For Interventionists, Therapists, and Teachers

Early Intervention providers are crucial partners to the Oregon EHDI program in supporting enrollment to services that support newly identified deaf and hard of hearing children with their ongoing development. To ensure timely referral following diagnosis, Oregon EHDI ensures all children identified as deaf and hard of hearing are referred following reporting of diagnostic results.

The Oregon EHDI Program recognizes and values the wide range of identities people hold and choose to identify with. People may self-identify as deaf, Deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, a person with hearing loss, Deaf Plus, Deaf+, a person with a hearing difference, Deaf Disabled, etc. The Oregon EHDI Program often uses “deaf and hard of hearing,” in an all-inclusive manner. We may use the term “hearing loss” when talking about a medical diagnosis.

Social and Medical Models of Disability:

Since implementation of universal newborn hearing screening, families often enter the deaf and hard of hearing community through a medical context and early in the development of their relationship. We implore interventionists and therapists to review the social and medical models of disability so they can play a role in developing positive self-concept for their students/clients.

Early Relational Health:

We encourage interventionists and therapists to review trauma-informed practices and methods to support caregiver-child bonding. These are foundations to the therapeutic partnership and critical to making progress in communication skills and other abilities.

It Takes A Village: A Holistic Approach to Supporting Babies and Families (Zero to Three)

The Importance of Responsive Parenting: Building Strong Emotional Bonds from Birth (Zero to Three)

Celebrate Your Child's Strengths (Zero to Three)

Serve and Return (Harvard University Center on the Developing Child)

Many families find additional services during the early years of a child’s life to be beneficial:

Hands & Voices Guide By Your Side Program:

Program for parents, families, and caregivers raising a child who is deaf or hard of hearing. GBYS provides unbiased information and emotional support from trained parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Referral is sent through Oregon EHDI program following a diagnosis.

Babies First/CaCoon/Family Connects Oregon Public Health Nurse Programs

Public health program for parents, families, and caregivers to help families set goals for making healthy lifestyle choices and fostering personal growth.

Referral is sent through Oregon EHDI program following a diagnosis for participating counties.

Oregon Family-to-Family Health Information Center:

Supports families of children with special health needs navigating complex health care systems. Staffed by parents of children and youth with a variety of health conditions. Provide free one-to-one support, training, and printed materials to families and professionals who serve them.

FACT Oregon:

Peer-delivered services are free for families and include 1:1 support, trainings, resources, parent leadership development, and advocacy.

FACT Oregon is Oregon’s statewide Parent Training and Information Center for Special Education. FACT Oregon empowers families, youth, and communities to navigate disability systems, advocating together for disability justice and policy change so that people with disabilities have what they need to thrive at home, in school, and in their communities.

Bridges Oregon: