Description: 

Raising a child with a hearing loss brings many unique challenges and joys to parents. During this half-day workshop, parents will have the opportunity to share their experiences with one another, learn advocacy skills for their children and explore their own leadership potential.  This workshop will be facilitated by parents of children with a hearing loss and a Deaf educator who will be able to relate to the participants in a very real way based on their own experiences. Lunch will be served and childcare will be provided.

Biographies:

Johanna Lynch joined BEGINNINGS in September 2012.  She has experience working with families who have children with hearing loss and collaborating with the professionals who serve them.  She served as the parent representative for New Hampshire's Early Detection & Intervention program and the New Hampshire Department of Education's Deaf & Hard of Hearing Education Initiative.  She has worked to promote early identification  to improve educational outcomes for children with hearing loss, and to establish positive partnerships between parents and professionals. She and her husband live in Apex with their two children, one of whom is hard of hearing.

Djenne-amal Morris, B.A. Psychology/Sociology is a Parent Educator/Training Coordinator at BEGINNINGS for Parents of Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology/Sociology from Clark University in MA. She has extensive experience working with families of special needs children and their parents. Djenne-amal has been a Deaf-Blind Family Specialist for the past 8 years.  She and her husband have also served in several ministry capacities.  Djenne is the mother of a Deaf-Blind multi-handicapped son with CHARGE Syndrome.  

Rachael Ragin, Ed.D., is the Consultant for Deaf Education and Audiology for the NC Department of Public Instruction  She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from UNC Chapel Hill. Her Master's Degree is in Deaf Education from NYU. Rachael has 28 years of experience in the field of Deaf Education as a teacher and administrator. She is Deaf and is a user of binaural cochlear implants. Her passion is children with hearing loss and making things better for them and their families.

Location:

Brooks Avenue Church of Christ
700 Brooks Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27607

1. There is NO COST for NC Professionals; $50 for out-of-state attendees
2. To Register: Visit www.med.unc.edu/earandhearing/registration (registration deadline = 1 week prior to workshop)