WebinarLearn how Georgia is Reducing Barriers to Care to Improve Literacy Outcomes
How are children who are deaf or hard of hearing being identified sooner, supported faster, and set on a path to reach third-grade reading levels by the time they reach third grade in the state of Georgia? What started as a concept has turned into a statewide effort with sustained funding thanks to the collaborative efforts from nonprofits, supporters, and policymakers.
The Oberkotter Foundation Showcase – Georgia: Struggle. Common Ground. Progress. – explores exactly how efforts in Georgia are helping children who are deaf or hard of hearing overcome barriers to care as part of a statewide initiative to improve literacy outcomes.
Kelly Jenkins, Program Manager of Access to Language, shares how groups are leveraging parent navigator programs, mobile audiology services, and data-driven communications to help children with hearing loss reach age-appropriate listening, spoken language, and literacy milestones.
Watch the recording to hear Kelly discuss strategies and lessons learned from Georgia, including:
- Fostering collaboration across stakeholder groups to increase impact.
- Collecting and leveraging data to communicate the needs of children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families.
- Educating policymakers and other groups using data to ensure that supports are in place to improve literacy outcomes for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
This is a powerful example of how collaboration and sustained effort can bridge key gaps in early hearing screenings, audiology services, and early intervention to improve literacy outcomes for all children. Our colleagues in Georgia have created a model for how data, collaboration, and communication can drive meaningful policy change.Dr. Teresa Caraway, CEO, Oberkotter Foundation
Featured Speakers
Kelly Jenkins, Program Manager, Access to Language
Speaker
Kelly is an advocate and policy strategist with a focus on advancing equity for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. She has authored and successfully championed multiple pieces of legislation in Georgia and has co-authored the Report on Language and Literacy Outcomes for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Georgia, presented annually to the Governor and General Assembly for the past six years. Kelly holds a B.A/ from Davidson College and an M.B.A from Emory University. She currently leads grant-funded initiatives focused on expanding language access and educational opportunity, bringing together legislative insight, systems-level strategy, and an unwavering commitment to impact.
Kelly is the program manager of Access to Language, operated out of the Atlanta Speech School and funded in part by the Oberkotter Foundation. The goal of this program is to break down barriers for children who are deaf or hard of hearing in Georgia.
