2027 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 22-24, 2027 • Bellevue, WA
3/17/2026 | 9:40 AM - 10:40 AM | Families as Leaders: A Collaborative Model for Student and Community Success | Clearwater
Families as Leaders: A Collaborative Model for Student and Community Success
The Poway Unified School District (PUSD) Parent Ambassador Program strengthens family engagement and supports students with special needs, including those who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Parent Ambassadors serve as trusted connectors by building relationships with families, linking them to special education services and community resources, and fostering inclusive school communities. Through peer-to-peer support, school event participation, and collaboration with educators, Ambassadors expand the district’s capacity to meet family needs while also developing leadership and advocacy skills.
Hands & Voices is advancing its strategic efforts through Circle of Change training by launching the Network for Belonging Initiative, focused on inclusive leadership, community engagement, and systemic equity. This work includes forming diverse groups to lead engagement, holding stakeholder meetings, and gathering feedback to improve programs in health and education. Strengthening data systems will help identify effective practices and guide smarter decisions across health and educational systems. This inclusive engagement platform ensures diverse voices help shape policy and direction in partnership with schools and health programs.
This presentation highlights the framework of the Parent Ambassador Program and the Network for Belonging Initiative, showing the power of collaboration between schools and parent-led organizations. It will emphasize the impact of the Parent Ambassador Program, the value of parent-professional partnerships, and strategies for replicating this model to enhance family and community engagement. Special attention will be given to engaging key school personnel and initiating dialogue to build partnerships.
This work is grounded in A Blueprint for Change: Guiding Principles for a System of Services for Children and Youth With Special Health Care Needs and Their Families, which emphasizes dignity, autonomy, equity, and family partnership. Collaboration between schools and parent-driven nonprofits such as Hands & Voices—and other family-based organizations—shows how meaningful parent partnerships can build trust, improve systems, and positively impact student outcomes.
- Describe the framework, benefits, and core components of the Parent Ambassador Program and its collaboration with a school district and a Hands & Voices state chapter.
- Identify strategies Parent Ambassadors use to engage families, foster inclusivity, and connect families with school-based resources.
- Evaluate opportunities to replicate and adapt the Parent Ambassador model within their own communities or organizations to strengthen family leadership and advocacy.
Presentation:
View Presentation File
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Rosabel Agbayani
(Primary Presenter,Co-Presenter), Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, Rosabel@handsandvoices.org;
Rosabel is a Researcher and Community Advocate for change. Her commitment to supporting families in the healthy development of children inspires her work as the Consultant and creator of the Hands & Voices Circle of Change Curriculum and leading the efforts to create a
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary,Consulting fee,Other financial benefit for Employment,Teaching and speaking,Membership on advisory committee or review panels from Hands & Voices Headquarters, American Academy of Pediatricts, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, Poway Unified School District.
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Hands & Voices Headquarters
American Academy of Pediatrics
Rady Children's Hospital San Diego.
Nature: HV- Consultant
AAA- Advisory Council EHDI PEC
Rady Children's Hospital San Diego- Sr. Clinical Research Coordinator Hematology/Oncology.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Cora Shahid
(Co-Presenter), California Hands & Voices , cshahid@cahandsandvoices.org;
Cora and her husband live in San Diego and are proud parents an adult daughter and two sons. Both boys were born with a moderately severe hearing level. From the very beginning she believed in early parent to parent support, DHH role models (adults and peers) and the importance of nurturing language development. Cora is a founding board member of CA H&V and currently oversees the chapter’s social media presence as well as managing membership, the database and our quarterly article submission for The Hands & Voices Communicator. She is on the planning committee for the CA H&V Family Camp in Southern California. Cora worked as a parent mentor with Parent Links for 6 years and has experience working with families of nearly identified DHH children. Her goal is for CA H&V to flourish so that non-judgmental support can positively impact every family in California raising Deaf and Hard of Hearing children!
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.