2020 Professional Forum

Reflections on Equity for Learners Who Are Deaf/Hard of Hearing [CANCELED]


This forum will address cultural and linguistic diversity in deaf education, including personal and professional reflections on equity and inclusion.

Friday, May 1, 2020
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Lewis Room, Jack C. Taylor Library
Fontbonne University

Jack C. Taylor Library is located on the northern-most edge of campus in the middle of the horseshoe drive.

Keynote address by Renee Lucero, Ph.D., LSLS Cert.AVEd


Our keynote speaker, Dr. Renee Lucero, will share her experiences as a woman of color with hearing loss and a deaf educator. Through her storytelling, participants will reflect on how evolving perspectives on diversity and inclusion have informed current practices in deaf education. Concurrent sessions from a variety of stakeholders in deaf education; parents, administrators, teachers and speech-language pathologists will address personal and professional experiences that support optimal outcomes for all learners.

Schedule
2020
Friday, May 1st
8:00 AM

Sign In and Disclosure Form

Fontbonne University's Jack C. Taylor Library Lobby

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

8:30 AM

KEYNOTE ADDRESS - From Student to Educator: The Evolution of Diversity and Inclusion

Renee Lucero, Ph.D., LSLS Cert. AVEd

Lewis Room

8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

During this interactive presentation, Dr. Lucero will share her experiences as a woman of color with hearing loss and a deaf educator; through her storytelling, the audience will reflect on how evolving perspectives on diversity and inclusion have informed current practices in deaf education.

10:00 AM

Break

10:00 AM - 10:15 AM

10:15 AM

From Student to Educator: The Evolution of Diversity and Inclusion cont.

Renee Lucero, Ph.D., LSLS Cert. AVEd

Lewis Room

10:15 AM - 11:15 AM

11:20 AM

A1. Embracing Diversity in Auditory Verbal Practice

Mariana Helbig, M.A., CED, LSLS Cert. AVEd

11:20 AM - 12:20 PM

In the US alone, 1 in 4 children with hearing loss comes from a Hispanic home (Gallaudet Research Institute, 2011) and there are many children with hearing loss in Spanish-speaking countries who do not have access to LSL professionals. When provided communication options, Hispanic parents tend to prefer LSL outcomes and the use of hearing technology as there is a strong desire for the child to identify with the culture of their family (Rodriguez & Allen, 2018). However, there are only a small handful of LSL certified professionals who speak Spanish in the world. Over the past several years, the need for a more global LSL reach has been recognized, such as by the creation of AG Bell International. While more resources are starting to become available in Spanish, especially in Spain, there continues to be a great need for LSL training and access to information throughout Latin America. In response, a group of LSL professionals took action to generate change. Escuchar sin Límites (Hear without limits) was founded as an organization consisting of volunteer LSL professionals across the globe who specialize in working with Hispanic families. The mission is to support LSL development through family empowerment, professional training, and access to information in Spanish. Resources such as a website, blog, emails, free webinars, and articles/handouts all in Spanish have been developed; volunteers have also worked to generate interest in LSL certification/training. Thanks to the globalized world in which we live today, international collaboration has been effective, despite geographical distances. This session will consist of sharing information on how we have contributed to the mission of global LSL access for Spanish-speaking families and professionals. Attendees will view how our model was developed and what challenges arose in the process with the goal of similar international collaborative efforts to be established for other languages and countries in the future.

A2. Personal and Professional Perspectives on Deafness

Dawn Gettemeier, M.A.

11:20 AM - 12:20 PM

This speaker has experienced the world of deafness personally for over 50 years and professionally for 26 years. A variety of topics will be discussed, including the opportunity to consider what has both changed and stayed the same for students with hearing loss, the profound changes in deaf education, and to answer the question, “Are we doing better?”

12:20 PM

Lunch

12:20 PM - 1:15 AM

1:15 PM

B1. A Parent's Prospective on Equity and Inclusion

Djenne-amal Morris, M.A.

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

B2. Activating Awareness

Lynda Berkowitz, MS, CED, LSLS Cert. AVEd

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Many factors impact outcomes for children who are deaf and hard of hearing learning to listen and talk. At the foundation, families’ and students’ sense of belonging; feeling both respected and heard, has the power to impact outcomes significantly. Professionals in the field of deaf education have historically lacked linguistic and cultural diversity, yet the students and families we serve represent a broad range of cultures, ethnicities, genders and socio-economic status. We first must recognize this diversity and our responsibility to support cultural and linguistic sensitivity and equity. Through awareness, we begin the work of creating a sense of belonging for students and families. Through reflection, we begin the work of asking hard questions and providing a safe place to hold uncomfortable conversations. Through collaboration, we begin identifying resources to support professionals working with diverse populations.

2:15 PM

Break

2:15 PM - 2:30 PM

2:30 PM

C1. Little Ears, Two Languages, Let's Talk!

Brenda Zapata, M.A., CCC-SLP

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

The number of children who are deaf/hard of hearing and linguistically and culturally diverse is rising. Professionals face challenges meeting the needs of these students and their families. This presentation explores services provided for bilingual/Spanish speaking children in Preschool to 5th grade promoting listening and spoken language.

C2. Moving Past Diversity to Foster Inclusion

Lauren Wright-Jones, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

The purpose of this panel discussion is to reflect on the lived experiences of early career professionals from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds in the fields of speech-language pathology and deaf education. Questions during the panel will guide listeners and participants to think about their own power and “responding to the call” to support early career professionals from culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds entering the workforce.

3:30 PM

Wrap-Up

3:30 PM