2027 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 22-24, 2027 • Bellevue, WA
3/17/2026 | 1:45 PM - 2:15 PM | Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Reflecting Language Growth for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Children | City Terrace 10
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Reflecting Language Growth for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Children
Mirrors are more than just a playful object for babies—they are a powerful, low-cost, and accessible tool to promote early language development. This session will explore how mirrors can support Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) babies’ communication milestones from birth through toddlerhood. Using mirrors, babies can observe facial expressions, mouth shapes, and sign language movements in real time, helping them connect visual input with meaning. Mirrors encourage self-awareness, imitation, joint attention, and emotional bonding, critical foundations for both ASL and spoken language development.
Through research highlights, video examples, and hands-on demonstrations, participants will learn how to integrate mirrors into natural routines such as feeding, play, and interactive reading. Strategies will include using mirrors to enhance visual attention, promote turn-taking, and support bilingual ASL/English language acquisition. Attendees will leave with practical ideas for home visits, classrooms, and family coaching, along with an understanding of how mirror play aligns with developmental milestones for young deaf and hard of hearing children.
Participants will leave with a clear understanding of how mirrors can be an effective, evidence-based tool for language development in DHH babies. They will be equipped with specific, easy-to-implement strategies to share with families, aligned with EHDI’s mission to provide timely, impactful early intervention.
- Explain the developmental benefits of mirror use for DHH infants and toddlers, including self-recognition, imitation, and visual attention.
- Demonstrate at least three mirror-based activities that promote early ASL and/or spoken language development with strategies for coaching families during daily routines.
- Align mirror-based strategies with IFSP goals, EHDI benchmarks, and developmental milestones.
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
Nicole Hutchinson
(Primary Presenter), The Clerc Center, nbhutchinson@gmail.com;
Nicole Hutchinson is a teacher of the deaf with a focus on early intervention. She has a BA in Linguistics: American Sign Language from the University of California, San Diego and a MA in Deaf Education: Family-Centered Early Education from Gallaudet University.
Nicole’s passion is family support programs for Deaf and hard of hearing (D/HH) children and their families. She is an advocate for early language access and providing unbiased information to families to support them as they make decisions for their D/HH child.
Nicole has worked with DHH infants, toddlers and their families for 15 years. She currently works at Kendall Demonstration Elementary School at The Clerc Center in Washington, DC running the Parent Infant Program for D/HH infants, toddlers and their families. Nicole also serves as a board member of the Maryland/DC Hands & Voices chapter and volunteers with the Washington, DC EHDI Partners.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from The Clerc Center.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with The Clerc Center/REAL.
Nature: Employment by the Clerc Center/REAL.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
JV Bippus
(Co-Presenter), The Clerc Center, jv.bippus@gallaudet.edu;
JV Bippus is the Manager of the Early Childhood Program at Kendall Demonstration Elementary School, part of the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center. A mother of three adult children, including two Deaf sons, Joan has both personal and professional experience navigating Early Intervention. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Gallaudet University and an M.A. in Deaf Education from McDaniel College. With over 25 years of experience in Deaf education across three schools, she is a passionate advocate for early language acquisition and contributes to the Clerc Center’s REAL (Regional Early Acquisition of Language) initiative.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Clerc Center.
Nature: .
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.