2027 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 22-24, 2027 • Bellevue, WA
3/17/2026 | 1:45 PM - 2:15 PM | Promoting Self-Advocacy in Young Deaf/Hard of Hearing Children | City Terrace 11
Promoting Self-Advocacy in Young Deaf/Hard of Hearing Children
Early intervention for children who are deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH) goes beyond supporting communication and developmental milestones; it also lays the foundation for lasting self-advocacy. While parents and caregivers typically serve as primary advocates in the early years, children benefit from gradually building awareness of their own needs and learning strategies to support communication access and use of technology (as appropriate).
This session, led by two D/HH early intervention professionals, will focus on two key areas of self-advocacy: communication and accessibility with or without hearing technology. Children can be guided to make choices and respond to environmental challenges. They can also learn to understand their hearing devices. They will begin to recognize auditory and visual fatigue and self-advocate.
Early interventionists, families, and caregivers play a central role by modeling and coaching these skills through natural routines and interactions. By embedding opportunities for practice, children gain independence, confidence, and the ability to communicate their needs across various environments.
Participants will leave with a better understanding of practical strategies and real-life examples from D/HH professionals to support self-advocacy skill development in young children—ensuring access to communication today while building the confidence and independence to thrive in future academic and social settings.
- Participants will be able to describe the role of early intervention in fostering self-advocacy skills for children who are deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH)
- Attendees will be able to recognize signs of auditory and visual fatigue related to communication and understand practical coaching strategies to support families across a variety of settings.
- Participants will be able to identify strategies for embedding self-advocacy opportunities into daily family routines, including choice-making.
Presentation:
This presentation has not yet been uploaded.
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Robin Getz
(Co-Presenter), CHIP (Colorado Home Inclusion Program), rlgetz@csdb.org;
Robin Getz, MA, is a CHIP Coordinator with the CHIP (Colorado Home Inclusion Program) program through the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind. She supports urban families with newly identified children, birth to three years of age. Profoundly deaf from birth, Robin began her formal education in Puerto Rico at a bilingual Spanish/English school for Kindergarten and 1st grade before moving back to NYC where she was born. She has lived in many places nationally, and internationally as a child. She earned a double major in Psychology and Communication Disorders and Speech Sciences for her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and holds two Master's Degrees: Mental Health Counseling from Gallaudet University, and Deaf Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Robin began her professional career as a licensed Mental Health Therapist (LPC), which she practiced for about 8 years until she realized her heart was in the early intervention field. She has worked as an early interventionist with the CHIP program for 25 years with families from diverse cultures. She enjoys reading, traveling, and trying new ethnic foods
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.
Kathleen Aranda-Myers
(Primary Presenter), New Mexico School for the Deaf - EIDS (Early Intervention Developmental Services Department), Kathleen.arandamyers@nmsd.k12.nm.us;
Kathleen Aranda-Myers, LMSW, DS III, FSC, is a Developmental Specialist with the EID (Early Intervention Department) through the New Mexico School for the Deaf. She supports families with identified D/HH children from birth to 6 years of age. Kathleen obtained a Master's degree in Mental Health Social Work and worked with D/HH students as a School Social Worker and with D/HH adults for a local D/HH Outreach program. Her focus was providing socio-emotional, transitional services and mental health for secondary D/HH students, D/HH adults, and their families. She took a hiatus to focus on her family and continued staying involved with community outreach within the schools and agencies. Early intervention became a focus due to her observations when providing social work services, and now within her role as a Developmental Specialist, she collaborates with local early intervention agencies. She aims to ensure the children and families are supported in all areas at the earliest possible stages. With her experiences of being deaf since birth, Kathleen enjoys volunteering and providing awareness on implantable solutions and assistive technology. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, reading, and photography.
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.