Guide to Providing Services (GPS) Conference

2025 Keynote: Dr. Danielle Previ

Danielle Previ, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in the District of Columbia and Maryland. She obtained her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Gallaudet University and she completed her doctoral internship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in neuropsychology and pediatric consultation departments. 

Dr. Previ then worked at Kennedy Krieger Institute’s neuropsychology department and center for child and family traumatic stress. Her areas of interest are evaluations with deaf and hard of hearing children with concerns for autism spectrum disorder and treatments for children and families who have experienced trauma related stressors. 

Her current role includes psychological evaluations, psychotherapy services, consultation and supervising trainees.

Financial disclosure: Dr. Previ will receive an honorarium for her keynote presentation

Non-financial: Dr. Previ has no non-financial disclosures

Tentative Schedule:

• 8:30-8:45: Registration

• 8:45: Welcome

• 9:00: Keynote Presentation

• 10:10:  Workshops/Breakout Panel Discussion

• 11:20: Lunch / PIP Tour

• 12:20 - 3:30: Presentations

• 3:45 - 4:00: Wrap up/Evaluations

2025 Conference Presenters

Dr. Ronald Becker is Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician at Boston Children's Hospital where he serves as a consultant to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program.  

His area of specialization is in the assessment and support of children with neuro-developmental differences with a focus on various forms of neurodivergence.   

In this role he supports children with neurodivergent and who are Deaf or hard of hearing in their developmental progress, identifying their strengths and maximizing potential. 

Dr. Becker is a paid employee of Boston Children’s Hospital. He discloses: “I have no additional financial or non-financial disclosures relevant to this presentation.”

Mary Grace Hamme, MS, CCC-SLP

"Multiple Modalities for DHH Children: Supporting Language Development Through AAC"

Mary Grace is the Support Services Coordinator at TLC, overseeing a team of SLPs, OTs, PTs, and Educational Audiologists. She graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a Communication Sciences and Disorders major and Deaf studies minor in 2012. She graduated from Nazareth University in Rochester, NY with a masters in Speech-Language Pathology and a “Deafness Specialty Preparation Program” certification from The National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID). 

Mary Grace has a passion for working with the Deaf community and supporting their language and communication.

Mary Grace Hamme, MS, CCC-SLP is a salaried employee of The Learning Center for the Deaf. She is also a contract employee of The Informed SLP. Mary Grace Hamme has no non-financial disclosures to provide.

Taryn Carlson, M.S., CCC-SLP

"Multiple Modalities for DHH Children: Supporting Language Development Through AAC"

Taryn Carlson is a speech-language pathologist who has been providing services since 2017 and employed by The Learning Center for the Deaf since 2018. She is a proud alum of Ithaca College, where she earned a BS in speech-language pathology and audiology with a Deaf studies minor 2014 and a MS in speech-language pathology in 2017. 

Taryn has received formal recognition for her devotion to continuing education by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association, receiving the ACE award in 2021 and 2024. Taryn currently specializes in working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing children with moderate to severe receptive and expressive language disorders, as well as working with children who utilize augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). 

Taryn holds a core belief that developing language and communication skills can (and should!) be fun, and that all Deaf and Hard of Hearing children have the right to accessible language and communication.

Taryn Carlson, M.S., CCC-SLP is a salaried employee of The Learning Center for the Deaf. She also provides per diem outpatient services through OTA Kids. Taryn Carlson has no non-financial disclosures to provide.

Kathleen Steele

Kathleen Steele is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 10 years of experience supporting neurodivergent children in specialized

 school settings, home-based services, and private practice. She currently works at The Learning Center for the Deaf, where she applies contemporary ABA rooted in trauma-informed, communication-first, and neurodiversity-affirming practices. Kathleen holds BA and MA degrees in Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Massachusetts.

Kathleen Steele, is a salaried employee of The Learning Center for the Deaf. Kathleen Steele has no non-financial disclosures to provide.

Panel Moderator: Justina Ercolino, LICSW

Justina is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Massachusetts with seven years of experience in the field of social work. For the past three years, Justina has served as a school social worker at The Learning Center for the Deaf, where she provide critical support to students and families, helping foster both academic and personal growth.

The panel organizer and panelists have no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose. The content presented is based on personal lived experience and is intended to promote professional growth and awareness in early intervention practice.

CEU INFORMATION FOR ASHA

Satisfactory Completion Requirements for ASHA CEUs:
ASHA CEU's will be awarded after active attendance at the entire presentation documented by log in/ log out times, submission of a completed evaluation and submission of a completed assessment of learning. There is no partial credit. A link to the Assessment and Evaluation will be sent out following the program.

Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities:

We want to provide the best learning experience for everyone. In compliance with the ADA, should you require any accommodation to fully participate in this training please contact advancement@tlcdeaf.org. 

ASL interpreters will be provided throughout the event.

2023 Conference Presenters

Keynote: Dr. Matthew Hall, Ph.D. --  An Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences & Disorders in the College of Public Health at Temple University. He applies knowledge from cognitive/developmental psychology and linguistics to questions that concern DHH children.  He is committed to increasing the quality of the empirical evidence so that clinicians and families can make better-informed decisions toward the shared goal of promoting the long-term and holistic well-being of DHH children. He has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education since 2016, and has been a scientific advisor to Hands & Voices and the National Association of the Deaf.

Milmaglyn Morales -- is the Principal for MPS Early Childhood Center. She holds certification in Connecticut as an Integrated Early Childhood Education (*N-Grade 3) and Special Education in K-12, as well as a Birth-to-Three Program Service Coordinator.  She also has a Sixth-Year Leadership Certificate and is currently a Certified Visual Communication Sign Language Evaluator.

Thea Cabral -- Thea holds a Masters in School Counseling with emphasis on Mental Health and is Specialty Service Provider (SSP). As PIP Coordinator, she supports youth in our Birth to 3 program, ensuring resources are accessible for all family members, as well as overseeing the development of language and structured social activities for young children. 

Shira Grabelsky -- Shira has a Master’s Degree in Deaf Education from Boston University, and a Master’s in Education Policy and Management from Harvard University. She brings 13 years of professional experience in Deaf Education to TLC. Most recently serving as Curriculum Specialist for New Mexico School for the Deaf, Shira helped develop and implement curriculum adoption strategies, including cross-sectoral collaborations with community groups. She also designed and provided professional development training and instructional coaching for teachers.

April Rivera -- A self-proclaimed “nerd” for early childhood, child development, and social emotional learning, April graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor’s in Family, Consumer, and Human Development with an emphasis in Deaf Education, Early Childhood Education, and Early Intervention Services. She continued her education with a Master’s in Bilingual-Bicultural Deaf Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood. She taught at the California School for the Deaf, Fremont for three years before moving to Massachusetts to teach at The Learning Center for the Deaf. She is SKI-HI certified. April has worked in early childhood education in both settings, primarily with 3-4 year olds. April is a mentor and teacher coach and loves sharing her values around children and best practices in education.

Claire Lombardo-Miller, CCC-SLP, NIC - A speech-language pathologist and ASL-English Interpreter. She earned a BA in early childhood education at Smith College and an MS in speech-language pathology from Boston University. Since 2004, she has worked at The Learning Center for the Deaf as an SLP, early intervention provider, educator, and mentor. Claire has presented at state and national conferences in the field of Deaf-focused early intervention, the importance of Deaf-hearing teams in early intervention settings, and the unique challenges facing hard of hearing children in public schools. The Deaf community has been a beacon of her learning and personal and professional growth. Allyship and continued cultural understanding is at the center of her professional practice.