FCEI Conference: Global Ideas, Shared Purpose

Last month, Deafness Forum Australia CEO Rhonda Locke attended the Family-Centred Early Intervention for Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (FCEI) Conference in Bad Ischl, Austria, joining delegates from around the world to explore the future of support for deaf children and their families.

The biannual FCEI Conference is regarded as one of the world’s leading forums for family-centred early intervention for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Bringing together researchers, clinicians, educators, service providers, advocates, deaf adults and families, the conference provides a platform to share emerging evidence, lived experience and innovative approaches to supporting children and families.

This year’s event highlighted a common goal across countries and cultures: ensuring deaf children and their families are at the centre of every decision that affects them.

Accessibility in Action

One of the most striking aspects of the conference was its commitment to accessibility. International Sign and Austrian Sign Language interpreters were integrated throughout the program, while captions accompanied every keynote and presentation. When deaf presenters delivered their talks in sign language, translators worked from within the audience, creating genuine two-way communication and participation. Accessibility was not treated as an add-on. It was embedded into the conference experience from beginning to end.

Across the program, speakers explored some of the most important conversations shaping the future of early intervention, including family-centred practice, deaf adult leadership, parent-led advocacy, innovations in care and technology, and the ethical considerations surrounding emerging therapies.

Presenters from India, Kenya, Austria, the United States, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia shared perspectives from their own communities, demonstrating both the diversity of experiences and the common challenges facing deaf children and their families around the world. Despite differences in geography and service systems, a consistent message emerged: better outcomes are achieved when families, deaf adults and young people are genuine partners in decision-making.

Better outcomes are achieved when families, deaf adults and young people are genuine partners in decision-making.

The Power of Peer Connection

The conference also highlighted the importance of deaf mentoring programs and the role they play in supporting identity, confidence and connection. Australia has a strong example in Hear For You, the national mentoring organisation founded by deaf adults who understand first-hand the challenges young people can face growing up with hearing loss. The value of connecting with people who share similar experiences was a recurring theme throughout the conference and one we explore further in this edition of One in Five.

For families navigating a new diagnosis, meeting deaf adults who have successfully navigated school, work, relationships and life can be transformative. The conference reinforced the importance of ensuring children and young people have opportunities to connect with mentors who understand their experiences and can provide encouragement, perspective and practical support.

Learning Beyond Borders

Beyond the formal presentations, the conference created opportunities for conversations, collaborations and connections that often begin online but take on new meaning when people meet face to face. These exchanges of knowledge and experience are critical to strengthening services and ensuring promising ideas continue to move across borders.

The FCEI Conference was a reminder that while approaches may differ around the world, the priorities remain remarkably similar: supporting families, listening to lived experience, embracing accessibility and creating opportunities for deaf children to thrive. It also highlighted the important role Australia continues to play in these global conversations, contributing expertise while learning from the innovations and experiences of others.