What is the Early Intervention for Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing Children and their Families Stakeholder Initiative?

A number of systemic issues around services for Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing children between ages birth-5 have been identified and there is a growing momentum to address these issues.  The Michigan Department of Community Health and the Department of Education have joined forces to address these concerns. 

Research has shown that early identification of hearing loss, when followed by immediate intervention, provides the potential that children with hearing loss can develop communication and language skills commensurate with their hearing peers.

Currently there is wide disparity in information and materials being provided for parents by numerous professionals with whom a parent has contact after the child’s confirmation of hearing loss.  There is no specific entity or one professional designated to provide information in Michigan.  Every family with a deaf or hard of hearing child should have access to high quality services for both the parents and the child.

Purpose:

1. To identify and implement a results-based approach to achieve the design/redesign of Michigan’s continuum of care system for children birth-5 who are Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing and their families.
2. To recognize the need to inform parents of all communication options, and to develop access to a broad range of services.

Goal:

To provide recommendations to improve the continuum of care for children birth-5 who are Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing through:

1. Informing parents of all early intervention services
2. Developing reasonable access to a broad range of high quality services for families

Vision Statement:

Every family with a child who is deaf or hard of hearing will have a choice of specialized, family centered supports and services so that their child will reach his/her full potential.

You can submit your ideas/thoughts for the Early Intervention Stakeholder Initiative to the following email address:

• earlyinterventionforDHH@michigan.gov

Stakeholder Initiative Participant List, 4/6/2006

Meetings and Documents

March 28, 2006

• Part I
• Part II

May 24, 2006

• Participant List
• Agenda
  Welcome PowerPoint 
• Vision Statement
• Handout

June 20, 2006

• Agenda
• Overall System for Deaf/HH Children Birth-5
  • Policy/Funding Group
  • Practice Group
• System Evaluation/Quality Assurance Activities

• SKI HI Guidelines for Early Intervention Programs for Deaf or Hard of Hearing