2027 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 22-24, 2027 • Bellevue, WA
3/17/2026 | 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM | The Circle of Change: Igniting the Catalyst from Within to Build a Network of Belonging for Families Raising Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing | City Terrace 10
The Circle of Change: Igniting the Catalyst from Within to Build a Network of Belonging for Families Raising Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Understanding how culture influences health, language, and education is essential when supporting families of children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH). Culture shapes how families interpret the world, navigate systems, and make decisions about medical, linguistic, and educational opportunities. Each family’s experience is a unique intersection of identities—family culture, community culture, and both Deaf and hearing cultures. These intersecting perspectives influence how families experience belonging, empowerment, and access to equitable support.
The Circle of Change invites families, professionals, and systems to come together as one—grounded in curiosity, respect, and shared purpose—to build a network of belonging where all voices are valued. When collaboration honors Deaf culture, multilingualism, and multicultural perspectives, families feel seen, supported, and confident as they lead their child’s journey.
This session explores how stakeholders can cultivate intersectional alignment across systems that too often operate in isolation. Participants will engage in dialogue about fostering collective spaces that elevate the lived experiences of underrepresented and multicultural communities while strengthening culturally responsive practice.
Together, we will also examine how to collect and use data as a driver of systems change—moving beyond counting activities or tracking outcomes, toward understanding impact. How do our actions shift systems? How do families and professionals feel as a result of these changes? How can we use data to reflect the stories, strengths, and voices of the communities we serve?
By igniting the catalyst from within each stakeholder, The Circle of Change challenges participants to move from conversation to transformation—ensuring every DHH child and family thrives in an inclusive, equitable, and culturally grounded community.
- Explore the intersectionality of culture, language, and identity within families raising Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) children, and examine how these intersections influence family engagement, decision-making, and access to equitable health and education systems.
- Identify strategies to cultivate collective spaces and intersectional alignment among families, professionals, and systems that promote cultural responsiveness, collaboration, and a network of belonging grounded in Deaf culture, multilingualism, and multicultural values.
- Learn how to collect and use qualitative and quantitative data to drive systems change, moving beyond activity counts to measure impact, emotional outcomes, and shifts in family and professional experiences—ensuring that data reflects the voices and values of the communities served.
Presentation:
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Handouts:
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CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Karen Hopkins
(Primary Presenter,Co-Author), Children's Center for Communication/Beverly School for the Deaf, karenhopkins@cccbsd.org;
Dr. Karen Hopkins is the Executive Director of The Children's Center for Communication/Beverly School for the Deaf.. She brings over 30 years of experience as a collaborative teacher of the deaf, special educator, early interventionist and educational administrator to her work with Deaf and hard of hearing children. Her work with families, coupled with her own personal experience as a Deaf adult and parent of a daughter who is hard of hearing have inspired her to create systems that empower families. Karen oversees early intervention and statewide educational programming for children who are Deaf or hard of hearing birth to age 22 at CCCBSD. She is active in many organizations and boards, the Hands & Voices HQ Board of Directors and is involved with international FCEI programming including the Deaf Leadership International Alliance. Karen is the Board President of Hands & Voices Headquarters. Karen's current research is focused on perspectives of family empowerment in early intervention systems for Deaf and hard of hearing children.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with The Children's Center for Communication/Beverly School for the Deaf.
Nature: .
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Rosabel Agbayani
(Co-Presenter,Co-Author), 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.