2027 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 22-24, 2027 • Bellevue, WA
3/17/2026 | 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM | Beyond the Silos: Coordinating EHDI and LEAD-K Efforts to Track Language Outcomes | City Terrace 10
Beyond the Silos: Coordinating EHDI and LEAD-K Efforts to Track Language Outcomes
In recent years, EHDI systems have been charged with devising strategies for tracking language outcomes among the children they serve. In a parallel but independent development, many states have also passed “LEAD-K” legislation, which often (though not always) includes similar requirements to report data on language outcomes in deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) children. This presentation explores the potential for coordination, collaboration, and data sharing across EHDI systems and the agencies responsible for compliance with LEAD-K legislation across several states.
We propose a panel discussion that includes one representative from the EHDI system and one from the LEAD-K program in 3 states: California, Kansas, and Texas. While the LEAD-K program in each of these states has been collecting and reporting data on language outcomes for several years, the programs differ in their assessment strategies and reporting practices. This variation presents a range of challenges and opportunities with respect to coordination and datasharing with EHDI systems and (in some cases) Part C services.
Questions will focus on:
(1) Program design & implementation: How does each program work? What are some opportunities and challenges with respect to collaboration between EHDI and LEAD-K?
(2) Findings to date: What has each program learned so far? Have those lessons led to changes in policy or practice? Should they?
(3) Family engagement: How is each program using these data to support DHH children and their families?
(4) Future directions & recommendations: What would be the next steps toward greater coordination? What lessons could other states learn from your experience so far?
We expect the session to be of interest to attendees in states where protocols for tracking language outcomes are still under development, or where there are currently parallel protocols across different systems that could be coordinated more effectively.
- Compare & contrast how EHDI systems and LEAD-K programs assess and report language outcomes in DHH children.
- Summarize key findings from the various states
- Assess the current and/or future potential for such cross-system collaboration in their state/territory.
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Presenters/Authors
Matthew Hall
(Primary Presenter), Temple University, matthall@temple.edu;
The overarching goal of Matt Hall’s research program is to maximize all d/Deaf children’s developmental potential. As an assistant professor of Communication Sciences & Disorders at Temple University, he applies knowledge from cognitive/developmental psychology and linguistics to questions that concern DHH children, their families, the professionals who serve them, and other stakeholders. He is particularly concerned with the paucity of evidence regarding language acquisition and psychological development in DHH children whose hearing parents have chosen to include ASL as part of their child’s access to language. In his reading of the literature, strong and contradictory claims have been made without sufficient empirical support. He is therefore committed to increasing the quality of the empirical evidence so that clinicians and families can make better-informed decisions.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Grants for Independent contractor from NIH/NIDCD.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
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No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Elizabeth Schardine
(Co-Presenter), KDHE SoundBeginnings EHDI, elizabeth.schardine@ks.gov;
Liz Schardine is the coordinator for the Kansas Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Program. She attended the University of Kansas where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Language Hearing and a Master’s degree in Audiology. She has worked with the newborn hearing screening program throughout the state for the past 21 years.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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No relevant financial relationship exists.
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No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
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No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Erin Schuweiler
(Co-Presenter), Kansas School for the Deaf, eschuweiler@kansasdeaf.gov;
Erin Schuweiler, M.S., Ed. is the Interim Language Assessment Program-Deaf/Hard of Hearing (LAP-DHH) Coordinator and the Sound START (Birth-Three) Coordinator at the Kansas School for the Deaf (KSD). Erin has worked at KSD for 23 years, 2 years as a preschool teacher and 21 years in the KSD Outreach Department. Erin provides services and resources to service providers and families who have children ages birth to three who are deaf and hard of hearing throughout the state of Kansas and supports the LAP-DHH program for children ages birth-eight. Erin graduated from the University of Kansas with a master’s degree in Early Childhood Deaf Education and Early Childhood Special Education.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from Kansas School for the Deaf.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
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Financial relationship with Kansas School for the Deaf.
Nature: I am employed by the Kansas School for the Deaf and am the interim LAP-DHH coordinator.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Ryan Hutchison
(Co-Presenter), Texas Department of State Health Services, ryan.hutchison@dshs.texas.gov ;
Ryan Hutchison has been statewide coordinator for the Texas Early Hearing Detection and Invention program since 2019. Ryan served as a gubernatorial-appointed governing board member for the Texas School for the Deaf from 2015-2019 until accepting the TEHDI coordinator position. Before joining the TEHDI program, Ryan led the development of innovative, virtually-based human service programming providing culturally and linguistically competent resources for deaf and hard of hearing job seekers and learners across the US as Vice President of CSD Neighborhood.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Shelly Bergeron
(Co-Presenter), Statewide Outreach Center at Texas School for the Deaf, michelle.bergeron@tsd.texas.gov;
Shelly works as the Intervention Care Coordinator for the Statewide Outreach Center at Texas School for the Deaf. In this position she partners with TEHDI and other stakeholders to reach out to families with newly identified infants as well as analyze data to improve the Loss to Follow up and Loss to Documentation (LTF/LTD) in Texas. She and her husband Jon live in Austin, Texas and have two sons who are Deaf.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
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Financial relationship with Statewide Outreach Center at Texas School for the Deaf (SOC @ TSD) .
Nature: SOC @ TSD receives funding from the HRSA grant through the Texas Department of State Health Services. .
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Julie Rems-Smario
(Co-Presenter), California Department of Education, jsmario@csdf-cde.ca.gov;
Dr. Julie Rems-Smario, Ed.D works as an Early Language and Education Consultant in California at CORE, California School for the Deaf, a program of State Special Schools and Services at the Department of Education. Julie's work includes working as a co-director of California's Early Hearing Detection and Intervention, training Early Start professionals on how to develop language milestones goals for IFSP/IEP, supervising SB 210 data, developing resources for families of Deaf children, and providing technical assistance to Early Childhood Education professionals. During her free time, she volunteers as one of the Public Relations Director of a national campaign, Language Equality, and Acquisition for Deaf Kids (LEAD-K).
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Sheri Farinha
(Co-Presenter), NorCal Services for Deaf and HH, SFarinha@norcalcenter.org;
Sheri A. Farinha serves as CEO, NorCal Service for Deaf & Hard of Hearing, since 1993. Ms. Farinha is a nationally known as a strong civil rights advocate for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the areas of education, employment, services for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence. Sheri is the Principal Investigator for CA's 20-047 HRSA grant steering the EHDI program: LEAD-K Family Services. Ms. Farinha’ s expertise also includes leadership development, legislative and system advocacy, and management in the nonprofit sector.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
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No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Jena McDaniel
(Co-Author), Vanderbilt University, jena.mcdaniel@vumc.org;
Jena McDaniel, PhD, CCC-SLP is an assistant professor in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and directs the Child Language Intervention, Measurement, and Best practices (CLIMB) Lab. She earned her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and PhD in Hearing and Speech Sciences from Vanderbilt University. Dr. McDaniel completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Kansas. Her research interests include language intervention effectiveness and efficiency for deaf and hard of hearing children and children with autism. Prior to earning her PhD, she worked as a speech-language pathologist at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
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