NMSD Early Intervention services support our program to provide comprehensive developmental services to children with hearing loss as well as to identify children in need of early intervention to support their language development to avoid academic delays. NMSD is also a critical piece in our remote Navajo communities to support families in understanding their child’s hearing loss so families can make informed decisions. Navajo families and children benefit from the strong partnership with NMSD staff as the family’s language, Navajo and Deaf cultures are respected.

The NMSD Early Intervention program has been an integral part of the state Early Hearing and Intervention (EHDI) System for over 20 years! Through our partnership with NMSD, we continue to meet the gold standard for the EHDI program of 1-3-6: Screening by one month of age, diagnostics by three months of age, and early intervention by six months of age. As infants are identified as Deaf or Hard of Hearing through the initial screening and diagnostic process a referral is sent immediately to NMSD to begin services and families have shared that this extra support is appreciated.

Hands & Voices NM (HVNM) is a parent-driven non-profit organization that hosts community events for families who have Deaf/Hard of Hearing children, through our Guide by Your Side (GBYS) Program. NMSD's Early Intervention program is essential to families in our state and our organization is fortunate to have collaborated with them for many years on events such as ASL Story Time at the Park, Virtual Painting Parties, and Fall Festivals. Partnering with NMSD has helped HVNM bring families together, enabling greater connections. We are grateful to work together and look forward to future collaborations!

In my experience, the relationship between New Mexico's Family Infant Toddler early intervention system (FIT) and NMSD is remarkable. We share a deep and meaningful understanding of the range of services offered by both FIT and NMSD and that means there are no silo walls between these two vital services. Instead, there is collaboration, commitment, and partnership. My professional life has been deeply enriched by learning from the staff at NMSD and I know this is true for so many of our early intervention service providers throughout the state who have worked alongside their partners at NMSD.