Partnerships with families
California Early Start Services
Early Start is California’s name for programs that provide services to infants and toddlers (birth to three) with disabilities, and their families. LEAD-K Family Services will refer you and your baby to your local Early Start program serving families with Deaf and Hard of Hearing children. Then, the Early Start staff will contact your family and make an appointment to meet with your family. A teacher of the Deaf and a speech/language pathologist will be part of the team that meets with your family. The Early Start teacher must be specially trained and qualified to work with young Deaf and hard of hearing children.
Home Vists
Visits are provided to your family typically by a Teacher of the Deaf (TOD) to share resources about language opportunities, and developmental milestones. Your Early Start teacher, from your Special Education Local Plan AreH (SELPA) will help you explore opportunities, and support your journey with your Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH) child.
Assessments
Assessments are needed in order to create your child’s Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), Your family’s priorities and concerns are included in the process. Assessments identify your child’s present strengths and areas of concern regarding language, cognition, social-emotional, physical, and adaptive skills.
Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)
The Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is a written document that outlines the early intervention services that your child and family will receive. The Early Start program has 45 calendar days after your baby has been referred to your local school district to develop an (IFSP) based on your family’s priorities. The IFSP team must include a Teacher of the Deaf who helps you set goals for intervention that are reviewed every 6 months.
Language Milestones
You will evaluate your child's signing and/or spoken language progress every 6 months with your IFSP team. You can request sign language instruction for your family as well as speech services for your child. Your Early Start and preschool teachers will be measuring your child's language with the SKI-HI LDS twice per year with the goal that all children who are Deaf/hard of hearing will develop age-appropriate language skills and be ready for Kindergarten by age five.
Deaf Coaching
Deaf coaches provide insight into your child’s experience of growing up Deaf/hard of hearing. A Deaf Coach works with your family in conjunction with the certified Teacher of the Deaf to support the language goals of your child and family. Deaf coaches also demonstrate strategies for communication and model the use of visual cues when interacting with your child.
Parent Mentors
Parents who have experience raising a child who is Deaf/hard of hearing are available to talk with you. You may be feeling overwhelmed with new terminology and professionals in your life. They are happy to answer your questions and listen to your concerns. They can share what they have learned and support your family as you navigate the possibilities and challenges in raising your child.
Audiology
Pediatric audiologists provide regular hearing testing to assess your child's hearing levels and current functional hearing. Hearing levels and conditions such as microtia, atresia, and auditory neuropathy are explained. Hearing technology such as hearing aids and cochlear implants are also explained and discussed.
Speech and Language
Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) address the complex interplay of the areas of listening, speaking, signing, and reading. Speech therapy focuses on the development of listening and articulation skills for the development of spoken language skills which contribute to the overall development of literacy and learning.
Playgroups
At 18 months your child may attend your local Early Start playgroup up to 3 times a week for 3 hours a day with peers to support emotional, social, and language development. Hopefully your Early Start program will have a playgroup specifically for Deaf/hard of hearing children. However, playgroups vary by location and are based on the needs of the Early Start families.
Transactions to an IEP
When your child is 30 months old your Early Start service coordinator starts the transition to consider eligibility for an Individualized Education Program with your local school district. When your child is three they will no longer have an IFSP and will probably need an IEP. This district will assess your child to determine eligibility for special education preschool services.
FAMILY RESOURCES
Best Practices for Deaf/hard of hearing Early Start
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California Early Start Directory
Position Statement on Access to Language for Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
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National Association of the Deaf
Parents are children’s first teachers.
Parents are children’s first teachers. Through play, communication, and touch, parents convey love to their child as well as information about the world. During everyday interaction parents teach their children names of objects, how things work, what is safe, and a myriad of other lessons. These early experiences prepare a child for social-emotional development, literacy and higher level thinking. When parents find out their child is Deaf or hard of hearing, they may be unsure of what to do. Most parents want help. The early intervention system which includes regular home visits for families with Deaf/hh children birth to three is designed to do just that.
Best Practices for Early Start for Infants and Toddlers who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Early Start teachers can…
- Work with you to identify priority needs for the child and family and evaluate the child’s strengths and current developmental skills. This information will be used to write an Individual Family Services Plan. This document is like a road map. It will guide you and the infant/family specialist as you go about learning and growing with the baby.
- Work closely with your family to address priority goals you have set for your- selves and your baby. She will work with you to evaluate the progress you are making and to set new goals.
- Support you in communicating with your baby and encourage your baby’s development through natural daily routines.
- Assist you in identifying sources of support, if this would be of help to you.
- Recognize your expertise as your baby’s parent and strive to develop a comfortable partnership with you.
- Become a resource to you as you search for answers and how best to help your baby to learn.
- Help you and your family communicate with your baby and support in evaluating how your child is responding. All children learn differently.
- Watch as you interact naturally with your baby, pointing out the many positive things you already do to support your baby’s learning and suggesting additional techniques to encourage the baby’s learning.
- Facilitate a smooth transition to preschool.
- Work closely with your family to address priority goals you have set for yourselves and your baby, evaluate the progress you are making and set new goals.
