Dr. Beth Benedict

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Dr. Beth Benedict

Dr. Benedict is a professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Gallaudet University, and the co-director of Gallaudet's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants, Toddlers, and Families: Collaboration and Leadership Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate Program. Dr. Benedict is currently the chair of the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing and representing the Council on Education of the Deaf. Dr. Benedict is the president of the American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC), the oldest organization of, by, and for parents of deaf and hard of hearing children (www.deafchildren.org). Dr. Benedict holds a Ph.D. in education from Gallaudet University, a master's degree in education counseling from New York University, and a bachelor's degree from Gallaudet University in psychology. She has published numerous articles and is a widely sought after lecturer on diverse topics including early intervention, early language acquisition, and family involvement.

Positive difference can be made for families if professionals are more current with research findings and trends in Early Intervention. This presentation will provide suggestions and solutions that can be easily incorporated in your programs for families and communities.

This presentation will provide an overview of the role and rationale for visual learning in the early years. Description of how families, deaf and hard of hearing adults, and professionals from a variety disciplinary backgrounds can collaborate to achieve optimal language outcomes for deaf and hard of hearing children will be included. Strategies and resources for professionals and family members that can maximize the deaf child's language learning from the first days of life will be shared.