Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)
Mentoring & Family Engagement Project
Supporting Deaf/Hard of Hearing Children and Their Families
Increasing the number of newborns and infants identified as Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HH) enrolled in Early Intervention services, and providing support to families/parents/caregivers of newborns and infants who are D/HH
This guide is a tool to help families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) connect to family-to-family supports with a focus on state-level resources.
About Us / Our Programs / How we help families → EHDI
NJ Deaf Mentor Program
The NJ Deaf Mentor Program is a free program for families, who have a child with hearing loss birth to 3 years old, that provides 2 types of Deaf Mentors: Snapshots D/HH Mentor and ASL Deaf Mentors.
ASL Deaf Mentors are culturally Deaf Adults fluent in ASL. They trained to teach families ASL. They will introduce families to Deaf Culture and the Deaf Community.
Snapshots D/HH Mentors are Deaf, Deaf-Blind, or Hard of Hearing adults. They communicate using ASL, Total Communication, Listening and Spoken Language, and Cued Speech. They will answer questions and share what it was like to grow up with a hearing loss.
EHDI Quality Improvement Parent Group
View and read the NJ Parent Resource Guide for Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
About the Deaf Mentor Program
The Deaf Mentor Program promotional video was funded by Special Child Health and Early Intervention Services, New Jersey Department of Health and the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing under the Leveling the Playing Field initiative.
View all our videos on our Youtube Channel
More Information
External Resources
www.SimpletoSignBooks.org Books written in English to be simple to Sign in American Sign Language. Helping parents build functional vocabulary and help their child be school ready. Cleverly written to have RHYMING elements in ASL!
Free accessible resources for parents of a child who is deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind.
Students with Cochlear Implants: Guidelines for Educational Program Planning
New: Fact Sheet Early Intervention Services Children develop at different paces, but there are developmental milestones that
children should reach by certain times during the first three years of their lives.
The New Jersey Parent Guide for Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: This parent resource guide was created in response to New Jersey Public Law 2019, Chapter 205, incorporating the recommendations made by the Working Group on Deaf Education. Its purpose is to assist families with monitoring and tracking the receptive and expressive language acquisition and developmental stages toward English literacy of children from birth to five years of age who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
8 Reasons to say Yes to EI for your child who is D/HH: A Hands & Voices resource to share information about the positive aspects of early intervention for families with children who are deaf and hard of hearing.
NJDOE Transition Toolkit for Students Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing | Resources and informational websites to assist New Jersey students who are deaf or hard of hearing in achieving positive postsecondary outcomes.
ASL Development for Children in New Jersey | The NJ Department of Human Services Division of Deaf and Hard of Hearing offers language acquisition services through an ASL Deaf Language Associate.
Deaf Leadership | Video presented by the Family-Centered Early Intervention (FCEI) 2018 Deaf Leadership Committee on the importance of Deaf Role Models for children and their families
Deaf Leadership Comments from Deaf Adults | Video coordinated by the Family-Centered Early Intervention (FCEI) 2018 Deaf Leadership committee
Family Outreach Flyer Deaf Mentor COVID-19 | SPAN’s Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) Mentoring & Family Engagement Project is looking for families with a D/HH child birth to 5 years old who are interested in having a Deaf Mentor. In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Deaf Mentor Program will continue to match families with a Deaf Mentor through virtual visits using Zoom and FaceTime.
Family Outreach Flyer Deaf Mentor COVID-19 – Spanish | El Programa de Mentores Sordos NJ EHDI de SPAN está buscando familias con un hijo D/HH hasta 5 años de edad que esté interesado en tener un Mentor Sordo. En respuesta a la pandemia de COVID-19, el Programa de Mentores para Sordos continuará uniendo a familias con un Mentor para Sordos por medio de visitas virtuales a través de Zoom y FaceTime.
Family Transition Handbook: Developed by parents, early intervention service providers, and school personnel to provide information about transition from Early Intervention Services to Pre-School.
Raising the Whole Child: Social-Emotional Development in Deaf Children | A resource for parents, educators, and others who work with deaf and hard of hearing children about the need to supplement the social environment for each and every deaf, hard of hearing, or partially hearing student.
“Optimizing Outcomes for Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: Educational Service Guidelines” | This purpose of these free updated education service guidelines for D/HH is to supplement and update the information needed by teachers, leaders, families, school instructional support personnel and other stakeholders to have the knowledge, skills and vision to help children be successful.
Health Screening & Follow-Up | Did your child receive a refer result on the newborn hearing screening? The NJ Department of Health provides answers to frequently asked questions and further information and resources on next steps.
Hear to Learn Resources for Parent and Professionals | The Utah State University Listening and Spoken Language program, Sound Beginnings, helps children with hearing loss reach their potential for academic and life success. This website provides user-friendly materials for parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as those who care for and work with them.
Oir para Aprender Recursos para Padres y Profesionales | El programa de la audición y el lenguaje hablado de Utah State University, Sound Beginnings, ayuda a los niños con pérdida auditiva a alcanzar su potencial académico y el éxito en la vida. Este sitio web proporciona materiales fáciles de usar para padres de niños sordos o con problemas de audición, así como aquellos que los cuidan y trabajan con ellos.
ASL Story Telling | This video is a resource from the Texas School for the Deaf Education Resource Center on Deafness to improve language learning and literacy for D/HH students.
Online ASL & Deaf Studies Courses | Gallaudet University offers a variety of free introductory videos and interactive lessons for learning basic ASL as well as online ASL and Deaf Studies courses.
Raising Deaf and Hard of Hearing Kids | A parenting course ($35.00) that will provide support on your journey with resources for decision making.
NJ Deaf Students’ Bill of Rights Brochure: The Deaf Student’s Bill of Rights is a statement of responsibility to ensure that school districts meet the unique needs of students who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind and use varied communication modalities.
Deaf Mentor Program News
Check out these upcoming events, notices, and links to more resources:
- Central Jersey Meet and Practice ASL at Menlo Park Mall Monthly Deaf Chat | meetup.com/Meet-and-Practice-ASL-with-Others-Meetup
- Summer Camps for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth | (1) Camp list from the state of NJ / (2) American Society for Deaf Children
Contact Us
PROGRAM STAFF
SPAN’s EHDI Mentoring & Family Engagement Project is funded through a subgrant from the NJ Department of Health, Special Child Health and Early Intervention Services, a HRSA funded initiative.