After Identification – Head Start Programs

After Identification: Supporting Families In Early Head Start Programs

Families, is your child enrolled in Early Head Start?  Please give the information below to your provider:

 Families Need Your Support

“When we were informed of our son’s inability to hear we were confused and overwhelmed. We were so grateful that support was there to help us obtain the knowledge we so desperately wanted and needed, to help us sort through all that information, and assist us in getting early intervention started. We don’t want to think about how differently things would have turned out if it weren’t for that support. In our hearts and minds the program proved to be a great success for our family, and especially our son’s life.” – parent of a child with hearing loss

If you are now serving families in your program who have a child who is deaf or hard of hearing, you serve a critical role in helping families get to the resources and information they need in this new journey. There are also resources and supports for YOU as well, as the child’s education provider.

You may have had connections with the Colorado EHDI Coordinator (hint! This is an important person that can help) regarding the screening process. This professional can also assist you in getting to important resources and information when it comes to after the identification of hearing loss. You can contact them at: astredlerbrown@coehdi.org

Your Support to Families can be POSITIVE – There is great hope for these kids!!

“When I think about early identification of children with hearing loss and creating a system for screening, assessment, identification, and early intervention, I think we need to be really clear about what is the end result we want to see. We want to see successful human beings out in the world communicating effectively their thoughts, dreams, gifts, and talents as well as being able to receive from the world around them everything they need to be successful human beings.” – Janet DesGeorges, Hands & Voices

CHECKLIST

Here is a simple checklist of questions to ask yourself about the family in your program after identification of hearing loss:

• Do I know basic information about children with hearing loss?
  Check out this web site – www.babyhearing.org
  Check out this article – Including Children with Hearing Loss in Early Childhood Programs
• Do I know the resources that are available in my area/state for children who are deaf/hard of hearing?
  Check out: The Colorado Resource Guide, a publication for new families created by experienced parents with many Colorado resources.  
• Has the family been connected with Part C/Early Intervention in our state?
  Early intervention provides service coordination to help families access community resources that are appropriate for infants/toddlers who are deaf/hard of hearing and their families.
  Check out: The Colorado Hearing Resource Coordinators at http://www.csdb.org/
• Did the family been connected with other families who have children who are deaf/hard of hearing?
  Check out: Colorado Hands & Voices Guide By Your Side Program (referral link: https://forms.gle/Pd2hncoQKSBxmVnd6)
  
• Do I know if the family has chosen communication opportunities with their child? (signing, speaking, cueing, sign-supported speech, etc.)
  Check out: Communicate with Your Child –http://www.infanthearing.org/coordinator_orientation/
  section14/50_cwyc_english.pdf
• Where is the family at in terms of technology options? (hearing aids, cochlear implants, FM systems etc.?) These should be used in childcare and school programs, also.
• Do I need resources about the educational impact of hearing loss on young children?
  Check out this article: Transition to Preschool
  Check out this article: Part C of the IDEA: What You Need to Know
• Do I understand the power of the parent/professional collaborative partnership?
  Check out “The Power of Parents” – an article by Janet DesGeorges (pdf)