Local parent chosen to advise state's early learning initiatives

The Washington State Department of Early Learning (DEL) has selected 17 parents to represent 10 regions as members of the newly established Parent Advisory Group (PAG).

Kelli Burnham, from Vancouver, is the sole parent in the group from the Southwest region of the state.

“Someone sent me a link to the application,” said Burnham, “I applied because I think I bring a unique perspective as a parent of a child with hearing loss.”

Burnham’s daughter was screened for hearing loss at birth, a standard test given to all newborns. After she failed two screening tests, she was referred to audiology and based on her daughter’s hearing loss diagnosis; she was guaranteed early intervention services from birth until she turned three years old.

“Early intervention ends at age three,” said Burnham, “Once that ends, some children with hearing loss may get services through their school district, but unlike birth to three, those services are not guaranteed—this causes a potential gap in developmental services from age 3-5 or beyond for kids who are deaf and hard of hearing. This is a huge disservice to our deaf and hard of hearing kids and it’s absolutely exhausting for us parents to constantly push and advocate for services for our kids. Our state can do better.”

“Child development is critical during that two-year gap, and lots of deaf and hard of hearing kids don’t get the proper support they need to fully reach their potential,” said Burnham.

Burnham hopes to see heightened support and guaranteed quality services for families with deaf and hard of hearing children once early intervention has ended.

As a group, the PAG has determined the need for:

• Increase quality and access to early learning opportunities across the different types of providers, starting at birth.

• Improved content in early learning settings.

• Cultural, special health care needs, promoting social emotional growth, so children have a strong foundation of healthy positive experiences before and throughout school.

• Supports for mental health, especially post-partum depression. There are services available for wealthy and low-income mothers, but not middle income.

The PAG will act as a sounding board for decisions, ideas and questions that shape the future of DEL and early learning programs throughout the state.

For the most current information on group members, visit DEL’s website (www.del.wa.gov) and search “Parent Advisory Group”. This group and their meetings will be featured regularly on the Department of Early Learning’s blog at http://www.delconnect.blogspot.com.