Iowa EHDI Enrolling children in appropriate early intervention

Iowa EHDI: Enrolling children in appropriate early intervention Lenore Holte, Ph. D. , CCC-A Center for Disabilities and Development University of Iowa

Snapshot of IAEHDI • • 37, 000 births per year 93 birthing hospitals 3 Level III perinatal centers voluntary screening programs in hospitals responsible for 99% of births • about 93% of babies in these hospitals screened in 2000 • 7 diagnostic centers, including one in Nebraska

Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs) • Primary providers of early intervention services to hearing-impaired children of all ages • 15 independent regions, numbered 1 through 16 • Grew out of Joint County School Systems • Established in 1975 by Iowa state legislature • Provide services to member school districts in media and technology support, staff development, curriculum development, and special education • Local school districts elect members to the AEA Board of Directors • IDEA, Part B and Part C funds

Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs) • Each AEA has a hearing conservation team with; • • 1 to 11 audiologists 2 to 7 audiometrists 2 to 14 teachers of the hearing-impaired up to 20 interpreters • SKI- HI training • Since 1994, over 100 professionals have received SKI-HI training • Iowa School for the Deaf, Council Bluffs

Iowa Early ACCESS (IDEA, Part C) • Early ACCESS is Iowa’s federal program under The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part C. • Collaborative system between IDPH, IDE, IDHS, and CHSC (Title V, CSHCN) • Coordination of early intervention services • One Early ACCESS coordinator in each Early ACCESS region. Regions overlap AEAs. • Coordinators develop IFSP’s.

AEA audiologists provide • rescreens of babies who fail the birth admission screen • referral to diagnostic centers • referral to AEA early intervention services • follow-up behavioral testing • fitting and monitoring of amplification • counseling regarding communication methodologies

Who Can Use Early ACCESS? • Any Iowa infant or toddler, (0 -3) • Have a 25% delay in one or more areas of development • OR have a known condition that has a high probability of resulting in a later delay in development.

University of Iowa: Family treatment weekends • At Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Center • Training of audiology graduate students • Training of parents • Professional continuing education