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Early Contact with Parents:A Resource Kit for Parents and

Professionals

Janet Gilbert, Ed.D. Mary Ann Lyon, MA, CCC/ASusan Swartz, MA, CCC/SLP

EHDI National Conference Salt Lake City 2007

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Who are we?

Oakland Schools Intermediate Service District (ISD) was established in Michigan in 1962. It is a regional service agency offering support services to school personnel that are best delivered regionally, as measured by cost, size and quality advantages.

Oakland Schools is an autonomous, tax-supported public school district governed by Michigan General School Laws.

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What do we do?

Align activities with the Michigan School Improvement Framework

Leadership regarding best practice Encourage and facilitate

school/community relation Support school personnel and families

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How do we do it? Awareness….

Collaboration….

Technology….

Support

for families and professionals of children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing

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What’s this kit all about?

A learning opportunity for families and the community to access information efficiently and in the comfort of their own surroundings

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What we believe…

People have limited time and want to access information on their own

Information needs to be both general and specific

Target the needs of the community

Value diversity of thought

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We started assessing our needs….

824%

11%

8%

7%

4%

2%

2%4%

38% LD

Speech

CI

EI

OHI

Autism

ECDD

PI

Low I nc

Identification Rates By Disability 2005

December 1, 2005/MICIS

The state of Michigan provides special education services to children ages Birth to 26

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Oakland County Demographics

Total students 230,000

Total Special Ed. students 25,335

Deaf/H of H (K-12) 383

Deaf/H of H (3-5 yrs.) 25

Deaf/H of H (birth-3) 21

Special education count, 2006

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Oakland County Demographics (cont.)

14,623 births

100% participation by hospitals in UNHS (state) 14 diagnosed with hearing loss 7 undetermined

Five county area 6 diagnostic centers (birth-6 months) 28 diagnostic / follow-up centers (6 months-5

yrs.)EHDI Program, 2005 statistics

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Ethnicity 83% White10% African-American

7% Other

Languages more than 100 spoken; 13% of homes have a language other than

English

Median Household

Incomerange: $31,200 to

$104,000

Oakland County Population : 1.2 million

U.S. Census Bureau, 2004

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What did we find out as we started peeling the onion?

Educational services are available for babies and a referral process is in place

Level of awareness of information about hearing loss was variable

Understanding about parents’ feelings was variable

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What did we do next?

Parent information through interview

Systems review of referral process

Review of available materials

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We listened to, and valued, our comments from families…..

“I just need some basic information…”

“Too much information too soon”

“The process is so different from one parent to the next”

“An unbiased list of resources and where to get them”

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Systems review of the referral process

Stakeholder Meetings

Quickstart Referral Guide Best Practice Guidelines Service Delivery

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Reviewed available materials

A lot out there but it didn’t meet our needs Hearing loss Sensitivity Ease of distribution Specific to our county Cost

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What issues did we decide to target?

Level of awareness of information about hearing loss

Referral from diagnosis to intervention

Delivery of information about hearing loss in a sensitive way

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A Resource Kit for Parents and Professionals

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Components of the kit

Hearing Loss: Delivering the Diagnosis in a Helpful Way

Quick Start Guide

Introduction to Hearing Loss

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Development of the DVD

Access to facilities, technology and personnel to develop and produce

Time

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Development of the Guide

Levels of involvement Selection of stakeholders Scheduled meetings Facilitation of meetings Production and resources

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The video selection

Review videos

Video selection Sensitivity Diversity Cost Ease of access in attaining

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www.med.umich.edu/childhearinginfo/

Video - Introduction to Hearing Loss

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CD - Infant Hearing Guide

National Center for Hearing Assessment

& Management (NCHAM) Utah State University2880 Old Main HillLogan UT 84322-2880 (attn: Kim Palmer)

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DVD - Hearing Loss- Delivering the Diagnosis in a

Helpful Way

Oakland Schools2111 Pontiac Lake RoadWaterford, MI 48328 (attn: Mary Ann Lyon)

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Factors in Distribution

Maximize effect Parents

Physicians - awareness of hearing loss and family feelings, and to explain the referral process in Oakland County

Educators and Community Partners Awareness of hearing loss and family feelings What families would be receiving from

diagnostic centers

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Challenges Funding Administrative support Appropriate materials Time Stakeholder selection and commitment Diversity of perspective Development of group processes Setting timelines and developing a

product Distribution

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Final Thoughts

To develop a resource kit tailored to your needs ... Needs assessment including

resources

Develop or purchase materials

Distribution plan

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“Thus, the source of change and growth for an organization or an individual is to…..”

Margaret J. Wheatley and Myron-Kellner Rogers,

A Simpler Way, 1996

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To contact us….

Janet.Gilbert@oakland.k12.mi.us

MaryAnn.Lyon@oakland.k12.mi.us

Susan.Swartz@oakland.k12.mi.us