2027 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 22-24, 2027 • Bellevue, WA
3/17/2026 | 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Making Connections Through Family Events in Utah | Orlando
Making Connections Through Family Events in Utah
As Utah does not have a state Hands & Voices program, the Utah EHDI program contracts with the Utah Parent Center (UPC) for the provision of DHH family support. The UPC is the family-to-family information center for Utah and offers a unique partnership for the provision of DHH EHDI parent consultants. These consultants are considered EHDI-contracted employees and are an essential part of the Utah EHDI team.
One of the ways they connect families in Utah is through event collaboration and partnership with the Utah School for the Deaf/Blind(USDB) Parent Infant Program (PIP). In this session they will share about their planning process, the types of events they have held, and how they receive feedback for improvement. They also will share how they have incorporated Deaf/Hard of Hearing Mentors and Youth Ambassadors.
Come hear about what they have learned has been successful in our state that can help you support families in your own state.
- Describe the various methods used to connect and support DHH families in Utah through family events
- Identify ways to collaborate with different organizations supporting DHH families in the state
- Develop a plan for facilitating interaction between families and Deaf/Hard of Hearing Teen/Adult Mentors
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
Aubri Ogden
(Primary Presenter), Utah Parent Center/ Utah EHDI, aubri@utahparentcenter.org;
Aubri Ogden, BS, is one of Utah’s EHDI Parent Consultants. She works with Utah’s EHDI team and the Utah Parent Center to provide family and parent-to-parent support for the DHH families in Utah. She helps contact families after children are diagnosed. She also oversees the parent volunteer network and organizes WebinEARS. Aubri is a mom to 3 young fun children and one on the way. Aubri’s oldest daughter has severe/profound hearing loss on the left side. Her daughter has a cochlear implant and when they were performing the MRI for preparation for the Cochlear Implant they found out the hearing loss is from CMV. Aubri received a BS in Marriage and Family Studies with the Emphasis in Advocacy and Policy from Brigham Young University-Idaho hoping one day to be a voice for children. Once Aubri’s daughter was diagnosed in 2020 she decided she wanted to become an advocate for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community to help build a better future for her daughter and other children like her. In 2021 Aubri started her EHDI journey by volunteering with the Parent Volunteer Network in Utah. She loves sharing her family’s story to help others in similar situations.
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.
Ashleigh Sorenson
(Co-Presenter), Utah Parent Center/ Utah EHDI, ashleigh@utahparentcenter.org;
Ashleigh Sorenson, BA, is a Parent Consultant for Utah’s Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program working in conjunction with the Utah Parent Center. She contacts families after diagnosis to provide parent to parent support and resources. She also creates the bi-monthly EHDI Parent Newsletter and manages the Utah EHDI Facebook and Instagram social media accounts. Ashleigh is a parent to 3 incredible children. Her middle child, Rori, was diagnosed with severe/ profound high-frequency hearing loss and fit with bilateral hearing aids at age 2 1/2 years. Rori attended DHH preschool and pre-k and then has been mainstreamed in her neighborhood schools since kindergarten. She is currently a Junior in High School where she is involved with student leadership and athletic teams. Ashleigh obtained her BA in Education from Pepperdine University. She previously worked with preschool-age families at the Utah School For the Deaf and Blind and is now grateful to be a part of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Team. She loves sharing with families from a parent’s perspective because she strongly believes that the first step in empowering children with hearing loss is helping their families obtain information and resources.
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.