Maine s Family Centered Exploration of Communication Opportunities Karen Hopkins M.Ed Kristen Shorey M.Ed Pam Lovejoy MA Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Learning Objectives Participants will be able to explain the process of presenting an overview of and in depth information on the continuum of communication opportunities available to families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Participants will be able to identify the value in providing unbiased and complete information and the continuum of opportunities early in the intervention process. Participants will be able to explain how to use ongoing language assessments to evaluate progress and to review families knowledge base of communication opportunities through a semiannual communication plan.
Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing MECDHH is the state deaf education agency that provides early intervention through Grade 12 programming for deaf and hard of hearing children throughout Maine. Early Childhood and Family Services Provides information, support, and resources statewide to any child 0-5 who is deaf or hard of hearing and their family Early Intervention Daycare and Preschool Consultation, Direct Service, and Coaching Transition support ~ Early Intervention to Part B
Highly qualified supportive team of early intervention professionals Early Childhood Deaf Educators Teachers of the Deaf ASL Trained Orally Trained Speech Language Pathologists ASLTA professionals Deaf Mentors Special Educators Cued Language Providers Educational Audiologist Deaf/Hearing Team
Memorandum of Understanding with Maine s Part C
Collaborative Approach to Early Intervention All children who are deaf or hard of hearing will have a full team of early interventionists supporting their family: Teacher of the Deaf Infant Mental Health Specialist Occupational Therapist Physical Therapist Service Coordinator Social Worker Special Educator Speech Language Pathologist
Early Intervention in Maine Maine utilizes a blend of the Primary Service Provider/Coaching (Shelden & Rush, 2001) and Routines-Based Early Intervention (McWilliam, 2010) models.
Purpose To develop one family-centered communication opportunities exploration process for families who have deaf or hard of hearing children throughout Maine.
Routines IFSP Cochlear Implants LSL Visual strategies Communication Opportunities Deaf Deaf Culture ABR choices goals appointments resources Sign Support audiologist outcomes Oral ASL FAMILY therapy Deaf Mentor Early Intervention Schools for the Deaf appointments evaluations LSLS Listening and Spoken Language assessments Deaf Culture routines OAE Deaf Hard of Cued Language Auditory strategies Hearing Options VIsual Sign IEP appointments Home Visits Therapy Auditory Verbal American Sign Language 9
Process Collaboration Decisions Expectations Feelings Opinions Information Dialogue Respect Rapport Trust Moeller, Brown
6 Visit Process After intake, evaluations, and the initial IFSP, families begin their process with an early interventionist who supports the family through the initial exploration of communication opportunities while honoring the early bonding process of families with their babies.
6 Visit Process Early Visits 1-3: Relationships and What do you know, what do you want to know? Early interactions Audiological testing Anatomy, types of hearing loss and hearing levels Language and early communication strategies Overview of all communication opportunities Variety of available resources Overview of hearing assistive technology (i.e. hearing aids, cochlear implants, bone anchored devices) Maine Hands and Voices, Guide by Your Side and Deaf Role Models
6 Visit Process, Continued Next Visits 4-6 ~ Depth Demonstrate, compare and contrast communication opportunities family has expressed interest in exploring Variety of professionals specific to each communication opportunity Joint visits or consultation with professionals for more in depth information Child specific hearing assistive technology and equipment management Child specific resources regarding hearing levels Review outcomes and complete the communication plan
Our Process Document
MECDHH Webinars http://www.mecdhh.org/resources/webinars/webinar-archive-list/
Earliest Interactions
Webs
Consistency of Delivery
Joint Visits As families look deeper into various communication opportunities, we bring in specialists to explain from their perspective. This provides families the opportunity to journey through different options and explore.
Team of Providers
Reflecting Together It is important to allow time for families to explore...reflect...change...question
Empathic Responses Reflecting back ~ It sounds as if Extending, clarifying ~ Tell me more. Questioning open ended ~ What did you think? Summarizing, synthesizing ~ It appears that
Empathic Responses ~ continued Checking perception ~ You seem to be Acknowledging ~ I can appreciate that. Encouraging expression ~ How did you feel? Being quiet 1992 A.G.Bell Listening and Talking, E. Cole,
Communication Plan Reviews everything discussed in the past 6 sessions Ensures families have all options presented to them Leads to chosen Primary Service Provider Leads to Family Training Opportunities Accountability of early interventionist Family writes in their own handwriting Review child s language progress and current plan Renew communication plan based on assessment data and parent choice
Communication Worksheet and Plan
Assessments National Early Childhood Assessment Project (NECAP) Language Assessment Provides state data on language development for children who are Deaf or hard of hearing Will share findings and use assessments in conjunction with the PSP to support the families outcomes MEISR (Measure of Engagement, Independence and Social Relationships) SKI-HI Language Development Scale
Promoting Strengths Listen ~ Don t tell Think with them ~ Not for them Give information ~ Don t insist they use it Develop options ~ Not ultimatums
Promoting Strengths ~ continued Look for the positive ~ Not the negative Don t say you re wrong ~ Determine why they feel they are right Congratulate their success ~ Don t ask for applause Follow their agenda ~ Not yours PJ McWilliam, 1996
A final thought from a parent... What we really want, really need as parents, is opportunities to contact other families with deaf children, help in making regular contact with adults who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, information that is accurate, honest, unbiased and fair, and then the emotional support to make decisions..
Thank You! Karen Hopkins, M.Ed Director of Early Childhood Education and Family Services Karen.hopkins@mecdhh.org (207) 781-6335 Kristen Shorey, M.Ed Early Childhood Consultant kristen.shorey@mecdhh.org (207) 852-1653 Pam Lovejoy, MA Early Childhood Consultant pam.lovejoy@mecdhh.org (207) 756-0089