Do you have unanswered questions about supporting young children who are deaf or hard of hearing? The Getting Started brochure was designed to support families and professionals to increase their knowledge and understanding about hearing, hearing loss, and supports that are available in Pennsylvania. Download the brochure and view the Getting Started Interaction to learn more.
Presenter: Dr. Carol Flexer, Ph.D., is a pediatric and educational audiology expert who received her doctorate from Kent State University in 1982. She served for 25 years as a Distinguished Professor of Audiology at The University of Akron. Dr. Flexer lectures nationally and internationally on pediatric audiology and has authored more than 155 publications and co-authored or edited 17 books on hearing loss and listening development in children. She is a past president of the Educational Audiology Association, the American Academy of Audiology, and the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Dr. Flexer is a licensed audiologist and Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist and has received numerous national awards recognizing her research and advocacy for children with hearing loss.
March 27, 2026
12:30 – 3:45 pm
Presenter: Mary Ann Stefko, Choices for Children/The Scranton School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children, earned a Master’s of Education in counselor education and a Bachelor of Science degree in communication disorders from Pennsylvania State University. Her extensive experience includes 20 years teaching students preschool to high school age, in both residential and inclusive educational settings; educational interpreting; presenting and training on deafness and hearing loss to families, educators and the business communities; and teaching at the college level.
May 8, 2026
9:00 am – 12:15 pm
May 15, 2026
12:30 pm – 3:45 pm
Families who learn that their child is deaf, hard of hearing or deaf/blind often have many questions and are unsure of the next steps they need to take. Family Connections for Language and Learning is a program made up of a team of experienced parents of children who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf/blind and deaf/hard of hearing adults. They can help families as they navigate the Early Intervention system and explore communication opportunities for their child. Services are provided at no cost to families.
The Centers for Disease Control Prevention has FREE brochures, posters, fact sheets, and more for parents, health care providers, and public health professionals.
A place for families and professionals to find helpful resources and get access to learning experiences. You can also find connections and support from others through the communities here.
Deaf/Hard of Hearing Resource Library – Find a collection of resources from first resources for families, support available to families in PA, communication options and much more.
