| EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES
FOR DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING INFANTS AND TODDLERS
The Early Intervention Team provides intervention services
to infants in programs identified through universal newborn
screening programs sponsored by birthing centers and hospitals
through Western Massachusetts. The Community-Based Division
does have a collaborative relationship with Baystate Health
Systems for the provision of immediate services to infants
identified through the birthing centers sponsored by Baystate
through the screening process. The Willie Ross Early Intervention
Team also has relationships with a number of early intervention
teams and often acts in concert with the teams and other birthing
centers to provide services to infants or toddlers with a
hearing loss.
MISSION AND PURPOSE
- To provide immediate and appropriate services to infants
who have been diagnosed with hearing losses.
- To provide appropriate services to families of children
from infancy through age three who have been diagnosed with
hearing loss.
- To provide their families with support and information to
assist them in making decisions regarding their child.
DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES
 Evaluation and assessment are conducted
by a multidisciplinary team in order to assess the specific
strengths and needs of the child and the family. The Multidisciplinary
Team typically consists of: the Parents/Caregivers, an Audiologist,
a Speech/Language pathologist, and a Teacher of the Deaf. Additional
specialists, such as a Social Worker, are added to the team
on an as-needed basis.
The Early Intervention Team develops and implements family service
plans which consist of, but are not limited to, the following
specific components. Objective information is distributed
and explained regarding hearing loss, audiological needs, auditory
management, and communication methodologies.
Assistance is provided to parents and
caregivers in the development of their child's speech and language
skills, and direct speech and language services are provided.
Speech and language assessments are conducted. The Team provides
intervention strategies to promote child development for social,
emotional, self-help, and communicative skills, based on parental
preferences.
Coordination of appropriate access to other intervention services,
primary care physicians, ENT's and all other appropriate agencies
is available. Home visits are an integral part of the service.
Audiological management is an important part of the service
plan. The Curtis L. Blake Center for Audiological Services
which is located on the Longmeadow campus of the Willie Ross
School and The Laurin Audiological Center which is located in
Berkshire Commons, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, offer the following
services: hearing evaluations, hearing aid evaluation, hearing
aid dispensing, earmold impressions, hearing aid fitting and
orientating, hearing aid repair, loaner hearing aids, consultation,
and assistance to parents and families.
Sign language programs for parents
are available on a family-by-family basis through home visits
and in small group classes held at the Longmeadow campus for
those with a desire to learn to sign.
Note: all staff on the Early Intervention team are credentialed
and licensed according to their specific requirements.
For information contact:
Gregory DeLisle, Deputy
Executive Director
gdelisle at willierossschool.org
Kathleen Devlin-DeLisle, Coordinator of Early Intervention Services
kdelisle at willierossschool.org
Veronica Miller, Coordinator of Student & Administrative
Services
vmiller at willierossschool.org

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