HEAR OUR VOICES

Family Centered Best Practice Model and the IDEA The Parents Right to Receive Unbiased Information on Communication Options

Who What Kind Standard vs. Not Standard All Options Unbiased Communications Options How are Current Systems Responding?

Findings Why Disparity? Discretionary Multiple Persons Across Multiple Agencies Lack of Knowledge Bias

Creating Best Practice Model Support for the Model Individuals for Disabilities Education Act, Part C Infants and Toddler Family Centered Practices Family choice and decision making occur at all levels of family involvement in the intervention process.* Information necessary families to make informed decisions is shared in a complete and unbiased manner.* (*C.J. Dunst)

Service Coordination Competencies Professionals provide complete and unbiased information to families and support the family in making informed decision relating to selecting preferred support and services… Jeffri L. Brookfield, Ed.D.

Standardized Resource Manual Designated Representative Trained/Knowledgeable Un-biased Representative Inter-Agency Coordination Mandate!!! Best Practice Criteria

Uniquely trained to diagnose hearing loss and provide information Capable of advising the physician on Next Steps In a position to counsel parents as to Next Steps following diagnosis Able to place family into service system Why the Audiologist Should be the Gatekeeper

Uniquely Trained to Diagnose Hearing Loss and Provide Information Conducts a battery of tests Differential diagnosis You have built in counseling time within appointment

Advise physicians as to Next steps Treatments Additional Assessment Additional Referrals

Counsel Parents to Next Steps Description of Process or Expected Flow of Services

Place Family in Service Program Part C Part B Provider Referrals

Current Events The Audiologist is faced with with designing his/her own protocals for the giving of information Often has to search for information Information may be biased

Best Practice will Best Practice will… Provide the Audiologist, and other early intervention professionals with a coordinated comprehensive system

Best Practice will… Enable the audiologist, and other early intervention professionals to provide consistent unbiased information to each family

Best Practice… Assist Audiologists and other Early Intervention Professionals in their efforts to help each family be informed when making decisions regarding communication options

One Dream… Many Voices