September 2022 ICC Miller School of Medicine

Fostering Self-Advocacy and Choice: An Interdisciplinary Approach for Children and Adolescents who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Tuesday, September 20, 2022 | 8:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Self-advocacy – the ability to effectively communicate one’s needs and make informed decisions – is crucial for the development of social relationships, communication, and navigating academic environments. Self-advocacy skills are fluid in development, initially being parent-supported and gradually transitioning to children independently advocating for themselves. They influence decision-making related to technology and educational choices from early childhood through adolescence.

Still, children who are deaf or hard of hearing often struggle advocating for themselves. With this in mind, the Mailman Center Innovation and Connection Conference will bring experts together to discuss methods that members of an interdisciplinary team, including audiologists, teachers, speech and language pathologists and parents, may use to facilitate the development of self-advocacy skills in children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Specific tools and strategies to support the application of self-advocacy skills across settings (i.e. clinical, educational, social) will be presented.

Agenda

Welcome & Introductions | 8:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. EST

Setting the Stage: Defining Self-Advocacy and Choice | 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | Ivette Cejas
This presentation will define self-advocacy and the concepts that will be discussed during the workshop, as well as describe how to support parent choice as it relates to the deaf or hard of hearing population

Technology Choices | 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Chrisanda Sanchez
This presentation will review hearing technology options for children who are deaf or hard of hearing that influence the decision-making process

Educational Choices | 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Alexandria Mestres
This session will discuss educational options available to parents when their children have hearing loss which is an important part of helping parents understand how to become proactive advocates for their children.

Break | 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Self-Advocacy and Language in Early Childhood and Elementary School | 10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. | Daniela Berrios and Lynn Miskiel
This presentation will address vocabulary and language skills in the context of the development of self-advocacy in young children.

Self-Advocacy in Middle School | 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Alexandria Mestres
The transition from elementary school to middle school can present a new set of challenges for children with hearing loss so this session will discuss strategies that will help them learn to navigate the environment while developing good self-advocacy skills.

Lunch | 12:45 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

Self-Advocacy in High School | 1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. | Jennifer Coto
This presentation will address self-advocacy in high school and identify tools and strategies to facilitate self-advocacy skills.

Panel and Discussion | 2:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Chrisanda Sanchez, Alexandria Mestres, Lynn Miskiel, Jennifer Coto
Panel will include interdisciplinary team members to share case experiences, strategies, and address attendee questions.

Closing Remarks | 3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Credit Designation

5.5 CE credits approved for social work. Florida Board for LCSW, LMFT and LMHC approved 5.5 CE credits, Provider # BAP Exp. Date 3/31/2023. 5 CE credits approved for psychology. Mailman Center is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. 0.5 ASHA CEUs. (ASHA CE Provider approval and use of Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products or clinical procedures.)

8 Master Plan Points (For MPPs, participants should register both at the link above and on PDMS).

Please note: In order to obtain CEUs, participants must complete all the required fields on the registration page and fill out the assessment survey at the end of the meeting. Please note that CEUs are only offered to those who attend ALL SESSIONS.

Partial credit cannot be offered.
Learning Objectives
By the completion of the training, participants will be able to:
1. Define self-advocacy for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
2. Describe educational options and hearing technology options for children who are deaf or hard of hearing that influence the decision-making process.
3. Identify the language needed for children to effectively communicate their needs across all stages of development.
4. Identify tools and strategies to facilitate self-advocacy from early childhood, elementary, middle school, and through high school.
Meet our Speakers

Ivette Cejas, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Director, Family Support Services, Children’s Hearing Program, University of Miami Ear Institute

Dr. Ivette Cejas is an Associate Professor and Director of Family Support Services at the University of Miami Ear Institute. She is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Florida. Dr. Cejas is a well-known researcher in the area of pediatric cochlear implantation, publishing extensively in this area and at numerous conferences. As part of the UM Children’s Hearing program she provides therapeutic services to children and families coping with a hearing loss diagnosis or comorbid disorders.

She is an advocate for all children with hearing loss and organizes a comprehensive family program at UHealth to assist families through their journey with hearing loss. She is on the Board of Directors at AG Bell and is a member of the American Cochlear Implant Alliance.

Chrisanda Sanchez, AuD

Assistant Professor, Director, Children's Hearing Program, University of Miami Ear Institute

Dr. Chrisanda Sanchez is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Children’s Hearing Program at the University of Miami Ear Institute. She is bilingual pediatric audiologist. Dr. Sanchez’s clinical specialty includes pediatric diagnostics, amplification, and cochlear implantation for infants through adolescents.

Alexandria Mestres

Educational Specialist and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist, University of Miami Ear Institute and Charter School Programs

Alexandria Mestres holds degrees in Education of the Hearing Impaired and Elementary Education. Alex has worked as an administrator, professional development trainer, and consultant in the fields of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education and Early Childhood. She is currently working for the University of Miami Children's Hearing Program as the educational specialist. She also works across multiple counties as a Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist for Charter Schools.

Daniela Berrios, M.A. CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert AVEd

Speech-Language Pathologist, Certified Listening and Spoken Language Specialist, University of Miami Debbie School Auditory Oral Program

Daniela Berrios, M.A., CCC-SLP is an ASHA certified and Florida licensed speech-language pathologist. She received her Master’s Degree from the University of Central Florida and currently works at the University of Miami Debbie Institute Auditory Oral Education Program providing listening and spoken language based intervention for young children who are deaf/hard of hearing. She has served on a variety of professional organization committees and presented at the state, national and international level.

Jennifer Coto, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Children’s Hearing Program, UConcussion Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Dr. Coto is an Assistant Professor and licensed psychologist in the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Miami. She completed her residency in pediatric psychology at the Children’s Hearing Program. Dr. Coto provides clinical services, psychoeducational evaluations, and conducts research with children with hearing loss and their families.

Lynn W. Miskiel, M.A., CCC-SLP/A, LSLS Cert AVEd

Director, Auditory-Oral Education Program/Ancillary Services, University of Miami Debbie School

Lynn W. Miskiel, M.A., CCC-SLP/A, LSLS Cert. AVEd, is an ASHA-certified and Florida licensed speech-language pathologist and audiologist. She received her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Colorado and her Master’s Degree at the University of Illinois. She has worked in the field of aural rehabilitation since 1988 and currently works at the University of Miami Debbie Institute as the Director of the Auditory Oral Program for children who are deaf/hard of hearing and as the Director for Ancillary Services. Ms. Miskiel has presented nationally and internationally on auditory training, language development, and speech development for children who are deaf/hard of hearing. She is also active in local, state, and national professional organizations, serving in a variety of committee and leadership roles.
FAQs

What disability accommodations are available?

Live captioning will be enabled through Zoom.

ASL interpretation can be provided upon demand. Please email RAntao@med.miami.edu ahead of time to request this.

Is there a fee to attend the conference?

No, the conference is offered at no cost.

How can I earn continuing education credits for the virtual conference?

In order to obtain CEUs, be sure to complete all the required fields on the registration page and to complete the assessment survey after the event. Please note that CEUs are only offered to those who attend ALL SESSIONS. Partial credit cannot be offered.

Where can I find more information?

If you have any questions, please reach out to Roselyne Antao, RAntao@med.miami.edu | 305-243-6135
Speaker Disclosures
Ivette Cejas
- Relevant non-financial relationships:
  - Consulting/ Decibel
  - Committee member/American Cochlear Implant Alliance
  - Board of Directors/AG Bell
- Relevant financial relationships: Employed by the University of Miami.
Jennifer Coto
- Relevant non-Financial Relationships: None
- Relevant financial relationships: Employed by the University of Miami
Lynn Miskiel
- Relevant non-financial relationships: Board Member/AG Bell Florida Inc.
- Relevant Financial Relationships: Employed by the University of Miami
Daniela Berrios
- Relevant non-financial relationships: Board Member/AG Bell Florida
- Relevant Financial Relationships: Employed by the University of Miami.
Alexandra Mestres
- Relevant non-financial relationships: Committee Member/AG Bell
- Relevant financial relationships:
  - Employed by the University of Miami
  - Independent Contracter/Academia Charter Schools
  - Independent Contracter/ Charter School USA
  - Independent Contracter/ BridgePrep Academy Charter Schools
  - Independent Contracter/ South Tech Charter Schools
  - Independent Contracter/ Jefferson County Public Schools
Chrisanda Sanchez
- Relevant non-financial relationships: None
- Relevant financial relationships: Employed by the University of Miami.

*ASHA CE Provider approval and use of Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products or clinical procedures.

September 2022 ICC

Fostering Self-Advocacy and Choice: An Interdisciplinary Approach for Children and Adolescents who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Tuesday, September 20, 2022 | 8:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Agenda

Credit Designation

Learning Objectives

Meet our Speakers

Ivette Cejas, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Director, Family Support Services, Children’s Hearing Program, University of Miami Ear Institute

Chrisanda Sanchez, AuD

Assistant Professor, Director, Children's Hearing Program, University of Miami Ear Institute

Alexandria Mestres

Educational Specialist and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist, University of Miami Ear Institute and Charter School Programs

Daniela Berrios, M.A. CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert AVEd

Speech-Language Pathologist, Certified Listening and Spoken Language Specialist, University of Miami Debbie School Auditory Oral Program

Jennifer Coto, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Children’s Hearing Program, UConcussion Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Lynn W. Miskiel, M.A., CCC-SLP/A, LSLS Cert AVEd

Director, Auditory-Oral Education Program/Ancillary Services, University of Miami Debbie School

FAQs

What disability accommodations are available?

Is there a fee to attend the conference?

How can I earn continuing education credits for the virtual conference?

Where can I find more information?

Speaker Disclosures

Ivette Cejas

Jennifer Coto

Lynn Miskiel

Daniela Berrios

Alexandra Mestres

Chrisanda Sanchez