2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
3/06/2023 | 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM | Perspectives from a Virtual Parent Community | DECC 236
Perspectives from a Virtual Parent Community
In many parts of the world, families of children who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) are disempowered in regards to taking the lead in their child’s hearing rehabilitation journey. This could be due to a variety of factors including, limited access to professionals who practice family-centered intervention, factors impacting healthcare disparities including cultural norms, bias and assumptions regarding the capacities of the families, based on socioeconomic status, and other demographic factors (Balarajan & Subramanian, 2011).
We believe that all families have the potential to be their child’s facilitator, advocate, team leader if they have the appropriate support (Moeller et al, 2013). Through our virtual organization, parents and caregivers connect remotely with the interventionist individually and in small groups to learn about supporting their child’s communication development within their community. What started as group parent education sessions in 2019 and 2020, evolved into the formation of a parent community in 2021.
The community members, a majority in multiple cities in India and the subcontinent, have been a consistent source of support and information for each other. Through this virtual network of families, families of newly diagnosed children have connected with those further along in their journey. While other models of parent to parent support exist in many parts of this world, this community is a rarity in the Indian context. Fueled by a desire to transform the current intervention system to make it more family-centered, members of the parent community are taking active steps. In this presentation, experiences of family members, the challenges they have experienced, and the actions they are taking to create change within their communities will be shared. Participants will be able to consider the application of our lessons in their settings.
- Describe the formation of parent led virtual communities
- Explore the benefits families derive from engaging in a virtual community with other families
- Examine how professionals might support families to become catalysts for change
Presentation:
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Presenters/Authors
Uma Soman
(), Listening Together, uma.soman@listeningtogether.com;
Uma Soman, PhD, LSLS Cert AVEd. is an educator of students who are deaf and hard of hearing. She is the Co-Founder and Director of Programs at Listening Together, a nonprofit organization that advances the education and rehabilitation of children who are deaf or hard of hearing through parent empowerment, professional development, and public awareness around the world. She teaches online courses related to development of listening and spoken language in children who are deaf and hard of hearing to professionals around the world. She also trains and mentors teachers and therapists pursuing LSL Specialist certification. Additionally, Dr. Soman is an Assistant Professor at Fontbonne University. She has served on the board of OPTION Schools and AGBell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Uma Mididaddi
(), Listening Together, uma.mid@listeningtogether.com;
Uma Mididaddi is the parent of a young adult who is a bilateral cochlear implant user. She is the Board President of Listening Together, a nonprofit organization that advances the education and rehabilitation of children who are deaf or hard of hearing through parent empowerment, professional development, and public awareness around the world. Having raised her children in India and the US, Uma brings a unique perspective to the opportunities and disparities in access to supports and services for children who are deaf and hard of hearing.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -