Online Resources for Families with Children Identified as Deaf or Hard of Hearing
“What You Need to Know: Resources for Families” is a collection of resources
that is mailed to parents as soon as a child is identified as deaf or hard of hearing.
Beginning in August 2017, parents, extended family members
( i.e. grandparents, aunts, uncles) and professionals can get the same resources online.
Rural families with limited access to broadband and Wi-Fi can download the materials
in a .pdf format to an e-reader (i.e. on smartphones, tablets) and access them anytime, anywhere.
The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) has identified the following goal (1.2)
to “develop a mechanism that ensures family access to all available resources and information
that is accurate, well-balanced, comprehensive, and conveyed in an unbiased manner.”
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has been authorized through statute to
provide these resources to families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
At MDH’s request, stakeholders of the Collaborative Plan have agreed to review the resources annually
to ensure that the information is accurate, well-balanced,
comprehensive, and conveyed in an unbiased manner.
During the past year stakeholders of the Collaborative Plan
reviewed the materials to ensure that the materials met JCIH goals.
They made recommendations for changes which were approved by MDH.
MDH and the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) advisory committee
make final decisions on the inclusion of materials in this group of resources.
The Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Minnesotans (MNCDHH) provided funding
to make this resource available online and accessible for families and professionals.
MDH hosts “What You Need to Know: Resources for Families” on the MDH website.
Learn more about the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH):
Visit the Collaborative Plan website:
Read the 2016 Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program statute at:
Learn more about EHDI in Minnesota at:
And now, you can access the Online Resources for Families by going to: