Ms Catherine Dunn1, Kristen Mason
1Deaf Connect, , Australia
Biography:
Catherine Dunn:
As a proud Deaf person, Catherine offers her lived experience growing up Deaf in rural Victoria combined with her advocacy and policy experience across various frameworks including disability, health and multicultural sectors. Catherine recognises the historical tensions between audiologists and the Deaf community and advocates for a future that embraces both audiology advancements and the Deaf community’s culture and language.
Kristen Mason:
As a Deaf person, Kristen brings invaluable lived experience to her work supporting Deaf and hard-of-hearing children and their families. She is passionate about promoting inclusive, family- and child-centred care, empowering families with the tools they need to thrive, regardless of their communication preferences. Kristen advocates for greater involvement of Deaf adults in the early intervention space, believing their lived experience is essential in guiding families. Her approach prioritises respect for communication diversity, fostering informed decision-making. Through her leadership and advocacy, Kristen is dedicated to strengthening partnerships and enhancing the quality of services for Deaf communities in Australia and globally.
Abstract
The medical model of disability has long dominated the approach to deafness, particularly in newborn hearing screening and early intervention. With 95% of deaf children born to hearing families, this model often leads to a focus on "fixing" rather than empowering. This presentation addresses the tension between medical and social models of disability in newborn hearing screen programs and early intervention.
This presentation will explore the bias throughout medical training that perpetuates a deficit-based view of deafness and propose a solution that embraces a bilingual early intervention approach. Through case studies of our Deaf Adult Family Mentors and research on bilingual early intervention, we demonstrate the positive outcomes of a culturally affirming approach. We will share stories from parents of deaf children, including deaf children born to hearing families, debunking myths and challenging negative perceptions about deafness, and highlighting the transformative power of exposure to Deaf adults and sign language.
The presentation introduces the Deaf Leadership International Alliance and its alignment with Family-Centered Early Intervention (FCEI) principles, showcasing how Deaf adult involvement enhances family support and child development. We emphasise the critical role of audiology professionals, who are often the first point of contact for families, and the importance of reframing their approach to empower rather than "fix”.
We present a holistic framework that respects supports families in making informed choices and utilises evidence-based interventions. Our presentation aims to promote a more inclusive and empowering environment for deaf children and their families from the earliest stages of identification and intervention.