2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
3/06/2023 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Supporting Language Acquisition in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants and Toddlers: REAL Opportunities | DECC 201/202
Supporting Language Acquisition in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants and Toddlers: REAL Opportunities
This session will focus on the need for urgency with regards to language acquisition in the young deaf or hard of hearing child. Families are often lacking adequate information relative to the risks of language deprivation and its lifelong impact on the young deaf or hard of hearing child's brain. Deaf and hard of hearing infants and toddlers and their families have a right to know information from all perspectives and about all modalities as well as accessibility to each. This will allow these children to enter school prepared for instruction. Providing families and Early Intervention professionals with research based information, resources and guidance/support in the Deaf and hard of hearing child's journey to acquiring language is critical to developing a strong foundation and keeping them from becoming at risk.
Working with the southeastern region of the United States, including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, the Regional Early Acquisition of Language (SE-REAL) Project offers a toolbox of training sessions and resources for a variety of groups, including parents/caregivers, Early Intervention professionals, and Deaf and hard of hearing adults who work with families. SE-REAL staff will present the toolbox in this session with the goal of educating families and professionals on the importance of language acquisition during the first three years of a child's development.
- Participants will identify barriers to supporting language acquisition for deaf and hard of hearing infants and toddlers.
- Participants will identify key factors that impact language acquisition for deaf and hard of hearing infants and toddlers.
- Participants will list the benefits for deaf and hard of hearing infants, toddlers, and families of learning visual, spoken and printed/written languages in the first three years of life, along with where to find resources and tools to support early language acquisition.
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Presenters/Authors
Suzanne Mattox
(), Regional Early Acquisition of Language (REAL) Project, mattox.suzanne@aidb.org;
Suzanne Mattox is the Southeast Regional Early Acquisition of Language (REAL)
Project’s director. She was born deaf and attended mainstreamed schools with interpreters. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood/Elementary Education
from Samford University, followed by a Master of Arts in Teaching in Deaf Education from Valdosta State University. For 13 years, she taught deaf and hard of hearing children in preschool through third grade, as well as serving as a parent advisor for three years. She completed the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants, Toddlers, and Families (ITF): Collaboration and Leadership Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate Program at Gallaudet University. She received an Educational Specialist (EdS) degree at Gallaudet University.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Christie Cumbest
(), Regional Early Acquisition of Language (REAL) Project, cumbest.christie@aidb.org;
Christie Cumbest is a Family Education Trainer with the AIDB REAL Project. She is a Deaf professional who provides support for early language acquisition opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children from birth to three years old that REAL Project serves. Christie is also a Deaf Mentor in Alabama and a Deaf Role Model for Alabama Hands & Voices. She is on an advisory council for Partners in Policymaking Advisory Council (PIPAC) in Alabama for individuals with developmental disabilities.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Abby Burke
(), Regional Early Acquisition of Language (REAL) Project, burke.abby@aidb.org;
Abby attended the University of Georgia and Valdosta State University where she received her Bachelor’s and Master’s of Education, respectively, in Speech Language Pathology. After working at the Alabama School for the Deaf for 5 years as an SLP, Abby is now a Trainer for the REAL Project where she provides support to professionals who work with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. She is also enrolled in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants, Toddlers and their Families: Collaboration and Leadership Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate Program at Gallaudet University.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Ukawia Johnson
(), Regional Early Acquisition of Language (REAL) Project, johnson.ukawia@aidb.org;
Ukawia Johnson is a Family Education Trainer with REAL. She is a licensed Master Level social worker who specializes in children, adolescents and families. For many years Ukawia has worked with families to help identify strengths and areas of need as well as providing activities and strategies to help them reach their goals. Ukawia has two sons. Her oldest is hearing and her youngest is “Deaf plus”. As the mother of a son who is Deaf plus, Ukawia is an advocate who believes it is important for children who are deaf and their families to have continued guidance and support to ensure the family’s overall success.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -