Strong program operations create the infrastructure for consistent, family-centered services. Use this reading list to ground your decisions in evidence. It gathers research on why qualified personnel, interdisciplinary collaboration (teams from different fields working together), reflective supervision, data-informed decisions, and sustainable systems matter for Deaf and hard of hearing children and their families. The studies include work on early ASL access and vocabulary growth, Deaf mentor programs, and family-centered early intervention guidelines. Use it to support planning, staff learning, and conversations about program quality.
Because of your selected audience type, you may also enjoy the following related resources.
A checklist providers use during an IFSP meeting to keep families in the lead, write functional goals, and make sure services and communication access reflect the child's real daily life.
A checklist families use during the planning meeting to share what they know, shape their child's goals, confirm where services happen, and review the written plan before signing.
A checklist families use before their first early intervention planning meeting: understanding their rights, gathering documents, and naming their child's top priorities.