USU's Pioneering Teleintervention Program grows, Thanks to Daniels Fund

Families of children who are deaf and hard of hearing received some help from the Daniels Fund earlier in August through a grant. The nearly $200,000 grant will train seven to ten service providers, who will in turn support more than 100 families in several states.

The Daniels Fund teamed up the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services (CEHS) at Utah State University to develop curriculum and technical assistance for delivering teleintervention services to children who are deaf or hard of hearing. It will allow families and providers to work together over distances, using technology to deliver services.

“Teleintervention has particular advantages for people in rural areas,” said Karl White, a USU professor and director of the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM). “Without it, many of them would have to go without both the quantity and quality of services they need.”

NCHAM and USU’s Sound Beginnings programs, located within CEHS, have pioneered teleintervention.

What’s more, USU research has revealed that teleintervention may also be the best option for delivering services to people who live closer to providers, simply because it draws parents in. The research was also supported by the Daniels Fund.

“It’s a more effective way because teleintervention gets parents more engaged,” White said. “The challenge with early intervention is always to get the parent more involved. With teleintervention, the provider is not in the room, and the parent has to do it. They have to jump into the water and swim.”

Bill Daniels, a pioneer in cable television known for his compassion for people and unwavering commitment to ethics, established the Daniels Fund to provide grants and scholarships in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The fund’'s priorities include early childhood education and improving lives for people with disabilities.

“We are grateful that the Daniels Fund recognized the need to provide vital early intervention services to families of children with significant hearing loss, particularly those living in rural and remote areas,” said Beth Foley, the CEHS dean. “This generous contribution will enable USU to develop new and innovative ways to deliver highly specialized services wherever they are most needed.”

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Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services

Contact: Karl White, Karl.White@usu.edu

Writer: JoLynne Lyon, 435-797-1463