A Partnership That Gave Back: Celebrating Joelle Barth's Time at CCHAT

Every so often, someone comes through the doors of the CCHAT Center not to teach a child to listen or speak, but to listen closely to families who have already walked that road, and to carry what she learns back out into the world. That is exactly what Joelle Barth did during her capstone placement at CCHAT.

Joelle came to CCHAT through her doctoral studies in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at University of the Pacific, completing her capstone as a 10-credit course built around a 15-week internship. Her time with CCHAT actually began well before she arrived on site: starting in May 2025, Joelle worked in collaboration with CCHAT to complete prep materials and early research before her placement even began. It is the kind of hands-on, immersive commitment that sets UOP's doctoral-level program apart, and CCHAT has been fortunate to host several OT students for their capstone projects over the past few years.

Finding the Gaps, Asking the Right Questions

Before Joelle ever sat down with a parent, she started with research. Reviewing the current literature on mental health for parents of children who are deaf and hard of hearing, she found real gaps, particularly around connecting with other families, accessing mental health support, and navigating community resources.

Rather than stopping at the page, Joelle spent time getting to know CCHAT itself. She conducted informal interviews with staff and embedded herself in our program before ever convening a single group, working closely with Dr. Ronda Rufsvold and her UOP advisor, Dr. Divya Desai, to shape what came next.

“Joelle was an exceptional asset to our program during her Capstone project. She onboarded quickly, seamlessly translating her University of the Pacific coursework into impactful daily practice. Beyond her technical skills, Joelle single-handedly organized our parent support groups, building strong, trusting relationships with families. Her daily kindness, compassion, and occupational therapy lens made a lasting difference at CCHAT, and we are incredibly grateful for her contributions.” –Ronda Rufsvold

Bringing Parents Together

From that research, Joelle developed and led three parent support groups for current and alumni CCHAT families, each centered on one of the gaps she had identified.

First Session

Building Social Support and Community brought parents together around the connections many said they had been missing.

Second Session

Managing Stress and Burnout gave space to talk openly about the toll caregiving can take.

Third Session

Resource and Support Navigation walked through where families could turn for services, advocacy tips, and support beyond CCHAT's doors.

The feedback spoke for itself. Parents shared that what mattered most was simply being in the room with others who understood, hearing directly from alumni families who had already navigated mainstream school transitions, and walking away with concrete resources and advocacy strategies they could use right away. Several asked for the connections to continue: an alumni contact list they could turn to, a shared space to keep exchanging resources long after the sessions ended.

Turning Research Into Resources

Joelle's second deliverable turned that same literature review into three articles for the CCHAT community. In Signs of Caregiver Burnout: Supporting Parents of Children Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, she outlines what it looks like when a parent is running on empty and what support can look like. In Supporting Siblings of Children Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, she turns her attention to brothers and sisters finding their own place in the family's story. And in Parental Advocacy for Children Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, she offers real-world strategies for speaking up in school meetings and service planning conversations.

What Comes Next

Joelle's work did not end at CCHAT. She submitted this project as a paper at the American Occupational Therapy Association's annual conference in April 2027. Her proposal was accepted and she has been invited to present in Boston, Massachusetts during the annual conference. 

“I chose to complete my capstone experience at the CCHAT Center because I became inspired by the deaf community and culture when we were introduced to it during my occupational therapy program. During my first year, a previous OT student presented her capstone project in collaboration with CCHAT, and I was so inspired by the work they were doing. I knew that I wanted the opportunity to learn more about working with children who are deaf and hard of hearing and how I could best support them and their families.

When I came to CCHAT, I was once again amazed by the dedication and compassion the staff put into creating a supportive environment where students could learn and grow. Through my experience, I gained a deeper understanding of the importance of advocating for the needs of families and providing them with accessible support. Working with the staff and parents at CCHAT allowed me to better understand the importance of family involvement and collaboration when supporting a child's success. As I enter my occupational therapy career, I will carry the lessons I learned at CCHAT with me and continue to prioritize the needs of my clients and their families.” –Joelle Barth, OTD

A Partnership Worth Celebrating

Joelle's placement was made possible through CCHAT's ongoing partnership with UOP's Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, one that has already brought several capstone students through our doors.

As Joelle Barth, OTD, moves on from CCHAT and into her occupational therapy career, she leaves behind three articles, three videos, and a body of research that will continue to support families for years to come. We are grateful for her curiosity, her care, and the time she gave to truly understand our families before ever offering them anything. That, in the end, is what made all the difference.