AND RESOURCE TO EMPOWER FAMILIES OF VERY YOUNG CHILDREN WITH HEARING LOSS
Presenters: Valeri V. Le Beau, Carissa Moeggenberg
Participants will learn how to engage families in natural interactions with infants and toddlers awaiting hearing technology. They will learn strategies to empower families to enjoy interacting with their infant or toddler while connecting them to the world of sounds, music, and voice in a fun, developmentally appropriate way.

GENETIC BASES OF HEARING LOSS: FUTURE TREATMENT IMPLICATIONS
Presenters: Luis Escobar, Michelle Wagner-Escobar
The current advances in molecular genetics have provided us the etiologic explanation of a good number of human disorders including hearing loss. The information available is complex and in the future may elucidate the mechanisms of human disease which will be the bases of future treatment. We propose to review during this session the molecular basis of hearing loss and how it will influence treatment in the future, it is possible that pharmacogenetics will play an important role in the correction of hearing loss in selected situations. The audience should be able to recognize clinical situations in which molecular mechanisms can be cited as etiologic factors of hearing loss and determine the best course of action to provide proper care of individuals with hearing loss. We will review current experimental treatment of hearing loss by modification of gene expression and function.

PARENT PERSPECTIVES: ENSURING SUCCESS THROUGH EARLY HEARING DETECTION, LANGUAGE INTERVENTION AND COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES PROVISION
Facilitator: Marilyn Sass-Leher
This parent panel will share their experiences navigating the EHDI system in their respective communities. Parents from different backgrounds will describe the benefits as well as challenges they faced obtaining support and services for their children and families. Panelists will provide tips for other EHDI families and advice for professionals.

EHDI 101
4:30-6:00 p.m. (No Charge - Included with EHDI Meeting registration)
Facilitator: Beth Benedict
This workshop is designed for EHDI Meeting first-time participants, to provide general knowledge and understanding about the history and accomplishments of EHDI and resources for EHDI stakeholders. (Must be registered for the EHDI Meeting.)

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Post-EHDI Meeting Field Trip to the Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech in Jacksonville and the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine
Tour the Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech in Jacksonville and the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine. Meet with Clarke President Bill Corwin and FSDB President Dr. Jeanne Glidden Prickett, the teachers and staff. Learn more about high-quality early learning opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing students at both schools.

REGISTER soon as the number of participants is limited! Registration and payment should be made no later than Wednesday, April 1, 2014. CANCELLATIONS FOR THIS TRIP MUST BE MADE BY APRIL 11.

$10.00 - Includes charter bus and box lunch (Charter bus transportation provided by both schools; fee covers box lunch costs)

Hyatt Regency Jacksonville-Riverfront
8:15 am - Departure
1:00 pm - Arrival